Metal for the Brain
Encyclopedia
Metal for the Brain was Australia's
largest heavy metal music
festival. The event was held in Canberra annually, usually towards the end of the year, and featured Australian bands almost exclusively. The festival was established as a charity event and continued as such until the final event in November 2006.
band Armoured Angel
organised the first Metal for the Brain concert in late 1991 to raise money for his benefit. The first event featured only six acts including two popular punk bands, The Hammonds and The Hard Ons
. Green and Armoured Angel organised the festival each year until 1996, when the band split up. After this, the event was put together by another Canberra band, Alchemist
, the only act to have appeared at every Metal for the Brain. Originally held at the Australian National University
, licensing and crowd restrictions saw the festival moved to Canberra University
in 2000, where it was held from that time forward. The final Metal For The Brain festival was held on 4 November
2006.
metal pioneers Voivod
headlined the event. German
thrash
band Destruction
and Japan
ese thrash
band Sun's Owl were booked to play MFTB in 2002; however due to insurance problems the show was cancelled for the first time ever. Over the years, the musical focus of the event moved from exclusively death, thrash and black metal
bands to a variety of styles and in later years nu metal
,
industrial
, hard rock
, progressive rock
and hardcore
bands took to the various stages. This caused some discontent among some sections of the heavy metal fanbase but MFTB remained the single largest event on the calendar for Australian metal fans.
Overseas touring commitments for Alchemist meant the festival was not held in 2004, but returned in February 2005. That year, smaller versions of the festival were held in Brisbane and Perth
. Alchemist also played at these shows.
On 25 July 2006, an announcement was made on the heavy metal radio show Full Metal Racket
on Triple J
that the festival that year would be the last. US
death metal band Skinless
headlined the show.
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...
largest heavy metal music
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
festival. The event was held in Canberra annually, usually towards the end of the year, and featured Australian bands almost exclusively. The festival was established as a charity event and continued as such until the final event in November 2006.
History
In 1990 Canberra teenager Alec Hurley was left severely brain damaged after trying to break up a fight outside a hotel. Since Alex was left permanently disabled and with little government assistance, his close friend Joel Green of local death metalDeath metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
band Armoured Angel
Armoured Angel
- External links :*** *...
organised the first Metal for the Brain concert in late 1991 to raise money for his benefit. The first event featured only six acts including two popular punk bands, The Hammonds and The Hard Ons
Hard-Ons
The Hard-Ons are a punk rock band from Sydney, Australia that originally formed in 1981. They have been called Australia's most commercially successful independent band, with over 250,000 total record sales. -1980s: Early days:...
. Green and Armoured Angel organised the festival each year until 1996, when the band split up. After this, the event was put together by another Canberra band, Alchemist
Alchemist (band)
Alchemist is an Australian progressive metal band from Canberra whose style combines death metal, progressive rock, psychedelic, Eastern, Aboriginal and electronic influences. The band formed in 1987 and has so far released six studios albums, an EP and a compilation album. Work began on a new EP...
, the only act to have appeared at every Metal for the Brain. Originally held at the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
, licensing and crowd restrictions saw the festival moved to Canberra University
University of Canberra
Over the years the Stone Day program has gradually become larger and larger, taking up a whole week and now Stonefest is one of Australia's most popular music festivals. The first foundation celebrations were held in 1971. In 1973 Stone Day celebrations were held over two days, which was expanded...
in 2000, where it was held from that time forward. The final Metal For The Brain festival was held on 4 November
2006.
