MELBOURNE METAL
-NEWS-

Got any news on Melbourne bands/releases/gigs/happenings? Mail me.

April 15th, 2000

Howdy once again fellow metallers of Melbourne and beyond. Apologies for the absence between updates lately. I've had a few things on my plate, some of which you might be hearing more about soon. But I'll leave that bit of news for a later date.

So what's been happening in the local scene as of late? Well, maybe that question should be what HASN'T been happening!! The metal scene is well and truly in full swing in all areas at the moment. A number of bands are releasing new products and gigging hard, some of which are playing various ALL AGES shows too which is really great to see.

Firstly I'll start with a bit of sad news. Repugnance have officially split up as of last Saturday. They played their final gig at the Arthouse along with Frankenbok, BowelMouth and Third Symptom. It was a fucking great set (a little better than the one the week before at Croydon) and the band finished on a brutal high with a ripping cover of Impaled Nazarene's "We Are Satan's Generation" (complete with corpse paint and upside down crosses!!). Repugnace, and Daniel in particular must be congratulated on their support and dedication to the Australian metal scene over the last few years. Also coming to an end is the monthly Re-Pug-Nant zine. Of course, there were no major reasons why the band decided to call it a day. After playing together for 7 years, they all have different interests and musical tastes to when they started and have now decided to go off and do their own thing. Stay tuned for another release though, apparently there is some new material that may be recorded and released sometime soon. R.I.P Repugnance.

Still on the topic of last week's Arthouse gig though, who didn't walk away after watching Frankenbok with the BIGGEST smile on their face and their eardrums totally destroyed?! NOT ME!!! Fuck, what a show!! The place was packed and most of the crowd up the front took it upon themselves to jump up and down and slam into anyone else who was doing the same while the 'Bok did their thing on the (small) Arthouse stage. It was really great to see. Aaron must be congratulated on his effort during the last song where he managed to crowd surf and not maim or kill anyone with the head of his guitar!! (or land flat on his arse!)
Also, congrats to Hutch for turning 24! (Err, your pressies in the mail mate!)

And did anyone manage to catch the band's CRUSHING live-to-air performance on 3MU a few weeks ago? I for one did, well not only did I hear it, I also SAW it too (being that it was during my radio show!) which was fucking cool. Again, thanks to the guys for being so cool to come in to the studio and play. The two sets they did were recorded and MIGHT be for sale sometime in the future. So look out for that (if it does happen). In the meantime, stay tuned to 3MU and you can hear tracks from it played on "The Live Lounge" (Tuesdays, 8-10pm) and "Cryptic Coroner" (Tuesdays, 10pm-midnight). Tune in to 95.7 on the FM dial.
Frankenbok have quite a busy touring schedule coming up (supporting Skinlab (USA) as well as a few interstate trips to Adelaide, Sydney and Canberra!), so check the gig guide for all the Melbourne dates coming up.

Another band who will be trekking interstate soon are Dreadnaught. Their new album "Down To Zero" is out now and it is an absolute ball-tearer of an album. Changing from fast paced rock fuelled tracks to some rather, ahem, "beautiful" mellow/moody type numbers, all keeping to a familiar Dreadnaught sound, this album is set to do great things for the band. Check it out now, it will surely be in many people's "albums of the year" list come the end of 2000. And as I said, the band will be getting in the van and touring the country to launch the album over the next month. The Melbourne launch takes place on Friday the 28th of April at the Hi-Fi Bar along with label mates Segression (also launching their new album, "Smile") aswell as Third Symptom. There's also an ALL AGES show the following day which Dreadnaught and Segression will both be playing, along with Frankenbok, The Wolves, Taken, Carnage and Twelve 27 at Venom Nightclub in Dandenong. Check out all the details for both events in the gig guide.

Some trouble in the Blood Duster camp as of late. Finn has apparently quit and the rest of the band are now on the prowl for a new guitarist. If you think you could take his place, email Jason PC at jasonpc@net2000.com.au with your details. This news comes at a bad time, just as the band have been confirmed as co-headliners (with Speed Demons) at the upcoming "High Voltage 2000" show on May 20th at the Corner Hotel. Whether they will fill the position and be able to play in time is anyones guess, but keep your eyes and ears open and this will hopefully be sorted out soon.
Also, the boys have set up their own "Hippy Kill Team Fan Club"!! Cool... Send your name, address and age to the following address:

Blood Duster Hippy Kill Team Fan Club
PO Box 1109
North Fitzroy, VIC
3068

Also playing at the above mentioned gig on May 20th (as well as maybe an ALL AGES show on the same day!) are The Wolves who are still hard at work putting the finishing touches to their debut album due for release soon on Dark Carnival Records. They'll take a break from the recording process for a gig next week at Goo (Metro) along with Dreadnaught, WAR, and Truth Corroded (making the trip over again from SA). The guys are gearing up for a big national tour in a few months time when the album is released which should be a big Dark Carnival tour (ala the recent World War 3 - Chatterbox tour) which should be great.

Congratulations to Vanishing Point who will be off to Germany in August to play at the annual Wacken Open-Air Festival, performing amongst many international names such as Cradle Of Filth, Vader, Venom, Stratovarius and many more over the three days of METAAAAAAAAAL!

Still no release yet from Earth, although there are whispers around of an album launch on the horizon. Lets just hope this comes true and we FINALLY get to hear what they've recorded. For now we'll just have to be content with seeing them play live, check the gig guide for upcoming shows (which include a gig with Pod People from Canberra at the Arthouse!!! Hell YEAH!!! GO THE PODS!!)

