BIO:
Describing …and Chaos is like removing a tumor with a tooth pick. It may kind of make sense, but… I mean come on.
5 guys having a good time, doing what they love, because they love it is probably the most comprehensive description possible for these young lads. The band always strives to play the music they want, and don’t allow current or past trends to dictate their direction. The direction obviously draws influence from outside, but isn’t set by it. Influences such as Pantera, Machine Head, Megadeth and many others help point …and Chaos on its own direction.
The only definitive way to get an idea of a band is not by reading a description that a slightly hungry, faintly smelly narrator may or may not have written, but by listening to them. I don’t know whether or not the band will tickle your particular fancy, but I can promise you one thing: when they play, every last bit of energy will be dished out to the audience. Just make sure you’re in it.
…and Chaos became active in early 2007, with their first gig on the 22nd of February at Dragon’s Lounge in Edenvale, with Warthane, drawing a large, metal-loving crowd. Soon after, the band entered the Kempton Park battle of the bands (2nd gig), where they would eventually reach the finals. To the band’s utter delight, they were selected to play at Grimfest ’07, for their third gig. This was a big one. It culminated in the first of many walls of death; with the second occurring just minutes after the first. It was around this time that the band recorded a rough version of A Story Told (which can still be found on the band’s myspace page [www.myspace.com/andchaos]).
Among the festivals and venues at which …and Chaos have played are: Tempo’s, Steamers, Bell’s Sundowner, Dakota Rocks, Dragon’s Lounge, Vaughans, and billions and gazillions more. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the band had to pull out of Summoning II, due to a hand injury sustained by guitarist as a result of excessive strawberry picking (masturbation).
The band plans to record an EP very soon, but unfortunately, raising funds by whoring one’s self off is both time consuming and STDalicious.
BIO:
Formed in the early 90’s as a non stereo typical thrash act, Agro added new life, combined with aggression and constant entertainment to a rock scene that had become saturated by bay area style death metal clones, within a few short years the band honed their craft, expanding musically and added a neo classical touch with a keyboard player to the already powerful melodic twin guitar attack. This resulted in a power metal/thrash structured songs with an aggressive yet audible vocal approach that added depth and originality to the then stagnating metal scene in South Africa.
The band has and never will compromise their sound and forge forward in the true heavy metal spirit with continuous live shows that offers everyone a show of true professional musicianship combined with a hedonistic, larger than life, tongue in cheek attitude. Fueled with beer and the true rock n’ roll party spirit, all these years later with 5 full albums and African and European tours under their belts Agro will now take there original African thrash to the four corners of the globe and beyond with their 6th album having been signed up for world wide release. Get ready to hail the brightest light from the darkest continent.
R.I.P
DAVID “MOUNTAIN” KIETZMANN 25-10-1974 to 20-10-1996
ALAN PENNICOTT 06-10-1951 to 03-11-2007
www.agro-metal.com
BIO:
The innovation of Tom and Kyle, All Forlorn was conceived in 2005 December the 26th and when looking for a guitarist they discovered Craig and his remarkable skills. Together they launched one of the most formidable metal bands ever to hit South Africa. Driving drums, gut wrenching vocals and ear bleeding guitars is the order of the day and most of the night. All Forlorn has a solid unique sound with impressive guitar work and drumming like you’ve never heard before. Also they have been selected to play the 777 show, which is the biggest publicity stunt ever pulled-off by metal bands in Africa. It was at this time that Marc was head hunted and joined as the heavy handed bassist. Also All Forlorn was asked to play in Botswana. Currently All Forlorn has a demo out with 3 songs and should you be brave enough to listen to it you’d understand why they are undoubtedly a force to reckon with so don’t stand in their way.
BIO:
Power Metal from Pretoria, Ancient Influence is set to bring the Power of Heavy Metal to this craving country with its Melodic yet Heavy Metal elements. Old school die hard Metal fans will be forced to bang their heads and rock to the pounding sounds of Ancient Influence.
Influenced by the very best of Metal bands from all over the world, we set out to start our own unique brand of Heavy Metal right here in South Africa. Metal fans who enjoy the music of bands like Iron Maiden, Blind Guardian, Rhapsody, Manowar, Gamma Ray, Sonata Arctica and Helloween will be relieved to find that there is now a band who answers the Metal call in the country and will do their very best to bring quality music to the Metal fans.
Forged in 2003 by members Rian, Henko & Izak… the current line-up was completed in January 2007. Rocking the crowd at numerous live shows in and around Pretoria, Johannesburg and Potchefstroom incl. the Aardklop Festival in 2006 and upcoming Nightfall Festival featuring metal legends Blind Guardian … looking forward to play for years to come!!!
Good ol old school Power Metal! High pitched vocals, fast track melodic guitars, duel guitar solo's, pounding drums, lots of double base, atmospheric keyboards and powerful bass lines!
BIO:
Formed in the beginning of 2006, Autumn Sun consists of four talented and committed individuals with aspirations of world domination. The music is fast, energetic, technical and heavy, without any compromise of melody whatsoever.