The Festival
Even in a country where heavy metal bands are neglected or reviled even by the alternative music press and industry, Metal for the Brain grew consistently since its inception. By 2000, the show had grown so big that it necessitated a move to a new venue from its long-time home at the ANU. From a bill of only six bands in 1991, by 2006 Metal for the Brain featured more than 30 and extended for more than 14 hours across three stages. In 2000, an international act was added to the show for the first time when CanadianCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
metal pioneers Voivod
Voivod (band)
Voivod are a Canadian heavy metal band from Jonquière, Quebec, Canada. Their musical style has changed several times since the band's origin in the early 1980s...
headlined the event. German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
thrash
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band Destruction
Destruction (band)
Destruction is a German thrash metal band. They are considered one of the "three kings" of the Teutonic thrash metal scene, the others being Kreator and Sodom...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese thrash
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band Sun's Owl were booked to play MFTB in 2002; however due to insurance problems the show was cancelled for the first time ever. Over the years, the musical focus of the event moved from exclusively death, thrash and black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
bands to a variety of styles and in later years nu metal
Nu metal
Nu metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. It is a fusion genre which combines elements of heavy metal with other genres, including grunge and hip hop...
,
industrial
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
, hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
, progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
and hardcore
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 took to the various stages. This caused some discontent among some sections of the heavy metal fanbase but MFTB remained the single largest event on the calendar for Australian metal fans.
Overseas touring commitments for Alchemist meant the festival was not held in 2004, but returned in February 2005. That year, smaller versions of the festival were held in Brisbane and 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....
. Alchemist also played at these shows.
On 25 July 2006, an announcement was made on the heavy metal radio show Full Metal Racket
Full Metal Racket
The Racket is an Australian heavy metal radio show airing on alternative youth broadcaster Triple J. It is hosted by Andrew Haug, who is also the drummer for Melbourne metal band Contrive...
on 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...
that the festival that year would be the last. US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
death metal band Skinless
Skinless
Skinless is a death metal band that was formed in 1992 and disbanded in 2011.-History:Skinless was formed by Ryan Wade and Noah Carpenter in the town of South Glens Falls, New York...
headlined the show.
Line-ups
- 16 November 1991 - Armoured AngelArmoured Angel- External links :*** *...
, Exceed, Adrenalin, AlchemistAlchemist (band)Alchemist is an Australian progressive metal band from Canberra whose style combines death metal, progressive rock, psychedelic, Eastern, Aboriginal and electronic influences. The band formed in 1987 and has so far released six studios albums, an EP and a compilation album. Work began on a new EP...
, Precursor, Nemesis - 14 November 1992 - Hard Ons, The Hammonds, Bladder Spasms, Armoured Angel, Alchemist, Percursor, Grungeon, Cyborium, Manticore
- 13 November 1993 - Christbait, Misery, AcheronAbramelin (band)Abramelin was an Australian death metal band, notable as one of the first bands of its kind in the country and one of the main influences on the development of Australian heavy metal music in the early 1990s...
, Cruciform, Armoured Angel, Alchemist, Manticore, Persecution, Catharsis, Manticore - November 1994 - Cruciform (cancelled), Alchemist, Armoured Angel, Manticore, Psychrist, Epitaph, Cod Peace, Black Earth, Dement Ensemble
- 2 December 1995 - DamagedDamaged (band)Damaged was an Australian deathgrind band from Ballarat in Victoria, Australia, active from 1989 to 2004.-History:The band was formed by drummer Matt "Skitz" Sanders...
, Alchemist, Bestial Warlust, Armoured Angel, Manticore, Psychrist, SuperheistSuperheistSuperheist was an Australian nu metal band that attained a significant degree of success with a string of EPs and singles and two full-length albums that charted in the Top 40 before suddenly disbanding in 2004.-Formation and early period:...
, Fracture, Dement Ensemble, Blathudah - 14 December 1996 - Alchemist, Blood DusterBlood DusterBlood Duster is a extreme metal/stoner rock band from Melbourne, Australia. Their name comes from the song "Blood Duster" by John Zorn, from the 1989 album Naked City.-History:...
, Discordia, AbramelinAbramelin (band)Abramelin was an Australian death metal band, notable as one of the first bands of its kind in the country and one of the main influences on the development of Australian heavy metal music in the early 1990s...
, SuperheistSuperheistSuperheist was an Australian nu metal band that attained a significant degree of success with a string of EPs and singles and two full-length albums that charted in the Top 40 before suddenly disbanding in 2004.-Formation and early period:...
