Metal News.

On Fri 12 January, punk/hardcore/rock four-piece Limp Wrist, whose members all hail from different parts of the US, will be doing an all-ages show at the Enigma Bar, with support from Melbourne's True Radical Miracle, as well as locals Stolen Youth and Guantanamo Bay City Rollers. Doors open at 7:30 pm.

Also on Fri 12 January will be a show at the Lizard Lounge featuring A Red Dawn, Deafening Silence, Shot In Paris and Scream Trigger.

On Fri 19 January there'll be an all-ages show at Fowler's Live featuring Melbourne's Gospel Of The Horns, along with locals Raven Black Night, Cauldron Black Ram and Intended Victim, the last group making their long-awaited return to the live scene. Doors open at 7 pm.

On Sat 20 January, the Squatters Arms Hotel will be playing host to Squatfest, a positively humungous all-ages outdoor gig featuring The Rivalry, Stolen Youth, Meat Wallet, The Kerks, Guantanamo Bay City Rollers, Equal-Minded, Leather Messiah, Girls Are For Fags and Miss Golly Gosh, as well as interstate visitors Beyond Terror, Beyond Grace (NSW), Coma Lies (NSW) and Mispent Youth (VIC). The bands start playing at 4 pm and there'll also be DJs as well as activist, music and book stalls.

This year's big Australian Day Metal Fest will be held at the Lizard Lounge on Fri 26 January and will feature among others Geelong's Veil Of Anguish, as well as locals Stargazer, Sarsekim, Quasar, Art In Exile and Obdurate Seduction. Unfortunately, I still don't have the complete line-up for the event; hopefully I will by the time I put my next column together.

Monthly gothic/industrial/darkwave etc. event Necromancy will be having its first show of the New Year on Sat 27 January at the Enigma Bar. DJ Slaughter from Sydney's Deathrock Club will be guest DJing and there'll also be giveaways from Irving Baby. Doors open at 10 pm. For more info go to www.clubnecromancy.com

Local darkwave/melodic death band Art In Exile will be launching their new CD at the Enigma Bar on Sat 3 February with support from Meat Wallet and Order Of The Buzzard. More information as I get it.

Last coming by our way in September 2005, Boston old-school thrash outfit Toxic Holocaust will be returning to Adelaide on Fri 9 March, when they'll be doing a show at Fowler's Live with fellow thrashers Abigail, "The most evil band in Japan." Those unfamiliar with them can acquaint themselves with their material by going to www.myspace.com/toxicholocaust

Once again, Iv'e chosen to indulge my curious obsession with Middle Eastern metal by giving a lug for another Saudi Arabian metal band: this time, a five-piece called Wasted Land. Hailing from the Red Sea port of Jeddah, Wasted Land play melodic death and list their biggest influences as Dark Tranquillity, In Flames and a German outfit called Suidakra. They recently took third place in a metal competition held in Dubai, in the neighbouring United Arab Emirate and have gained some overseas exposure by getting a song, Bells Of The Falling Castle, included on a couple of compilations: one Belgian, the other American. To check them out, go to www.myspace.com/wastedland1; unfortunately, what songs they have up there are no longer downloadable, though they once were (I've noticed this about a few of the bands I've plugged so far, in fact, which is annoying); if you like what you hear and would like to download it, try either their official website, www.wastedland.net, or www.soundclick.com/wastedlandsa. Also check out Sound Of Ruby, another Saudi band (this one from Dammam) at www.myspace.com/soundofruby. They're not strictly metal but have a strong association with their country's metal underground and the style of music they play - a fusion of grunge, punk and indie - should appeal to many readers of this column.

James Brazel
(jbr09171@bigpond.net.au)