HISTORY OF THE BAND
The music started at the beginning of 2004 when Pepi decided that, after 3 years of playing guitar, it was time to start a band. Unfortunately a drummer was nowhere to be found… So he bought a drum set and asked his friend Jeff (who at the time was also playing guitar) to fill in on the drums until a replacement was found. At that time the bassist was David and the lead vocalist was Jules. The band was called Skapegoat and played a mixture of so-cal punk and old school ‘Iron Maiden’ type music. The band went on to win the King David battle of the bands for a R5000 voucher to be spent at Marshall Music and was played on 5 FM, one of the most popular Radio Stations in South Africa during the Kevin Fine show. Skapegoat also participated and won other talent shows and recorded a 3 track demo. The band has played with acts such as Tweak and In Dreams. Jeff was no longer considered a stand-in drummer as he quickly picked up speed and agility; he is now a full time drummer. Unfortunately David, the bassist at the time, had a slight altercation with Pepi and decided to pursue a solo career. The lead vocalist, Jules was then dismissed because of change in musical direction.
Enter Shaun, the new bassist. With three times the speed, agility and creativeness that David had, Shaun was a welcome relief to the band. He gave the band more depth and life creating the illusion of an even faster type of music. The band then decided to recruit Shelley on keyboards. This gave the band so much to work with that songs seemed to flow as smoothly as ever….
THE BIRTH OF AUTUMN SUN
2006 and the band is now complete and all that was needed was a suitable name. ‘Autumn Sun’ was suggested after one of our own songs titled: “Autumn Sun over the Decaying Sister Fallen”. The music is pure, fast, melodic and energetic. Armed with a show and presence nothing short of the feeling of asphyxiation, Autumn Sun will not let you capture your breath until the very last note has bled through your ears.
INFLUENCES
Everything. Metal, Punk, Experimental, Jazz, Blues, Electronica, Techno, etc.
Anything with melody and gets the hair standing on end is our influence.
Iron Maiden, Pink Floyd, Muse, Death By Stereo, Amon Tobin, Brainbug, Paul Okenfold, Misfits, Boards Of Canada, etc…
MEMBERS (Left To Right):
Pepi Petkov – Guitar, Vocals.
Jeff De Gouveia – Drums.
Shaun Oliver – Bass, Backing Vocals.
Shelley Smith – Keyboards, Backing Vocals.
BIO:
Lauded as S.A's heaviest and most brutal band, Architecture Of Aggression consists of a three man demolition team and is respected/reviled throughout the S.A metal community. More infamous than famous, known for their outspokenness on subjects ranging from censorship, politics to matters of religion. They are well respected for their musical prowess and technicality as well as a strong sense of groove and have influences ranging from deathmetal through to jazz and progressive rock! Monsters on stage, their live shows are hectic and their mosh pits are legendary! Come see what all the hype is about.... if you dare.
MEMBERS:
Drums/vocals: Anton Alberts
Guitars/vocals: Van Alberts
Bass: William Bishop
BIO:
Chokehold was formed in 2004 when 2 members of Funeral, drummer Logan Kelso and guitarist Darryl Parkinson reunited. Vocalist Alex Trapani and bassist Chris Watson joined soon after.
The bands sound grew out of varied influences into their brand of Metal with strong riffs and memorable choruses.
After a few months of rehearsals the debut gig took place at The Snuggery with Agro, Sacrifist and C4. This was followed by the Motherfudd festival and the Halloween metal fest at the Blue moon (with a brief experiment with a second guitarist). Gigs at London Calling and Tempo's (The Summoning) followed soon.
The first single "Hypocrites and Hero's" was recorded with a music video and put onto the internet for fans to download.
2007 has been a year of intense gigging, with the Chokehold fan base growing continually. Festivals this year include Seasons Wither, Sun2Moon and Summoning 2.
In 2007 Hugo Pelzer (ex C4) joined Chokehold on lead guitar adding fire power to the music.
MEMBERS:
Alex - Vocals
Chris - Bass
Darryl - Guitar
Logan - Drums
Hugo - Lead Guitar
BIO:
The band was officially formed in the beginning of 2003 but Faf has been writing and performing as choking!hazard (with numerous line-ups) since 1999. The band consists of five members: Faf Kotze (Vocals), Louis Venter (Lead Guitar), Tiens van Zyl (Bass) and Henk Kramer (Drums). All members have played in and with numerous bands before, but eventually all signed up with choking!hazard as the band's ongoing success proved not to end. Playing live really brings out their passion for music and choking!hazard prides themselves in having a lively, dynamic, fun, energetic and interactive stage performance which altogether provides for a must-see show. The choking!hazard sound is a combination of Rock - Melodic and Heavy, Hard Rock, Nu Metal, Metal, Hardcore Punk and Alternative. Influenced by bands such as Avenged Sevenfold, Saliva, Breaking Benjamin, Bullet for my Valentine, 36 Crazy Fists, Trivium and a host of other bands. It's easy to see how the sound has been sculpted into choking!hazard. choking!hazard has gone through a slight lineup change and are currently busy writing and recording new material with a newer sound and fresher vibe. You will be choked with energy, melodic heavy tones, and riffs to die for when seeing this band live!