, Manticore, In:Extremis, Psychrist, Cod Peace, Pod PeoplePod People bandPod People are a doom metal band from Canberra, Australia that formed in 1991. The band has since recorded six releases, playing a blend of stoner and sludge traits, with lyrics typically covering themes relating to either cannabis in their early days to topics themetically based around The Divine... - 20 December 1997 - Alchemist, Damaged, Blood Duster, SegressionSegressionSegression is a heavy metal band from Wollongong, Australia. Originally known as Eezee and playing sleaze metal, the group decided to change its name after moving into in a thrash direction in mid-1994.-Early years:...
, Manticore, Abramelin, Mortal Sin, Armoured Angel, Superheist (cancelled - replaced by DreadnaughtDreadnaught (heavy metal band)Dreadnaught is a heavy metal band from Melbourne, Australia. The group was formed out of the remnants of some Tasmanian bands including Fridge from Launceston who recorded an album in 1994....
), Psychrist, Crypt, Cryptal DarknessCryptal DarknessCryptal Darkness were an Australian doom metal band featuring Mark Kelson, now of The Eternal & InSomnius Dei and for a short period, former My Dying Bride/Cradle of Filth member, Martin Powell.-History:... - 28 November 1998 - SegressionSegressionSegression is a heavy metal band from Wollongong, Australia. Originally known as Eezee and playing sleaze metal, the group decided to change its name after moving into in a thrash direction in mid-1994.-Early years:...
, Alchemist, Damaged, Blood Duster, Deströyer 666Destroyer 666Deströyer 666 is a black/death/thrash metal band formed in 1994 by guitarist K.K. Warslut. The group originated in Melbourne, Australia however moved to Europe.- History :...
, Beanflipper (cancelled - replaced by Dreadnaught), MiseryMisery (Australian band)Misery are a death metal band from Brisbane, Australia. Since forming in 1991, the band has released four albums and an EP. The band split in 2005, but has reformed once more for an East Coast Australian tour in support of its final album On Demon Wings in 2009.- Background :The group was formed in...
, Armoured Angel, CryogenicCryogenic (Band)Cryogenic was an Australian thrash metal/death metal band formed in 1992 in Wetherill Park, a suburb of Sydney, Australia.-Early:The band originally featured guitarist Steve Essa, bass player Anthony Henning, singer/guitarist Russell Player and drummer Chad Bartosik, who was also a member of...
, Manticore (cancelled - replaced by Linedriver), Pod PeoplePod PeopleThe Pod People is a 1983 Spanish science fiction film directed by Juan Piquer Simón. A young boy discovers a lovable alien creature, but the alien's mother is on the prowl...
, Deviant Plan, Lord Kaos, Sakkuth, Engraved, Soulcrusher, Volatile - 27 November 1999 - Cryogenic, Alchemist, Blood Duster, Superheist, NazxulNazxulNazxul is a black metal band from Sydney, Australia. At one time featuring members of other prominent local metal bands including Mortal Sin and Sadistik Exekution, Nazxul has released two albums, an EP and several split releases with other bands....
, Deströyer 666, Armoured Angel, Dreadnaught, Pod People, Sakkuth, Psi.Kore, Order of Chaos, Lord KaosLord KaosLord Kaos was an Australian black metal band that formed in Sydney in 1994. For several years the group was the most prominent act of its style in the country with one founding member going on to record and perform with several Norwegian black metal bands including Dimmu Borgir...
, Earth, Psychrist, Crypt, DungeonDungeon (band)Dungeon was a melodic power metal/thrash metal band based in Sydney, Australia, considered by some sources as one of Australia's leading metal bands...
, Kompost - 28 October 2000 - VoivodVoivod (band)Voivod are a Canadian heavy metal band from Jonquière, Quebec, Canada. Their musical style has changed several times since the band's origin in the early 1980s...
