Metal News.

A reminder that local '90s metal outfit Shurakai will be having their reunion gig at the Lizard Lounge on Sat 12 May, with fellow locals One Step Beyond and Team Metal. Doors open at 9 PM. Tickets can be bought at the door or purchased at a slightly lower price beforehand from Team Metal; for more info, go to www.myspace.com/teammetalgrind.

Those who saw Norway's Arcturus play here at the Enigma Bar in March should feel very special; you were privileged to see not just that band's first show here, but also, it would seem, their last. Yes, in case you haven't already heard, Arcturus have broken up, citing, bizarrely enough, their successful tour of this country as one of the reasons for their shock decision to dissolve. According to the source that broke the news to me, "the band just thought that the time was right, the moment had come, and that, due to their tour of Australia being so successful, they wanted to go out on top". Um... OK.

In other news of band breakups, Sydney's Infernal Method have also decided to call it a day. In their case, their decision to split up was brought about by the departure of both their guitarists, and there are no plans to reform. The band apologise to everyone affected by their decision, and thank fans for all their support.

Anyone remember Armoured Angel? The Canberra-based death metal band formed way back in 1984, but really only came to prominence during the '90s, when they released a couple of EPs, 'Stigmartyr' and 'Mysterium', as well as their only full-length to date, 'Order Of The Sixth Angel'. The last thing came out in 1999, around which time the band seemed to simply disappear. Their "classic lineup" of Matt and Joel Green, and Glen "Lucy" Luck has recently reformed, however, and plans are underway to have a compilation album, 'Trisagion', out this year. 'Trisagion' will contain remastered versions of every song the above trio recorded, as well as a couple of videos for 'Mysterium' songs Enigmatize and Elegy. An American fan has posted some of Armoured Angel's material up at www.myspace.com/armouredangelfanpage.

Those who read this column regularly may recall me plugging an online radio show from Canada called 'Radioactive Metal', which features interesting discussion on metal-related topics. At the end of every show, the programme features an "indie spotlight" segment, which plays a song from an independent metal band that can come from anywhere around the world. Well, Adelaide's own Imminent Psychosis are one of the latest groups to feature on this segment; to find out more, go to www.radioactivemetal.net.

Sweden's Dismember have just parted ways with longtime drummer Fred Estby, who has left the band due to family commitments. The split appears amicable, and the group have vowed not to let it affect their future plans. Estby's departure leaves vocalist Matti Karki and guitarist David Blomqvist as the only remaining members of the lineup that recorded the band's debut album, 'Like An Everflowing Stream'.

Canada's Cryptopsy have also lost a member, in this instance vocalist Lord Worm (real name Dan Greening). The band have so far not divulged Worm's reasons for leaving; all they've said is that the departure wasn't voluntary.

The lucky groups to feature in this column's obscure band plug are a couple of extreme outfits from Europe. The first of these are a death/grind band from the Netherlands called Desensitised, who formed in 1994 under the name Catafalque. One of the still-small number of metal bands to feature a woman in their lineup, they have a female guitarist and backing vocalist called, appropriately enough, Susan Gerl (sorry, I couldn't resist). They're currently on hold (perhaps because they're currently looking for a new bass player and drummer); nonetheless, you can still sample their wares at www.myspace.com/desensitised. Secondly, from Denmark (and considerably more interesting than another stupid royal baby) comes Thorium, a death metal band named after a radioactive metal just a couple of spots away from uranium on the Periodic Table. Give them a listen at www.myspace.com/thoriumdeathmetal.


James Brazel (jbr09171@bigpond.net.au)