BIO:
The band started playing live in December 2005, Chromium performed their first showcase at “ROCK YOUR MIND 5, for a first show they had a full house and rocked it to the floor. It was obvious from this moment on that the band had a lot of potential and carried on to perform more shows.
After getting a lot of interest for a track called “Set Me Free” which was sent out as a free track on the internet the band caught the interest of Johannesburg based record label ALTER EGO that immediately saw the potential of the band.
November 2006, CHROMIUM relocates to Johannesburg. In this time they also received an Endorsement from Hughes & Kettner (One of the best amplification brands of all time) & Marshall Music (SA’s leading music store)
“As a first release by this four piece band, Intro Spectre, it is nothing short of a metal masterpiece where Metallica meets Kill Switch Engage. One of the best metal acts to be born out of the dark southern depths of Africa there is no shortage of great songs on this album. From the catchy and melodic 'SET ME FREE' to the angst and speed of 'EX AMINO', the listener will be taken on a dark and aggressive journey. The artwork is 1st class and is an excellent introduction for this new band hailing from Port Elizabeth.” – as quoted by Rebel Rock
Since Chromium has moved up to Johannesburg they’ve done just under 100 performances in just under a year, doing all they can to push themselves throughout the country. From Port Elizabeth, to Grahamstown, East London, Pietermaritzburg, Durban, Cape Town & Pretoria, also including their new home town Johannesburg – Their name has become very familiar… If you haven’t SEEN them yet, you’ve heard of them.
MEMBERS:
Jared Gunston - Guitar & Melodic Vocals
Matthew Engelbrecht - Guitar & Screamo Vocals
Adrian Basson - Bass Guitar & Backing Vocals
Hannes Matthysen - Drums
BIO:
The idea for Contrast the Water started brewing in vocalist Barry’s mind about two years ago. He finally sold the idea to Grant friend and colleague, and the planning began.
The idea was to make extreme metal that was socially conscious and had a message about the serious decline of morality in our country, and the troubling phenomenon of people in SA beginning to accept violence and degradation as part of their lives.
They initially practiced up to six times a week, sometimes 13 to 14 hours a day. And by five weeks of being together had six songs down and three recorded songs for an EP, and another 3 to 4 on the burner. They still keep to a strict rehearsal schedule and no time is wasted.
The end of 2006 saw a line up change with Raymond taking over playing the drums, he has fitted in very well with the band and has added a lot more diversity to the music.
MEMBERS:
Barry – Vox
Grant – Bass
Allen – Lead Guitar
Chris – Rhythm Guitar
Raymond - Drums
BIO:
Formed in 2000 n something… Debriis is made up of 4 members each one a genius is his field, Kgame on vocals, Ray on Guitar, Ant on Bass and Wynand on drums. Debriis’ style has changed over the past 3 years and has become one of the most hardcore acts on the scene today, piercing vocals mixed with fast and technical bass and guitar and completed with creative and insane drumming. Influenced by some of the most hardcore metal bands on the scene today Debriis is a fully fledged metal outfit pushing the envelope of South African music, punishing the senses and breaking society down to its knees! The eclectic sound of Debriis ringing through the night air truly makes Africa a deeper, darker continent!
BIO:
Deity's Muse has been kicking it around the South African rock scene for more than 6 years now. They're renowned for their inspired & tight live performances, incorporating their flawless blend of original rock & metal influenced music.
Think Black Sabbath, Tool, Soundgarden and Alice In Chains with enough twists to make this band stand out among other South African outfits in the rock scene. Appearances at top S.A. festivals and various T.V. & radio shows are a testament to this band's hard working attitude, not to mention their constant gigging schedule.
Deity's Muse has recently expanded to a 4 piece lineup with the addition of Riaan on guitar, thus creating a bigger, tighter, heavier, more layered sound. If you like your rock to be heavy, catchy & groovy, then check these guys out.
BIO:
Egregore began during early May of 2007 as the brainchild of Matt Gradwell.
Egregore is a Black Metal Band, influenced mostly by Dimmu Borgir; Old Man's Child; Carpathian Forest; Control Human Delete; Hypocrisy; and Yyrkoon.
Egregore (also "egregor") is an occult concept representing a "thought form" or "collective group mind", an autonomous psychic entity made up of, and influencing, the thoughts of a group of people. The symbiotic relationship between an egregore and its group has been compared to the more recent, non-occult concepts of the "modern-day corporation".
The word "egregore" (also "grigori") is a transliteration of the Greek word, egregoroi, meaning "watchers". This word appears in the septuagint translation of the Book of Lamentations, as well as the Book of Jubilees and the Book of Enoch.