, Alchemist, Blood Duster, Sadistik ExekutionSadistik ExekutionSadistik Exekution is an Australian Death Metal band that formed in 1985 and has existed somewhat sporadically ever since. While last playing live in 1999, the band recorded two more albums and while they have publicly declared to have disbanded several times since, the group reunited for a single...
(cancelled - replaced by AlarumAlarumAlarum are a 4-piece progressive technical metal jazz-fusion band from Melbourne, Australia. They are stylistically quite similar to early-90's pioneers Atheist and Cynic. They are also known to play Death covers in live shows—another band which influences them greatly...
), Henry's AngerHenry's AngerHenry's Anger was a Canberra based heavy metal band. Their second album Personality Test was nominated for an Aria Award for Best Rock Album and reached #38 on the alternative charts...
, Cryogenic, Dreadnaught, Abramelin, Pod People, Deströyer 666, Misery, Psi.Kore, Psychrist, Frankenbok, Lord Kaos, Sakkuth, Toe Cutter, Screwface:13, Earth, Dungeon, Deadspawn, The Wolves (cancelled - replaced by Volatile), ChaliceChalice (band)Chalice was a Gothic-doom metal band from Adelaide, South Australia. The group released three albums and was perhaps Australia's most notable Gothic metal band for a number of years before splitting up in 2007....
, Post Life Disorder, Astriaal, Encabulos, Atomizer, Dezakrate, Third Symptom - 20 October 2001 - Dungeon, Gospel of the Horns, Atomizer, Alchemist, Blood Duster, Psi.Kore, Sakkuth, Pod People, Dreadnaught, Earth, Frankenbok, Alarum, Chalice, Hypercenter, PsycropticPsycroptic-External links:**...
, Within Blood, Post Life Disorder, Screamage, Resistica, Clone B, Dark Order, Lycanthia, Hellspawn, Maladiction, Psychrist, Volatile, Deadspawn, JerkJerk (band)Jerk was an industrial metal band from Sydney, Australia. They released a single album, and featured in the video games Need for Speed: Underground and NHL 2004...
, Hollow, DevolvedDevolved (band)Devolved is a technical death metal band originally from the Gold Coast, Australia but based in Los Angeles, California since 2005. Led by founding member John Sankey the band has so far released three full-length albums with a fourth studio album scheduled for 2012, and toured throughout...
, Elysium, Tribal Clown, Myrddraal, Truth Corroded, Redsands, Enter VI, ContriveContriveContrive are a heavy metal band from Melbourne, Australia formed in 1999. Their musical style has been compared to that of Sepultura.The band consists of bassist Tim Stahlmann and twin brothers Paul Haug and Andrew Haug... - 9 November 2002 - EVENT CANCELLED. Proposed line-up: DestructionDestruction (band)Destruction is a German thrash metal band. They are considered one of the "three kings" of the Teutonic thrash metal scene, the others being Kreator and Sodom...
, Blood Duster, Dungeon, Earth, Frankenbok, CogCog (band)Cog are an Australian progressive rock band that formed in 1998. Their debut album The New Normal was nominated for Triple J's 2005 J Award. The band's music draws influences from Tool, Isis, Nina Simone, Bob Marley, Leftfield, Deftones and Helmet...
, Jerk, Pod People, Astriaal, Devolved, Psychrist, Alarum, Chalice, Sakkuth, DaysendDaysendDaysend was a metalcore/melodic death metal band from Sydney, Australia, assembled in 2002. Their debut album, Severance, was released the following year.-History:...
, Psycroptic, Maladiction, Abortus, K.I.N., Enter Twilight, Clauz, Black Steel, Suns Owl, Contrive, Fuck...I'm DeadFuck...I'm DeadFuck...I'm Dead is a grindcore band from Melbourne, Australia.Fuck...I'm Dead started in May 2000, with Tom Raetz on bass, Dave Hill on guitar and drum programming and Jay Jones on vocals...
, Oni, Post Life Disorder, Infernal MethodInfernal Method (band)Infernal Method was a melodic death metal band from Sydney, Australia. Despite the volatility of its line-up, the band was a dominant presence on Sydney's live metal music scene between early 2002 and late 2006 and notable for featuring an array of members who came from or later joined other bands...