Still on the topic of Canberra bands for a second, I've just gotta make mention of a release which should no doubt be on high rotation in everyones stereos at the moment. Alchemist's newie "Organasm". Fuck me, is it amazing or what??!!!! Truly a world class effort that pretty much shits on a lot of the O/S crap that's coming out lately. Australia's finest, hands down. Spoke to bassist John after their MIND BLOWING set at the "World War 3" gig at the Greyhound last night and he mentioned that the Metal For The Brain show will NOT be at the ANU Bar in Canberra this year. The owners aren't willing to de-lisence the venue anymore so to keep with the ALL AGES spirit of the show, it will now be held somewhere else in Canberra. Look out for official details as it gets closer to November.

Alchemist "Organasm" - front runner for my album of the year.

And remember to catch "Cryptic Coroner", Tuesday nights from 10pm to midnight on 3MU 95.7 FM. If you haven't tuned in yet, do so cause so far you've missed out on interviews with The Wolves, Truth Corroded (SA), Frankenbok, Dreadnaught and Psi.Kore (NSW) plus an EXCLUSIVE live-to-air performance from Frankenbok. Coming up soon on the show will be heaps more metal, local and overseas, plus a weekly gig guide, interviews and just general metal shennanigans that you would expect from two young lads who have a passionate love for the metal they play!
For more info on the show, check out the website.

(Also, just confirmed.... Skinlab (USA) interview - Tuesday 16th of May.... Any questions you want answered mail em here, or call us up on the show (03) 9905 5398, and we'll try and get an answer when we speak to the guys.)

Oh, and check out some of the new websites over in the new look links page, plenty of great metal resources  and band sites for you to check out.

Till next time....stay metal and support YOUR scene!

-Ozz

March 2nd, 2000

Greetings once again metal brothers and sisters. Well, I managed to make it back from my Sydney jaunt in one piece and although I didn't really get to see any local metal bands doin' their thing while I was there I still managed to have a great time and met some super friendly people along the way who I hope to see again when I return.

But for now I'm back home in Melbourne, the metal capital of Australia. And it seems as if I've returned just in time. Gigs, gigs, gigs and more gigs coming up which promise to be a great night of metal for all who attend.

First up, Earth make their return to the live circuit after a few months absence with a headlining spot at ETs on the 3rd of March with Order Of Chaos, Toecutter and Dezakrate. There is also another gig the following week at The Arthouse on the 11th with W.A.R. so get along and witness the band's mighty return.
The Earth crew were kind enough to reply to a letter I wrote them a couple of months ago. There was some important info in it but being that my room is in a shocking state at the moment, I seem to have misplaced it! DOH!! From memory though, there was info about their album FINALLY being released thru Black Hole in mid-April I think. They'll be taking mail order for it through their postal address and will also be starting a mailing list. So anyone who wants to get on it, all you gotta do is send them a mail stating the obvious. SO GO DO IT NOW!!!!

Earth
610 Fullarton Rd
Keilor Park, VIC
3042

Frankenbok, can they do no wrong? Apart from playing gigs left, right and centre, appearing on local metal radio show "The Hard Report", getting national airplay on Triple J's "3 Hours of Power", releasing their debut album on Shock (last Monday!!!) and generally infecting metal minds with their own brand of "diet coke" metal, the band now have plans to record ANOTHER album!! As if the first one wasn't enough!!! It's satisfying to see a band like Frankenbok gaining the recognition they truly deserve. Well done boys, and keep up the good work!! For those who haven't seen/heard Frankenbok yet. WHERE THE FUCK HAVE YOU BEEN HIDING?!?!?! Get out there and see them live or pick up their debut disc, "Greetings & Salutations"
in the shops now.
Upcoming gigs for the boys include the big Sub Carnage metal night at the Hi-Fi Bar along with The Wolves, Earth & Bowel Mouth on Friday the 17th of March, aswell as another South Australian visit on the 3rd and 4th of March along with Truth Corroded.

Speaking of another band who are gaining the support of more of the metal community, how good were the fucking Wolves at Slipknot and the Big Day Out?!?!?!?!?! Omigod! I'm just speechless. If they keep doing what they are doing then I don't think anything will stop them in their quest for world domination!!! Beware!!!
Rumours are that when their debut album is completed, the band will set off on a national tour around May, maybe with Psi.Kore from Sydney. Stay tuned for more details as they come to hand.

Superheist put on an awesome set a few weeks ago with Henry's Anger from Canberra (who also rocked the house with their new singer Steve Simmons). The boys have since taken off on a national tour in support of Grinspoon and will play dates around Melbourne this weekend. For those who don't want to put up with the Grinspoon crowd OR band, Superheist will be playing their own headlining show on Saturday at the Espy (Gershwin Room) in St. Kilda. Their new CD "8 Miles High" is an absolute ripper! Clocking in at around 35 minutes for a measly $10, this disc will appeal to a wide range of listeners with its varying degrees of heaviness and melody.

Melbourne's home of metal, Metal Mayhem has made the move back to the old stomping ground of Banana Alley, Flinders Lane (previous home of Metal Labryinth) and to celebrate the move to this most darkest of locations the team are offering a 10% discount for the first week of business. Get on down and show your support for this fine metal institution.

With the school season back in, a few Universitys are beginning their radio broadcast for the year. Some people may remember a certain program from last year on 3MU FM called Cryptic Coroner. PREPARE FOR ITS RETURN VERY SOON...... (well, hopefully!)
Anyway, stay tuned for some metal shows on the airwaves as the info comes to hand.

Of course, to stay up to date on all the metal happenings in Melbourne you MUST remember to tune your radio to the following shows weekly:

Red Stink Of Metal
Demon Night
Screaming Symphony
3PBS 106.7 FM - from 8pm to 2am
Wednesday nights

The Hard Report
3RRR 102.7 FM - 10pm to midnight
Sunday nights
(this week is their monthly all-Australian show)

Till next time..... support YOUR scene and stay brutal!

-Ozz