Eliphas Lévi, in Le Grand Arcane ("The Great Mystery", 1868) identifies "egregors" (sic) with the tradition concerning the fathers of the nephilim, describing them as "terrible beings" that "crush us without pity because they are unaware of our existence."
The concept of the egregore was developed in works of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and the Rosicrucians, and has been referenced by writers such as Valentin Tomberg.
Stephen King's concept of Ka-tet in The Dark Tower series could be compared to an egregore.
MEMBERS:
Camron Mackay (Lead Vocals)
Matt Gradwell (Bass Axe, Backing Vocals)
Leonard Grove (Lead Axe)
Nick Pearton (Rhythm Axe)
Laura Ann Harvey (Keys)
Michael Kelly (Percussion)
BIO:
In 2005 the slow stagnation and downward spiral of decay in South African Metal began. Most came to the realisation that Metal was slowly dying out in our country...something had to be done and fast! 2006 marked the beginning of a new era for the music genre.
In the small town of Secunda in Mpumalanga, plans were being made, strategies formulated, and techniques honed to combat this dark spiral. The musical talents of Nathan Wilson, Daniel Wilson, Shay Kallie and Kevin Webber came together and Elegy was formed…
In January 2007, Elegy were ready to destroy, it brought with it a multitude of gigs, the power of the music left the crowd gasping for breath after every song, as well as slowly, but surely, building an ever-growing loyal fan base. March 2007 saw Elegy sign with Grim Music SA and a month later, the release of their debut self titled 3 track EP. The response to the 3 tracks was overwhelming earning many more shows, including festivals such as Seasons Wither, The Summoning II, Bellsfest and Battle for Woodstock.
Be sure there is much more to come. Elegy… A force to be reckoned with…
BIO:
Synaptic progression and cosmic melody deviating into forbidden plains… Erebus is a culmination of influences stretching over a period of three years and nine members, finally settling on the fervidity as it is known today. True to the form of symphonic black metal, inspirations of their amity spawned from deities such as All Shall Perish, Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy, At the Gates, Behemoth, Becoming the Archtype, Borknagar, Covenant, Dark Funeral, Dimmu Borgir, Gehenna, Old Man’s Child, Opeth, Emperor, Vesania, Yyrkoon and Zyklon.
Erebus is:
Catalyst attributes and possessor of demonic tongues, Richard, voice and libertine of melancholy and arcane genesis. Benign his haunting symphony on keys, Riaan, stringer of melodies that transpire through carapace, inducing soulful inflictions.
Raven, the piper, so graciously he shares the lead on axe, summoning the assembly like moths to the flame. Screaming sirens, a warning as he approaches, Michiel, abettor axe yielder, scriber of songs. Pulse of the great march, epoch by his hands, dexterously he commands the pace, Colin, battery. The eminence, he adjurates the horde, bestowing the ultimate essence, Steven, Bass.
BIO:
"In the darkness that fades, in the smoke thats clearing, a new dawn arises. Look past the ashes, stare deep in the chaos, their war is over, ours has just begun. Hold on to your hope, nothing else will save you. Stand your ground, fight back with a vengeance."
In an industry that has been complicated by genres and sub-genres, people seem to have forgotten an important factor, the music. Far Beyond Driven is an aggressive metal band with a mixture of influences. Melodic, yet brutal guitar riffs, backed by a hard-hitting rhythm section and rounded off with powerful vocals, Far Beyond Driven will have your necks in braces before you can chant the name.
"We will not waste time and look to the past, for the future is of more importance."
History is history, water under the bridge. Far Beyond Driven is a collection of musicians who have grown from their experiences and now have a new goal; play till it bleeds, for us, for you and for everyone that has the courage to stand against the current.
MEMBERS:
Milan Milosevic - Vox
David Callaghan - Guitar
Willie Prins - Bass
Charl Cilliers - Drums
BIO:
Jo Day is a rock artiste based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Her sound could be called ‘Heavy Melodic Modern Rock’, with influences ranging from gospel to heavy metal.
In 2002, Jo released her first album “icon” which delivered four radio hits in South Africa. She formed a band and began to perform extensively, playing most of the major rock clubs and festivals in SA and Namibia.
2003 saw the release of Jo’s second album “No Warning” with three hit songs. Later that year Jo launched her third album “The Truth”, yielding another three radio hits.
Jo’s latest album “Princess” was released in April 2006. “Princess” combines industrial and glam-rock elements with Jo’s established sound. To date, “Princess” has yielded three hits.
When she’s not rehearsing or gigging, Jo spends a lot of time editing and compiling her free monthly newsletter, dedicated to informing and uplifting the SA rock community. In the five years since inception, THE ‘ZINE has attracted thousands of rock fan and music industry readers in South Africa and around the world.
Jo’s commitment to empowering her contemporaries is as loud and clear as her critically acclaimed music. And her fierce, outspoken championing of SA music in a country with a mere 25% local broadcast quota has earned Jo Day a “street cred” second to none.
Hardly surprising that her peers and the South African media have dubbed Jo Day
“The Queen of SA Rock”.