, TourettesTourettes (band)Tourettes is a heavy metal band from Sydney, Australia founded in January 2000. Their style has been described as "a mixture of hardcore, nu-metal and other elements to create an apoplectic and eclectic noise."...
, Headmess, Hollow, LOG, Omnium Gatherum - 20 December 2003 - Damaged, Alchemist, Hobbs' Angel of DeathHobbs' Angel of DeathHobbs' Angel of Death are an Australian thrash metal band that began in 1987 in Melbourne, and are one of the first Australian groups to perform in that genre. They released two studio albums, Hobb's Angel of Death and Inheritance before disbanding in 1996...
, Blood Duster, Devolved, Virgin BlackVirgin BlackVirgin Black is an Australian band that combines gothic-doom and symphonic metal influences. Signed to The End Records and Germany's Massacre Records , the band has released 4 albums and 1 EP...
, Deströyer 666, Cog, Vanishing PointVanishing PointVanishing Point is a 1971 American action-road movie directed by Richard C. Sarafian; starring Barry Newman, Cleavon Little, and Dean Jagger....
, Dungeon, Psychrist (cancelled - replaced by Kill For Satan), Jerk, Atomizer, Earth, Frankenbok, Pod People, Astriaal, Forte, Fuck... I'm Dead, Psycroptic, Dark Order, Contrive, Sakkuth, Daysend, Mindsnare, Infernal Method, Embodiment, Gospel of the Horns, Tourettes, The Stockholm Syndrome, Flesh Mechanic, Captain Cleanoff, D:Nine, Shatterwrath, LOG - 5 February 2005 (Canberra event only) - Blood Duster, Alchemist, Dungeon, Astriaal, Fuck... I'm Dead, Frankenbok, Psycroptic, Daysend, Alarum, Sakkuth, Vanishing Point, Walk the Earth, Parkway Drive, Gospel of the Horns, The Day Everything Became Nothing, Plague, Tailbone, Japunga, Pod People, Minus Life, K.I.N., Contrive, Earth, Brace, The Stockholm Syndrome, Mindsnare, The Deadly, Skintilla, 4 Dead, Repture, Fort, Sebasrockets
- 4 November 2006 - I Killed the Prom QueenI Killed the Prom QueenI Killed the Prom Queen is an Australian metalcore band which formed in 2000 with mainstays JJ Peters on drums and Jona Weinhofen on guitar. The band featured prominently on the Australian live music scene and toured the USA, Japan and parts of Europe several times...
, SkinlessSkinlessSkinless is a death metal band that was formed in 1992 and disbanded in 2011.-History:Skinless was formed by Ryan Wade and Noah Carpenter in the town of South Glens Falls, New York...
, Alchemist, Frankenbok, Alarum, The Furor, Fuck... I'm Dead, Vanishing Point, Dreadnaught, Infernal Method, Pod People, The Day Everything Became Nothing, Shifosi, Anarazel, Minus Life, Truth Corroded, Ebolie, Clagg, Contrive, SwitchbladeSwitchblade (band)Switchblade were a five-piece metal band from Sydney, Australia, formed in 2001 and ending in 2011. Switchblade were the support act for bands such as Slayer, Machine Head, Exodus, Trivium and Nevermore during their respective Australian tours and released two albums...
, Inane Eminence, Shigella, LordLord (band)Lord is a heavy metal band from Wollongong, Australia. The group began as a solo project for "Lord Tim" Grose of Dungeon in 2003 and expanded into a complete band when Dungeon broke up in 2005. They have released three albums and an EP to date. Lord has appeared with major acts that include...
, Darkest Dawn, LOG, Whitehorse, Kill for Satan, Mytile Vey Lorth, Blood Duster, Captain Cleanoff, Gospel of the Horns, M.S.I., Earth, Ne Oblivscaris, Antonamasia, Ruins, 4 Dead, Samsara, Choke, Ghastly