Australian hardcore
Encyclopedia
Australia
n hardcore punk
bands tend to have local fan bases, although a number have toured Australia and internationally. Recorded material by these bands is often hard to find, as many focus on the live shows (which are the mainstay of the scene). Prominent bands from the scene that have been recognised by the mainstream have included Toe to Toe
, Massappeal and Mindsnare
, while many relative newcomers (such as Ill Brigade, Anxiety Attack, Miles Away, Break Even and 50 Lions to name a few examples) have enjoyed some commercial success due to the recent popularity of the genre. Many of these bands are currently very popular and are bringing some mainstream attention to the label "hardcore", Australian hardcore is played on the national Triple J
network in the short.fast.loud
program and on a number of local stations.
were one of the first hardcore acts to perform in Sydney playing their first gig in 1985 and releasing an 12" album (Nobody Likes A Thinker) in 1986. As well as the Hard-Ons at the same time. Another early band in the hardcore punk scene was Adelaide
's Where's the Pope?
, which formed around 1985 and released their first LP, Straight Edge Holocaust, in 1987. Also forming in the 1980s was the Perth
band Rupture
. But the real home, from the early 1980s, of Punk Rock in Australia was Melbourne. The Seaview Ballroom, The Duke of Edinborough and The Prince of Wales were the places where legends were made, with a scene that grew and grew. Some of the legends were: Depression, Gash, Arm The Insane, Death Sentence, The Rejected
, Death Mission, World War XXIV, Psychotic Maniacs, Vicious Circle, End Result, Ribcage Wrestlers, Permanent Damage, C.H.A.O.S, Progression Cult, Sick Things, Perdition, Positive Hatred, Suicide Squad, Box of Fish, Feedtime
, Examplehead, Toys Went Beserk, Crucified Truth, I Spit On Your Gravy, Public Execution, Lethal Overdose and Civil Dissident. All of these bands had vinyl releases
in the 1980s. But there were also lots of bands that went straight to CD or were never recorded. Bands like S.I.C, Festers Fanatics, Public Nuisance, Bastard Squad, Forcefed, Damage Case, S.T.E (Scum of the Earth) The Dorks, Rotten Tomatoes, Murder Murder Suicide and The Cosmic Psychos.
and veganism
:
Triple J
network has a weekly program, short.fast.loud
, which showcases some punk and hardcore music released both locally and elsewhere. The show focuses on a ranges of music, from radio-friendly acts such as Go It Alone, Stolen Youth and Miles Away, to smaller more obscure act such as Hospital The Musical, Bad Day Down, Robotosaurus, This City Sunrise and R.A.D.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
bands tend to have local fan bases, although a number have toured Australia and internationally. Recorded material by these bands is often hard to find, as many focus on the live shows (which are the mainstay of the scene). Prominent bands from the scene that have been recognised by the mainstream have included Toe to Toe
Toe To Toe
Toe to Toe are an Australian hardcore band from Sydney, New South Wales. The band was most prominent in the Australian hardcore scene during the 1990s, touring and recording less frequently by the 2000s...
, Massappeal and Mindsnare
Mindsnare
Mindsnare are an Australian hardcore band from Melbourne, Victoria. Formed in 1993 under the name Mad Circle, their music is a blend of traditional "old school" hardcore punk and crossover metal, and as such has seen them play alongside metal bands like Kreator and Ringworm, as well as more...
, while many relative newcomers (such as Ill Brigade, Anxiety Attack, Miles Away, Break Even and 50 Lions to name a few examples) have enjoyed some commercial success due to the recent popularity of the genre. Many of these bands are currently very popular and are bringing some mainstream attention to the label "hardcore", Australian hardcore is played on the national Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
network in the short.fast.loud
Short.fast.loud
short.fast.loud is a radio show on Triple J in Australia. It is hosted by Stu Harvey and features punk, hardcore, emo and similar music. The name for the show was taken from the Kid Dynamite album: Shorter, Faster, Louder...
program and on a number of local stations.
Early history (1980s)
Massappeal of SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
were one of the first hardcore acts to perform in Sydney playing their first gig in 1985 and releasing an 12" album (Nobody Likes A Thinker) in 1986. As well as the Hard-Ons at the same time. Another early band in the hardcore punk scene was Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
's Where's the Pope?
Where's the Pope?
Where's the Pope? was a hardcore punk band from Adelaide, South Australia formed in 1985 Beginning in the mid 80's, Where's the Pope? were a pioneering hardcore punk/thrash band from Adelaide, South Australia known for their energetic and chaotic live performances, and also for bringing a USA type...