BIO:
Sleaze Rocking Hair-Metal Stars from Pretoria - L.A. COBRA fly the flag of the 80's Glam Rock scene from the handlebars of their Harleys!
Welcome to L.A. COBRA's world!
The Band everybody’s talking about…
Formed in November 2005, L.A. COBRA is South Africa’s answer to 80’s Hair Metal – Pretoria Style!
Breaking away from current ‘modern’ rock and ‘nu metal’ trends, L.A. COBRA combine elements of hard hitting 80’s Rock with just enough sleaze and humour to rock the party!
With their over-the-top stage antics, outfits and attitude, L.A. COBRA is set to change the face of modern music as we know it!
Largely influenced by 80’s rock bands like Kiss, Bon Jovi, White Snake, Poison, Guns & Roses and Skid Row, L.A. COBRA is all about girls, Harleys, big hair and a good time. The band is: Don Cobra on vocals and guitar, T Bone Billy on bass, The Human Piston on lead guitar and Animal on drums, bringing back those memorable guitar solo’s and “balls to wall” hard rock shows we’re all starved for!
L.A. COBRA’s debut release “Cherry Hill” (mixed and produced by Ashton Nyte and L.A. COBRA) was released through Intervention Arts on 27 January 2007 at a Sleaze-Rocking Party at Zeplins in Pretoria with more than a 1000 people in attendance! In association with MK89’s Mullets, Zeplins, Red Tape Clothing and Jack Daniels.
It’s time to rock again!
BIO:
4-piece grunge hard rock band.
Performed around SA amongst top artists.
Performed at major festivals: MACUFE,
WOODSTOCK,
MOTHERFUDD,
MOONROCK FESTIVAL,
SCHOOL OF ROCK
The unique sound NVM has to offer
is like no other, & ‘LIVE’ you shall neva regret!
BIO:
PSordid originated as an idea to start a heavy band with elements of old school metal merged with the concept of pure soul pounding aggression.
The band was formed my Dave Dippenaar and Marc Dehning on October 18, 2003, and saw the recruitment of Thomasz Sobowski as guitarist, where the first songs were written in the rehearsal room in Randfontein on the West Rand of Gauteng.
For 3 Years, PSordid made music and entertained the masses, building a reputation as an excellent stage act, with entertainment value unlike other hardcore bands in the scene.
With the departure of Marc Dehning and Mario Schutte from the band in February 2006, replacements were found in Tim on bass and Gavin on guitar. Tim, Barend and Gavin were at that time working on a new project and actually approached Dave to join in on drums. After the first practice with Dave on drums, things went south with PSordid, and a joint agreement was reached to merge the two bands, and PSordid Version 2 emerged. The band was relocated to Pretoria, where a dedicated studio was built for rehearsal and recording purposes.
March 18, 2007 saw the release of the self-recorded and produced demo album, Demus Disgustimus, with forced distortion on the recording to ensure that the demo remains in the hands of fans only – A promise of a full length album on the horizon has the underground scene buzzing with excitement.
With PSordid featuring at events such as the famed 666, Human Rights Day rock Festival, Grim Music Fest, Hazardous Rock Festival (and accompanying compilation album), the proof lies in the entertainment value and the masses on the dance floors that Psordid is no mistake to the metal scene of South Africa.
MEMBERS:
Barend Chamberlain – Vocals
Gavin Chadwick – Lead Guitar
Tim Botes – Bass
Dave Dippenaar - Drums
BIO:
Hard rockers have been quiet for a while, but RhütZ is back and this time it`s with a
more heavier, more sic, more musical band than ever before.
With Steve(VocalZ), Tyrone(DrumZ), Chris(GuitarZ), DJ Disco Dan(NoiZe) the
band has formed a unity of musical genius which they will use to write and play the
best in their creative and physical capabilities.
In the last couple of years, RhütZ had made a bold statement in the underground
SA music scene - that with a unique hard rock edge and tight, aggressive live performances,
RhütZ is here to stay and for this foursome, BIG things might be just
around the corner.
Opening for Brazilian legends, Sepultura and Soulfly, in 2003 - as well as numerous
stints at major SA festivals, seemed to have boosted RhütZ’s confidence and drive
for success in the industry. To boot, one of SA’s premier venues, Burn Nightclub
(Durban), crowned RhütZ as Best Hardcore Band - 2003.
After all the noise and all the hard work RhütZ decided to part, but life didn’t die out
just yet. They started reforming in early 2005 with new line up and got on the scene
with great music once again. They kicked off the music by playing Witchfest 2005.
And shortly after that they were playing with explosive New York Hardcore Band,
Most Precious Blood in Pretoria and Jo’Burg. RhütZ came back with their heads up
high and their music and performances powerful.
