Metal News.

First up, belated congratulations to Finnish metal band Lordi for winning this year's Eurovision contest; it was good to see a metal act emerging victorious in the competition (although I have to admit that I also had a bit of a soft spot for the Lithuanians and their ridiculously brazen attempt to get people to vote for them, as well as the UK act, with its skanky schoolgirls). On a more disappointing note, The Dillinger Escape Plan's Liam Wilson, mentioned in the previous column, did not win animal rights group PETA's 'World's Sexiest Vegetarian' contest; instead the coveted title went to both Prince, and 'Veronica Mars' actress, Kristen Bell. And now onto more important news...

Having just completed a national tour with Orange County's Bleeding Through, Melbourne-based hardcore band Carpathian will be hitting the road again, this time to promote their debut full-length album, 'Nothing to Lose' (out now on Resist Records). Adelaide will be the band's first port-of-call on this new tour; the group doing an all-ages show at Fowler's Live on Thurs 8 Jun.

A reminder that local death metal band Slaughter Thou will be making their long-awaited return to the live scene on Fri 9 Jun at Incineration 2. This all-ages event will be held at Fowler's Live, and will also feature Sarsekim, Beyond Mortal Dreams and Obsidian Aspect.

A reminder also that the latest Giant CD, DVD, Record, Comic and Book Sale will be taking place at the Adelaide Showgrounds during the Queen's Birthday long weekend. Not strictly a metal event, I know, but there are bound to be a lot of things there to interest the average metal fan, particularly since the wares on offer will also include cassettes, sheet music, concert T-shirts, music memorabilia and posters. The event runs from 10 AM to 5 PM each day, and a small entry fee applies; children under 12, however, will be admitted free.

On Sat 10 Jun, local band Murder Hill will be doing a show at the new Lizard Lounge (the Night Train complex on Light Square) with Imminent Psychosis, Blood Mason and Whoregasm. Doors open at 8 PM. Murder Hill also have another gig planned for this month; on Fri 30 Jun, they'll be doing a free (but unfortunately over-18s only) show at the Crown And Anchor with Deafening Silence and Victorians Blind Nation. The band wish to advise that they also have a very limited number of original print T-shirts available, and will be selling them at gigs.

Also on the night of the 10th will be an all-ages show at Fowler's Live featuring Gold Coast band The Secret Death and Victoria's The Abandonment, as well as locals The Rivalry, Equal Minded and Abandon All Hope. Doors open at 7 PM.

On Fri 16 Jun, there will be an all-ages show at the Underground featuring Lotosoma, Locura, Fall of Reason and Twelve Straight Months of Winter. Doors open at 7 PM.

On Fri 23 Jun, there will be a huge show at the Rocket Bar headlined by Michigan's Wolf Eyes, a band whose music has been described as "somewhere between Slayer and Throbbing Gristle, with elements of Merzbow, Whitehouse, Darkthrone, free improv and classic dub". Also on the bill will be Melbourne's Grey Daturas and True Radical, as well as locals My Sister The Cop and The Bitches Of Zeus. One of the last band's members, Daniel Varricchio, will also be DJing on the night, as will Jon Dale of The Wire Magazine, and this esteemed publication's very own Lenin Simos.

And finally, I was recently sent the following surprising metal-related message from the other side of the world (you never know who's reading your work!): "Hey what's up!!! Please check out One Day Left, a new band outta the NYC area. Just check out a song or 2 and let us know what ya think!!! All responses are def. appreciated. Thanx for your time!!!!" To check out the above group, go to www.myspace.com/onedayleft; to give feedback on what you find there, e-mail Brian McKean care of b.onedayleft@verizon.net. And any other bands out there who'd like me to give them a mention (wherever you may hail from), please feel free to drop me a line.

Incidentally, I've finally got a fully functional e-mail connection from home again, so hopefully compiling this column will be a little easier than it's been since about, oh, the middle of last year or so. Send any news to my new address of jbr09171@bigpond.net.au.

James Brazel


Get your metal news to brazel@iprimus.com.au right now.