By Rod Whitfield
Welcome to another edition of ‘HEAVY Oz’, where I take a look at a bunch of Aussie bands you need to experience.
Leading up to Melbourne’s ‘Progfest’ mini-festival, I will be featuring a band from the festival’s lineup every week.
Progfest Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/254668718261538/
Make sure you check these bands out, and SUPPORT AUSSIE MUSIC!
1. Alithia
The next Progfest band I will look at is the legendary Alithia. These Melbourne boys have a sound that is virtually indefinable, combining heavy rock, punk, thrash with Latin and world music references, heavy percussion and anything else they can think of at the time. They travel to exotic locations across the planet to record their eclectic works, and their live show is absolutely out of control. Check this band out at Progfest on December 3rd.
https://www.facebook.com/alithiaband/
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odC8fLowqns]
2. Arakeye
This Melbourne-based five piece smash out a very heavy and atmospheric alternative rock sound, and deal with some dark and heavy themes in their lyrics and imagery, shining a light on elitism, inequality and greed. They have an EP out in the world, 2014’s excellent March Divisive, and they launch their debut full-length album Atmosfears on Friday, December 2nd at the Reverence Hotel in Melbourne.
https://www.facebook.com/Arakeye/
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjvwzf_d3Yc]
3. The Damned Humans
The brainchild of Sydney-based musician, composer and writer Elliot Orban, the sound of The Damned Humans could be described as heavy electro/industrial rock. They have toured the States and also do some nasty videos. Check this band out of you dig Nine Inch Nails, Ministry and Rob Zombie. The band are currently working on a new album
https://www.facebook.com/thedamnedhumans/
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjRuKL6x1yE]
4. Engine Three Seven
Once a stalwart of the Byron Bay music scene, this heavy alternative band relocated to Melbourne and hit the scene hard, releasing two extremely well-received EPs and playing live across Melbourne and Australia constantly. They then slipped off the radar for a few years and had some changes to what had been a long and steady lineup. Now they are back, with their long-awaited debut album, which they are launching at The Workers Club in Melbourne on the 28th of October.
https://www.facebook.com/enginethreeseven/
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WG2wsv4UtE]
5. Aries
Not necessarily heavy, but nonetheless springing from one of the true luminaries of the Australian heavy music scene, Adam Glynn. The former frontman for both Frankenbok and Five Star Prison Cell took a breather from heavy music for a while, and in the meantime has produced this weird and wonderful project. Consisting of soundscapes created purely by the human voice, it’s a wonder to behold worth checking out.
https://www.facebook.com/ariessoundscapes/
http://www.ariessoundscapes.com/