RhütZ are playing at Witchfest in 2006 and will be presenting new material to the
fans. They’ve been in studio writing and preparing music with plans to record in
2006. If there is a true sound that goes one step higher. It is RhütZ.
BIO:
Sacrifist has been rocking the South African metal scene for 13 years and have released 3 albums to date. Their main influences are Children of Bodom, At the Gates, Dark Tranquility, Slayer and In Flames. The first album “The Tides Have Turned” was released in 1997, the second “Liquid Seasons” in 1999 and the third “The Well of Sacrifice” their most popular album to date, was released in 2004.
Their powerful melodic heavy metal is filled with hard hitting riffs and gripping vocals. Intelligent lyrics compliment memorable melodies making them one of the most popular metal bands in the country.
The band members Sammy, Byron, Dwayne, Shaun and Michael have formed a bond, which brings out the best in all of them, allowing their true potential to emerge and grow. They are currently recording their 4th album, due to be released at the end of 2007.
Selected songs from their albums can be downloaded at www.twilight-x.com.
Their website is currently undergoing a full makeover, but info, tracks and links to reviews and interviews are available on www.myspace.com/sacrifistband
MEMBERS:
Dwayne Coetzee – Vocals
Sammy F. Simegi – Rhythm guitar
Byron Myers – Lead Guitar
Shaun Moseley – Bass
Michael Kiefer - Drums
BIO:
The Dead begin Feb 2006 when Academy of Sound Engineering students Mike H and Lloyd Jay start talking between Music theory and Pro-tools classes and discover they have similar musical interests and realize that the combination of their interests and musical talent would fueled the decision to form a metal band. Lloyd originally a guitarist bought a bass and began playing and found the transition from six to four strings easy. Mike who had been in a punk band for 4 years with his brother Spence decided he wanted to play a more technical, heavier style of music and Spence just stuck with his brother excited now that he could play double bass and blast beat as much as he wanted.
And then there were 3. Building up songs and ideas quickly, drawing inspiration from Metal bands: Inflames, Avenged Sevenfold, Bullet for My Valentine, All that Remains, Darkest Hour and Lamb of God with some death metal influence from Black Dahlia Murder, At the Gates and Bring Me the Horizon. TDWT worked on a set list of seven songs (which continues to grow) for six months before they got a vocalist. In August of 06 TDWT needed a vocalist so they tried out a handful of friends and randoms but just could not find the right voice to the energetically paced songs. The clock was ticking and TDWT were booked for a gig beginning of October so they needed to act fast. Luckily Mike ran into a old school friend of his Benj (who was already with another hard rock act in PTA) He was more than happy to try out since he himself wanted to do something heavy now that the metal scene is taking over. Benj tried out and got what TDWT were all about straight away.
Now The Dead Will Tell could start gigging. Playing Jo burg and PTA, a highlight for The Dead Will Tell so far would definatly be a charity gig they played in the south of JHB [Bells Sundowner Benefit] for a young girl who was in a coma after a terrible car accident all the proceeds went to keeping her on life support. On the bill were great Jo burg bands Undertone, Rife, Japan and I, Deity’s Muse, Unlisted and 16stitch. The Dead Will Tell managed to impress enough to keep them playing as a regular at The Bells open air fests. Melodic riffs, blast beats, distorted drop C rhythm and emotionally driven screams and deep growls make TDWT a young and exciting all round Metal four piece.
,Now an established band with a strong following are in studio recording their debut album self produced and funded,set for a summer release followed by a nationwide album tour that is drawing a lot of attention from the local & International music industry. The Dead Will Tell destined for big things playing along side big bands on big stages. TDWT…
MEMBERS:
Benj - Vocals
Spenis - Drums
L Jay - Bass
Mike H - Guitar /vocals
BIO:
TonyDanza started off as a joke, then became a mild annoyance and now refuse to go away.
TonyDanza, a compact musical farce to be reckoned with, pointed at and silently sniggered at, but alas, respected. Because when you lie in your raised bed at night, keeping an eye out for the tokoloshi, or miniature version of Manto, we know you love us; we know you think about us, constantly. Our infectious and elaborate tunes, adopted also by the greats such as Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Motörhead … and that band that sued Napster. Not bad for a band with a collective musical experience of 2 years … and that's just the guitarist. We even wrote some originals about problems facing South Africans in everyday life. Zeng!
By now you have gathered, that we are TonyDanza! And we are not tainted by the sounds of any other, our band may churn out songs performed at one stage by other bands, yet inside us burns a passion, deep and brooding, a fiery hot passion for scuba tanks, small rooms, electric fans and teleprompters. We draw influence from the things, which you might find mundane. An upside down stapler, with all but 2 staples left, could drive us to play something a little more loose and unstructured, grinding out something terribly unique and going off on a tangent. Yes, granted, we may not all enjoy it, it might sound a little off at times and our ears may bleed, but sometimes it's just what a band has to do. A spilt cup of ginger tea and we break into a upbeat version of "Paranoid", and none of us know why, but we do what we do and what we do know, is we all march to the same drum, and when the mood grabs us, and the last warm beer has been spilt on the exposed wires of Dane's amp, we abandon the use of electricity and break into song, harmonising and improvising around the tune of a rising sun. And whether we are playing to you in Darryll's garden or Wembley Arena … we address YOU, the audience … not some magnanimous benevolent being somewhere in the distance. These are the things, which make us TonyDanza!
