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Band: Empyrean Genre: Symphonic Black Metal Origin: Brisbane, Australia Formed: 2003 Website: www.empyreanmetal.com Myspace: www.myspace.com/empyreanband For the final month of 2008, our Metal Obsession feature band will be Empyrean, the exciting Symphonic Black Metal band out of Brisbane, Australia. A figure in the Brisbane scene since their conception in mid-2003, Empyrean has pushed the boundaries as they develop their powerful black metal soundscapes in the ongoing struggle that is 'to be heard' in the languished Australian metal scene. Through the bands history, the sextet have shared the stage with ... Read More

Featured band for early November 2008: Band: The Eternal Genre: Doom/Gothic Metal Origin: Melbourne, Australia Formed: 2003 Website: www.the-eternal.com Myspace: www.myspace.com/theeternalband The Eternal formed in Melbourne, Australia in mid-2003. Later that year, they signed a two-album deal with Firebox Records of Finland on the strength of a self-titled promotional EP. Their debut album for Firebox 'The Sombre Light of Isolation' was released worldwide in June 2004, and received glowing reviews in both mainstream and underground media around the globe. Darren White (ex-Anathema/The Blood Divine) also contributed guest vocals on ... Read More

Featured band for October 2008: Band: Dawn of Azazel Genre: Death Metal Origin: Auckland, New Zealand Formed: 1997 Website: www.dawnofazazel.com Myspace: www.myspace.com/dawnofazazel Undoubtably the leaders in taking New Zealand metal to the world, New Zealands foremost extreme metal band are set Dawn of Azazel are set to raise the bar both here and abroad with the follow up to their brutal, violent and invovative second album "Sedition". Dawn of Azazel was formed in 1999 in Auckland, New Zealand, and spent the next few years playing shows throughout New Zealand, building ... Read More

Featured band for late September 2008: Band: Ne Obliviscaris Genre: Progressive Black Metal Origin: Melbourne, Australia Formed: 2003 Myspace: www.myspace.com/neobliviscaris Website: www.neobliviscaris.com Initially formed in 2003, Ne Obliviscaris (pronounced; Nay Ob-li-vis-kar-is) hit the live scene February, 2006 to widespread critical acclaim with many hailing their unique sound, intense live shows and extremely talented line-up (drummer Dan Presland won the Australian final of the Worlds Fastest Drummer Competition, crowning him as the Fastest Feet in Australia in 2006). A 6 piece metal band consisting of violin, 2 guitars, bass, drums, clean ... Read More

Featured band for late August 2008: Band: sleepmakeswaves Genre: instrumental post rock Origin: Sydney, Australia Formed: 2006 Myspace: www.myspace.com/sleepmakeswaves Website: www.sleepmakeswaves.com sleepmakeswaves are an instrumental rock band from Sydney, Australia. Drawing influences mainly from but not limited to post-rock, the young quartet mix driving metallic bombast with textured electronics to create a sonic space where delicate melodies and thunderous climaxes peacefully co-exist. Since their formation in late 2006, sleepmakeswaves have rapidly established themselves as a promising and unique voice in their field. Within the space of a year the band ... Read More

Featured Band - August 2008 - The Ocularis Infernum (VIC) Genre: Grindcore/Death Metal Origin: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Formed in: 2000 and something Links: The Ocularis Infernum Myspace - http://www.myspace.com/theocularisinfernum A conceived outlet of frustration enveloped an aural form when bassist David Stepanavicius wrote a few songs in the vein of dissipated projects evolved; with intention to design and create original, intricate and accurate song writing fuelled on nothing but emotion. The Ocularis Infernum took shape with four individual elements to graft a meticulous sound, unique to its own, shedding ... Read More

Genre: Melodic Death/Thrash Metal Origin: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Formed in: 2005 Links: Double Dragon Myspace - http://www.myspace.com/doubledragonheavymetal Bio: Globally there are thousands of metal bands competing for market attention, battling to ensure their place in history, and vying for their hallowed place amongst the metal gods. And no-one could have expected Double Dragon, from a small town at the bottom of the Earth called Adelaide, to be the next band to rub shoulders with metal's elite and produce a classic metal album in the ever changing world ... Read More

Genre: Thrash Metal Origin: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Formed in: 1997 Links: Truth Corroded Official - http://www.truthcorroded.com Truth Corroded Myspace - http://www.myspace.com/truthcorroded Bio: UPON THE WARLORDS CRAWL is Truth Corroded's most accomplished album to date. It is common for a band to declare that the next record they release is the bands 'best work to date'-but for Truth Corroded such a declaration is justified. Previous recordings from the band have showed potential, but have fell short of being a solid body of work, either due to song writing ... Read More

Genre: Technical Death Metal Origin: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia Formed in: 1999 Label: Nuclear Blast Links: Psycroptic Official - http://www.psycroptic.com Psycroptic Myspace - http://www.myspace.com/psycroptic Bio: Hailing from Tasmania, Psycroptic was formed in 1999 with the aim to create their own brand of death metal. After performing numerous shows to gain live experience, Psycroptic entered the Hobart studio Red Planet Recordings in October 2000 to record their debut self financed CD The Isle of Disenchantment. Released in January 2001, The Isle of Disenchantment received an overwhelming response from the metal underground ... Read More

Genre: Melodic Death Metal Origin: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Formed in: 2004 Links: Be'lakor Official - http://www.belakor.net Be'lakor Myspace - http://www.myspace.com/belakor Be'lakor Forum - http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/belakor-490/ Bio: Be’lakor hails from Melbourne, Australia, having formed in mid 2004. The original line-up remains in place: vocals and rhythm guitar are provided by George Kosmas and lead guitars by Shaun Sykes, with Jimmy Vanden Broeck on drums, Steven Merry on keyboards/piano and John Richardson on bass. Drawing inspiration from the grandeur in nature, the ideals of paganism and the drive to recapture true spirituality and heroism ... Read More

Genre: Gothic, Black, Progressive Metal Origin: Wagga Wagga, NSW Formed in: 2004 Links: Leicohtica Official Leicohtica Myspace Leicohtica Forum Bio: Since blazing into the Australian metal scene in mid-2004, Aussie black/goth metal band Leicohtica has proven it's a force to be reckoned with. The band was voted runner-up in the Australian metal music awards, had a top 30 spot in the Musicoz awards, was a finalist in the Jim Beam national battle of the bands and made several highly acclaimed festival appearances, not to mention a slew of interstate tour dates ... Read More