Screamfest Australia 2009

Screamfest Line-up

International Acts:
Cynic (USA)
Dark Funeral (Sweden)
Destroyer 666 (Aust/EU)
Malevolent Creation (USA)
Edguy (Germany)
Ensiferum (Finland)
Rotting Christ (Greece)
Sonata Arctica (Finland)
Spawn Of Possession (Sweden)

Local Acts:
Black Majesty (Vic)
Darker Half (NSW)
Defamer (Qld)
Eyefear (Vic)
Eye Of The Enemy (Vic)
Killrazer (NSW)
Synperium (NSW)
Universum (SA)
Vanishing Point
Virgin Black (SA)

	Cynic 'How do you follow a timeless classic?' writes Dom Lawson from magazine Metal Hammer, referring to Cynic's debut album "Focus" from 1993. 'Wait 15 years and make another one! "Traced In Air" is a sublime, otherworldly monument to artistry, inspiration and music itself.' Cynic is back! Fifteen years after the band's seminal debut "Focus", the band returns with what can be termed a perfectly timed follow-up: The new album is "Traced in Air" and defies easy categorization, pushing the boundaries once again of the progressive metal genre. Even proponents of the band's previous output were somewhat shocked upon initial listenings to "Focus" in early 1993. Nobody could possibly have predicted the incredible strides the band would make in a year's time. Their musical merits had already been well- documented by this time, not only in the earlier CYNIC material which showcased their instrumental prowess, but also within their contributions to other projects. It was particularly on the breakthrough fourth album from Death - "Human" - when the greater world learned of Reinert and Masvidal in particular, as their participation allowed late bandleader Chuck Schuldiner to realize a new technical benchmark in extreme music, something that only helped to fuel the demand for a full-length CYNIC album.
	Dark Funeral Sweden's Dark Funeral is without doubt one of the most notorious and highly regarded of the Black Metal genre. They epitomise the dark essence that is and always will be at the true heart of the European scene. The band is currently busy writing material for a new studio album before heading our way in December...
	Destroyer 666 Formed in May 1994 by KK as an outlet for more thrashy riffs not suitable for Bestial Warlust. Never intended to be a "serious" full time band. Now, in 2009, the band has delivered on all its hard work and potential with their opus release, "Defiance". Already receiving critical acclaim for the release from all corners of the world's media, the album title "Defiance" says it all. D666 are invigorated, determined and ready to take on one and all.
	MALEVOLENT CREATION MALEVOLENT CREATION is one of the premier Death Metal bands in the genre. Their career started in 1987 in Buffalo, NY, where they recorded and distributed their first demo. In 1988 they moved to a more fertile music scene in Florida and produced their second demo with a pressing of 1,000 copies. Finally, a third demo the following year, brought MALEVOLENT CREATION a record deal with Roadrunner and the first full-length album titled The Ten Commandments, considered by many to be one of the strongest ever Death Metal debut albums. Now, some 20 years and 10 album releases later, MALEVOLENT CREATION still continue to pound out a sound that holds them at the top of their genre with no sign of the status quo on the horizon.
	Edguy 1992 sees the formation of the band Edguy which consists of Tobias Sammet (keyboards, vocals, bass), Jens Ludwig (lead guitar), Dirk Sauer (rhythm guitar) and Dominik Storch (drums). The band known as Edguy plays their first gigs. ... today After Tobias Sammet successfully releases a new album of his all star project Avantasia in January, Edguy catch up in the rehearsing room to start working on their new studio album. The first ever Avantasia festival tour is followed by another North American Edguy tour prior to the album release of the new Edguy album "Tinnitus Sanctus" on November 14th 2008.
	Ensiferum Hailing from Helsinki, Finland, Ensiferum (meaning "sword bearing" in Latin) have crafted a unique sound. A sound that the band themselves label as "heroic folk metal." Since their formation, Ensiferum has released three full-length albums, one EP, one compilation, two singles, and three demo albums and are now ready to bring their sound to Australian audiences.
	Rotting Christ Legendary Greek entity ROTTING CHRIST are a true certainty in terms of delivering abstract, yet fundamental album releases ever since their early foundation in 1989. Experimenting and stylistically metamorphosing throughout different, yet always obscure layers of elements from varying styles of heavier music has truly driven ROTTING CHRIST to achieve a very distinct sound, giving the band a very special position within the realm of the black metal scene.
	Sonata Arcitca Formed 1996 in the Finnish town of Kemi, SONATA ARCTICA has over the past ten years become one of the most important metal rock bands bands on the planet. Extremely successful tours throughout Europe, America and Japan made Tony Kakko and the boys an international act with thousands of fans all over the world.
	Spawn of Possession Spawn of Possession rose from the ashes of various constellations in Feb. '97. The whole idea of the band was to create brutal and intense music that went beyond many of the common styles of death metal that had been done before. After touring alongside acts such as Cannibal Corpse, Hypocrisy, Kataklysm, Exhumed, Vomitory and Carpathian Forest, Spawn Of Possession are heading to our shores with their unique brand.
	Black Majesty Australian melodic power metal band Black Majesty return with their eagerly anticipated third album 'Tomorrowland'. Following the paths laid out by them by Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Helloween, Black Majesty have continued to build on their own brand of Australian melodic power metal. The bands first two album's Sands of Time (2003) and Silent Company (2005) launched the band in a big way with Black Majesty being one of the best sellers for their German label Limb Music Products. Black Majesty caught the eye of many over the past few years having being hand picked by DragonForce to support them on their Australian wide 2006 tour whilst also picking up supports with Edguy and Hammerfall.