MEMBERS:
Dane Richards – Guitars
Philip Zaayman – Bass & Vox
Darryll Jones – Drums
BIO:
Who are we?
Tear your heart out and put it into the music. That’s what Torment is all about. Take bits and pieces from all the emotions of the band members and rip apart almost every form of music, put them back together, then stand back and watch this monster come alive.
Torment was formed February 2005 by four musicians longing to create something different. Tired of the same old stereotypical music and bands that fall apart, the mission was on to create something new... uncontrollable and inspirational... creating a new path for others to follow.
Torment combines the soulful, warm, mood setting tone of the acoustic guitar with tribal rhythmic percussion, bone crunching distortion and earth shattering bass. All topped off with vocals that will leave you torn between two worlds.
"Solid, hard-hitting rock with only one proviso: brains!" - Joday's review on "Take" in THE 'ZINE
Get ready to be tormented.
BIO:
The year 2001 saw the humble emergence of a Witbank based, nu-metal band, aptly named ‘Underbelly’. The band’s evolution into the 5-piece set that has garnered a credible fan base today, peaked in 2005 after a four-year struggle to secure like-minded musicians. The band’s perseverance paid off. Underbelly forged ahead, steadily carving a niche for themselves within the South African rock/metal scene, in which they have undeniably been embraced with what can only be described as ‘moshpit’ enthusiasm.
Underbelly embody the unexpected, musically manifesting themselves with dynamic and somewhat disconcerting elements. Their sound often explodes original perceptions within the context of their supposed genre. Underbelly’s sound denies any exact classification. Self proclaimed as musically and lyrically contradictory, their elusive style was finally captured in the words of ex TUKS-FM DJ, Philip Davies: “Underbelly’s tone is sinister, their delivery fevered and aggressive, technically exact, their songs intricately structured and impeccably timed. Typically their compositions erupt with chugging, grinding guitars, change time signatures abruptly descend into stuttering start/top techniques and swap between moments of subdued Deftonesque menace and absolute sonic disarray”.
For Davies, Underbelly’s technicality stands out as their defining feature; their key to surpassing other acts within their genre. Technicality however, within the band’s ranks, seems to be a somewhat contentious issue. Etienne recognizes Underbelly’s technicality as a progressive element, but in the same breath, shuns the notion of technicality as the band’s definitive characteristic: “technicality is not some marketing tool”, he states, “and it’s not intended to be pretentious. The intention of our technicality is for it to be musically interesting”. Both Hendrik and Etienne acknowledge that Underbelly’s technicality may make it hard for a crowd to relate to the music at a live show. “People don’t understand our music as much as they appreciate it”, notes Hendrik, continuing, “but our album will help people find structure and understanding”.
Long overdue, Underbelly’s first full length album, ‘For a Cynical Science’, has finally come into existence, and with first single ‘Align’ ready for radio air-play, the album is scheduled for release late May of 2007. For the five members, the wait was well worth it. “So much work has gone into the album and the end result has definitely exceeded my expectations,” comments Louw. Paul expressed his surprise at how heavy the album sounded after its completion: “I couldn’t believe it was us when I heard it”. Excitement about the album’s completion aside, Underbelly’s expectations remain refreshingly modest, albeit hopeful. “I definitely found a listening and breathing space for myself within the album” comments Riaan, “I’m hoping other people can relate to it too”. Reflecting on the album, Etienne remains positive: “I think the album will open doors for people in the sense that it will be easier to relate to than our live music. I think the melody of the album will definitely overthrow the technical”.
The completion of ‘For a Cynical Science’ marks the attainment of the first of Underbelly’s goals as a band. With future aspirations of making music for a living, all that remains to be seen in the present is the fan’s reaction to this much-anticipated album. *S.L
MEMBERS:
Etienne Olivier – Vocals
Hendrik Nel – Drums
Riaan Bothma – Guitars
Louw Visagie – Guitars
Paul du Plessis - Bass
BIO:
A four piece born from the seed of hard rock and progressive alternative music. Undertone believes in the music, which they create.
Influenced by the sound of Tool, A Perfect Circle, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Cream, Machine Head, Godsmack, Led Zeppelin, Chimaira, Opeth, Mudvayne, Chevelle, 10 years, Deep Purple and of course the creators of grunge, Pearl Jam and Nirvana. Undertone creates a blend of music, which is diverse and passionate.
The band is based in Alberton, and have been together for three years. A couple of line up changes with bass guitarists has not set the band back, but only made them stronger, showing their commitment and love for the music scene.
Undertone have performed with South African giants such as Deity’s Muse, Unlisted, Running with Scissors, The Dead Will Tell, Agro, Sacrifist, 16 Stitch, Pestroy, Parlotones and many more. To date the band has performed at recognised music festivals such as Woodstock, Mother Fudd, Grimfest, The Summoning, and Bells Fest, which have all been a great success.