, which formed around 1985 and released their first LP, Straight Edge Holocaust, in 1987. Also forming in the 1980s was the Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
band Rupture
Rupture (band)
Rupture was a hardcore punk band from Perth, Australia, that formed in the 1980s and were active until around late 2001, when vocalist Gus Chamber died....
. But the real home, from the early 1980s, of Punk Rock in Australia was Melbourne. The Seaview Ballroom, The Duke of Edinborough and The Prince of Wales were the places where legends were made, with a scene that grew and grew. Some of the legends were: Depression, Gash, Arm The Insane, Death Sentence, The Rejected
The Rejected
The Rejected is a documentary film about homosexuality, produced for KQED in San Francisco by John W. Reavis,The Rejected was the first documentary program on homosexuality broadcast on American television. It initially ran on September 11, 1961, and was later syndicated to National Educational...
, Death Mission, World War XXIV, Psychotic Maniacs, Vicious Circle, End Result, Ribcage Wrestlers, Permanent Damage, C.H.A.O.S, Progression Cult, Sick Things, Perdition, Positive Hatred, Suicide Squad, Box of Fish, Feedtime
Feedtime
feedtime was an independent postpunk rock trio from Sydney, Australia, formed in 1979. The name is spelled with a lowercase f. The members were credited by their first names only: Rick , Al , and Tom ....
, Examplehead, Toys Went Beserk, Crucified Truth, I Spit On Your Gravy, Public Execution, Lethal Overdose and Civil Dissident. All of these bands had vinyl releases
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
in the 1980s. But there were also lots of bands that went straight to CD or were never recorded. Bands like S.I.C, Festers Fanatics, Public Nuisance, Bastard Squad, Forcefed, Damage Case, S.T.E (Scum of the Earth) The Dorks, Rotten Tomatoes, Murder Murder Suicide and The Cosmic Psychos.
Ideology
Winston McCall of Parkway Drive commented in an interview about straight edgeStraight edge
Straight edge is a subculture of hardcore punk whose adherents refrain from using alcohol, tobacco, and other recreational drugs. It was a direct reaction to the sexual revolution, hedonism, and excess associated with punk rock. For some, this extends to not engaging in promiscuous sex, following a...
and veganism
Veganism
Veganism is the practice of eliminating the use of animal products. Ethical vegans reject the commodity status of animals and the use of animal products for any purpose, while dietary vegans or strict vegetarians eliminate them from their diet only...
:
- Veganism and straightedge beliefs are becoming more prominent in the hardcore scene, and in Adelaide in particular, according to McCall. "I'd say Adelaide has probably got the biggest straightedge/vegan scene in Australia. In Byron there's about five straightedge kids and I think maybe two kids that are vegan and that's about it," McCall laughs. "I'm vegetarian myself and there's a couple of us that are straightedge, but we just wanna have fun and play music. We do believe in trying to make a difference in some way, but as a whole we don't really champion any beliefs. We're just a hardcore band!"
Radio shows
The ABCAustralian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
network has a weekly program, short.fast.loud
Short.fast.loud
short.fast.loud is a radio show on Triple J in Australia. It is hosted by Stu Harvey and features punk, hardcore, emo and similar music. The name for the show was taken from the Kid Dynamite album: Shorter, Faster, Louder...
, which showcases some punk and hardcore music released both locally and elsewhere. The show focuses on a ranges of music, from radio-friendly acts such as Go It Alone, Stolen Youth and Miles Away, to smaller more obscure act such as Hospital The Musical, Bad Day Down, Robotosaurus, This City Sunrise and R.A.D.
Australian record labels releasing hardcore
- Common Bond Records
- Resist Records
- Missing Link Records
- International Trash Records
- Disconnect Records (Tasmania)
- Trial & Error Records
- Building Records (Defunct)
- Australiapunk
- Washedup Records
- New Justice Records
- El Shaddai RecordsEl Shaddai RecordsEl Shaddai Records is an independent record label founded in late 2006 and based in Melbourne, Australia. Shortly after the label began they announced that they had signed post-hardcore band House Vs. Hurricane and rock/hardcore band Forgiven Rival, publishing numerous releases for both groups...
- Dead Souls Records (Melbourne)
- Midnight Funeral Music(Melbourne)
- Aniseed Records (Melbourne/Perth)
- Tenspeed Music (Adelaide)
- Shock Entertainment
- MONOLITH (Brisbane)
See also
- Punk rock in AustraliaPunk rock in AustraliaAustralian musicians played and recorded some of the earliest Punk Rock. Perhaps the most notable example were The Saints, who released their first single in 1976. Bands playing sub-genres or offshoots of punk music, such as local hardcore acts, still have a strong cult following throughout...
- List of hardcore punk bands
- :Category:Australian metalcore musical groups