	Darker Half Darker Half play METAL: drawing on the roots of classic heavy metal, they have been inspired by thrash, power, death, speed and more to build a unique style all their own. In early 2009 the band released their debut album 'Duality' followed by an Australian East Coast headline tour in March to promote the CD. Since the Albums release the band have received a solid amount of radio play and multiple showings of the bands debut film clip 'Take The Plunge' on RAGE, Abc Tv. Darker Half have just come off an East Coast tour with Iron Maidens original vocalist Paul Di'anno and are setting up for their national tour with Metal/Prog Legends Queensryche this August.
	Defamer Conceived in early 2006, Defamer are a five-piece Death Metal band based in Brisbane who draw influence from most facets of extreme metal, though mainly death and black. In March/April of 2007 they recorded a four track demo with MKH (Carbon, Astriaal), which was then mastered by Aphotic Mote (Portal). Defamer went on to record its second demo, this time with three tracks in January 2008 again with MKH and had it mastered by Dale Williams. They have just released their debut full length album.
	Eyefear EYEFEAR was born in the summer of '94 by Con Papazoglou, Rob Gorham, Zain Kimmie and Ken Taylor. After a few months searching for vocalists to complete the band, they came across Jason Smart . ... today EYEFEAR releases their latest opus in 2008, "Unseen" on the Dockyard 1 label from Germany. This release see the band take a more "aggressive" approach to their music and it exploits the brilliant vocal talents of Danny Ceccati like no other Eyefear album to date. Sammy, a member since 2003, has since parted ways with the band in the early stages of 2009 but the band moves forward with confidence and conviction with new keyboardist Seb Schneider.
	Eye of the Enemy Spawned in the armpits of Melbourne, Eye of the Enemy ripped their way into the metal scene in 2006 with the debut release of their Demo. After a year of unleashing hell with a fast growing fan base after the release of the demo, Eye of the Enemy decided it was time to close the doors in late 2007 to write and record new material to unleash on the world. With a new E.P, and ever-growing fan base and live show that will leave you soiled after the first note, Eye of the Enemy will soon engulf the world with their musical vision proving that they are worthy of their title as one of the best up and coming metal acts in Australia.
	Killrazer Killrazer is a metal band from Sydney Australia that plays a distinctive mix of old-school thrash and technical death metal to create a unique, diverse and original sound. Rooted in old-school metal philosophy, the band's fast, heavy and rhythmically challenging style of thrash is far removed from any of the 'trends' found in today's metal environment. Featuring some of the most well-known and experienced players from the Sydney metal scene, Killrazer's sound is highlighted by a blistering twin-vocal attack along with virtuoso drum and guitar work.
	Synperium Synperium, four youngsters from New South Wales' Southern Highlands possess a very big "progressive technical death metal sound". Their current EP, Transfiguration, embodies the Synperium formula: a cleverly crafted blend of anger and relentlessness, speed and rhythm, progression, technicality and a hint of groove. The band scored the national support slot for Children Of Bodom in 2008 where they performed in front of large audiences in large venues. All reports back from punters were very favourable. The band then landed the main support slot in Sydney for Cradle Of Filth in 2009 once again to exceptional support and a great crowd response. Looking forward to their first full length release, to come out later in 2009, this young band from the highlands of NSW are hungry, keen, motivated and ready to take the next step in their musical careers.
	Universum Hailing from Adelaide - Australia, Universum completed formation in early 2007. Fusing Scandinavian melodic death metal, new wave American heavy metal, old school metal and progressive rock elements, Universum have set forth to create the new brand of Modern Australian Heavy Melodic Metal. Recently signed to Riot Entertainment, Universum have been enjoying excellent reviews, great feedback and increased media attention, the most recent of which includes being featured on the UK's Metal Hammer and Terrorizer magazine cover CDs.
	Vanishing Point In an era where trends and gimmicks rule - Vanishing Point stand-alone in creating music with heart and soul. Forward thinking and progressive, Vanishing Point's inherent uniqueness permeates through every aspect of the creative process – providing a rich and enthralling listening experience. With the recent release their fourth album The Fourth Season, Vanishing Point has delivered what many hoped, a masterpiece of musical excellence that has no peers. "Australia is not only about AC/DC anymore." (AOR Dream Zones)
	Virgin Black Formed in Adelaide in the early 90's by Samantha Escarbe and front man Rowan London, Virgin Black combines elements of doom metal and classical music, and in its image, the band uses gothic aesthetics, which led a critic to describe their style as having influences of "dark wave with gothic atmosphere" and "symphonic gothic-doom". Rooted in Death/Doom, Virgin Black states their influences as the British group My Dying Bride, the American gothic metal band Saviour Machine and 19th century classical music. The band continues to have world wide recognition, appeal which has seen them touring around the globe and locally. Virgin Black has performed alongside some giants of the scene such as Opeth, Paradise Lost, Amorphis, Samael, Arcturus, Agalloch, Leave's Eyes and have even headlined Switzerland's Elements of Rock Festival in 2007.