In 2005 the band recorded its first EP titled “Beauty is Not enough”. The EP gave Undertone a fair amount of airplay with a radio interview with Johan Botha from RSG.
In 2006 Undertone won the battle of the bands held by Hardcore Management. This gave the band the opportunity to record the single “Insomnia” and create a music video, which has received airplay on MK89.
With such a growing country and expanding music industry, who knows what the future holds for Undertone.
MEMBERS:
RYAN ENGELSMAN – GUITAR, VOCALS, LYRICS
CARL – BASS
KYLE ENGELSMAN – LEAD GUITARIST
ALVIN BOUCHER – DRUMS
BIO:
Unforsaken truth was formed early in 2007 with the hopes of bringing a more deathcore/hardcore feel to the South African metal scene.This band was gradually adapting their unique and intense sound. Their sound is seen as intense, powerful and energetic with heavy breakdowns that is complemented with immensely ranging vocal ability.The drumming style includes intense blasting,thrash beats and fast double bass to provide the foundation of their sound.The guitars are fast, melodic and intense and structured to create the sound they desire.
Unforsaken truth is a very dedicated band and does everything to promote their band.
Unforsaken truth will keep on doing what they do to promote metal music in South Africa. Fundamentally Unforsaken truth make music to not only enjoy themselves but also to entertain ALL METALHEADS in South Africa. And they are very honoured to promote their sponsor Surf & street
Unforsaken truth is : Leclue, Nico, Louis. Reinardt, Pierre
BIO:
This diverse young five piece band from Joburg brings an avant-garde intensity to the South African music scene that is rarely seen. They believe a band should entertain and that’s exactly what they do. Their insatiable energy on stage is captivating, and their emotionally charged songs drift from the melodic into hard hitting thought provoking material.
Chase Carneson, Jared Carneson and Lwandile Mbebe started the band in about March 2004, shortly thereafter Gil Reouveni and Fergus Brogan joined to complete the five piece which has been growing in popularity exponentially nationwide, since their inception and have been said to have one of the most explosive stage performances in the country.
In mid 2004 they produced and recorded a five track EP: A View From Nowhere, which the band distributed themselves, selling out of all the copies produced in just a few shows. At the end of 2005 the band was back at SABC studios to record their debut album: Even Though You Smile; which is being distributed through Sony BMG Entertainment Africa. The album was extremely well received at the bands launch, selling the first 100 copies within the first few hours of their show.
Highlights include playing Woodstock 6, Woodstock 7 and recently a headlining slot at Woodstock 8 on The Second Stage. Another incredible highlight was playing with Blindside on the Johannesburg leg of their SA tour. The band has also played to capacity crowds at all three of the Seasonal Lido Festivals, as well as participated in Battle Vir Woodstock 2005 which received nationwide television coverage on MK89 and has also appeared on YOTV’s Big Time and Channel O’s Authenticated in mid 2005 the band are currently playlisted on Tuks FM and have just recently got to no. 1 on the UJFM SA Music Chart.
By fusing their largely different influences the band has created a sound that is fresh yet familiar and consumable by a wide range of diverse people. The result is a combination of emotionally rich experiences encapsulated in the perfect blend of brutality and beauty, conveyed through an exceedingly energetic performance that is guaranteed to entertain.
BIO:
Growing from the home soil of Port Elizabeth, 5 talented and passion driven musicians, came together and formed Venality mid 2006!! Lee and Mike formed the core of the band in 2003 and were later joined by Marius early 2006! In August 2007, Dixen took over lead vocal duties! Venality has enjoyed play time on 5FM. AlgoaFM and BayFM over the past 2 years with songs from our demo disc "Twelve Hours Till Deadline" featuring "Our Way" , "Dreams" and "Undesired". Venality made it through to the finals of the 21 grand band search in 2007 with Dixen as our lead vocalist only having 1 month to prepare himself. At the end of 2007 Venality won the R.B.F Studios Battle of the bands. Venality was also at Woodstock9 where we played a 2 hour set of Metallica at tribute to my influence as well as our original material. " ..
BIO:
The Band was started in late 2004 by Sean Gouws and David Scholtz, and operated from Alberton, Johannesburg, South Africa. During July 2005 David left the band due to other commitments.
Warthane recorded their first album "Black Wings of Sorrow" in September 2006.
Warthane have been gigging extensively during 2006 and 2007 and have developed a healthy fanbase.
Warthane play fast thrash metal, and that combined with the band members' larger than life stage personalities and energy, have fans headbanging and moshing every time they take to the stage.
The band consists of Sean Gouws, Nazar Berezovsky, Gavin Hockly and Dieter Engel.
Warthane have just finished recording their EP “Day 13” which should be released sometime during October 2007.
MEMBERS:
Sean Gouws = Guitar & Vocals,
Nazar Berezovsky = Lead Guitar,
Gavin Hockly = Drums,
Dieter Engel = Bass.
