FEAR FACTORY’s ‘Demanufacture’ is “a landmark of '90s metal that defied categorisation and remains a touchstone of the genre. “ – Kerrang!

Metallica’s Black album may have set the marker for highest selling metal album on the 90’s, but only 1 album can lay claim to being the decade’s most innovative and revolutionary: FEAR FACTORY’s ‘Demanufacture’.

Metal Hammer recently exclaimed “’Demanufature’ was so far ahead of its time that bands are still failing to rip it off convincingly today, Fear Factory's ultra-precise extreme metal attack dragged metal into the future.”

For the first time ever FEAR FACTORY will be performing their classic album ‘Demanufacture’ in its entirety and Australian fans will get to witness this first hand in July.

Words and images by Cameron Edney

Australian death metal fans in Sydney and Melbourne were treated to two very special shows at the beginning of May. The legendary Obituary returned to Australia as a quartet playing songs off their first three albums only in what was dubbed the “Slowly we Rot in Australia” tour.

I arrived at Sydney’s Manning Bar early to a number of die-hard fans already lined up waiting for doors to open, I must admit I was somewhat disappointed with the turn out and thought a few more of the Sydney metal community might have been attending, I guess with three well publicised shows being on the same night it was hard for all rooms to get the numbers expected. That being said, the crowd that gathered at the Manning Bar was loud as hell and making their presence felt.

During both support bands the crowd went nuts, head -banging and moshing like mad and giving the local acts full support which was fantastic to see, but at the end of the day we were all there to see the one and only Obituary.

This music is for the true adventurer. It is extreme music. It is not Industrial. It is not Death Metal. It is not Black Metal. It is The Amenta. So state the band on their own website and it’s true. Definitely not for the faint hearted and not even for the majority of the metal hordes. This is specialized, head-fucking, sonic battery.

For the past eleven years, the institution known as The Amenta has steadfastly refused to do anything by the book. With a strong desire for experimentation and the avant-garde, and a sadistic pre-occupation with all things ugly, decayed and rotten, the band have consistently released challenging and ground breaking material beginning with Occasus, through to nOn, the multimedia landmark that was Vo1D and the digital EP Chokehold finally arriving with this years, Flesh Is Heir. Flesh, isn’t merely a record, it’s an experience. Huge sculptures of sound built up from decayed choir loops, percussion and the dissonant rearrangement of traditional rock instruments (drums, bass, guitars) lead to an overall more organic but also terrifying journey into a realm of consciousness that is a ‘constant war in the human psyche between the faction that desires obliteration and the faction that struggles in the mud.’

At once, ugly and beautiful, organic yet electronic, lightening fast but also crushingly slow, and always dark as pitch.

The Amenta will perform four visually intense and aurally damaging shows at the venues below this July. To sample just what that will be like, take a deep breath then check out the album, video and photo links below and prepare yourself for what will follow…

Words by Peter Zischke and images by Simon Milburn.

It’s been more than 20 years since rock icons Aerosmith last toured Australia, and like a growing list of legendary acts, they have decided that 2013 was the time to head back down under.

Rockstar Productions & Metal Obsession present

Circle Tour 2013

Amorphis tour Australia for the very first time in their illustrious career. Never before has this iconic and distinguished act graced Australian shores; now in October 2013, this is all set to change. Amorphis has been at the forefront of the scene for well over two decades. Encompassing a large and loyal fan base they have been able, and continue, to win over fans of all genres.

They will be here performing tracks off their latest release ‘Circle’ but will also perform classic and fan favourite Amorphis tracks across their comprehensive discography. Amorphis are seasoned professionals, they are a class act, they are the complete package, and they are at the top of their genre. Their upcoming performances will be something to behold and their shows are a musical spectacle. This tour will be something special for fans of all musical genres.

Performing shows in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth, fans will be treated to history in the making. Amorphis leaves nothing on the stage as is typical of their energy, power, and 100% raw and honest commitment on each and every one of their live performances.