Are they the best? That depends on your opinion. But here's a list of 20 cool Aussie metal albums you should check out if you haven't already.
AC/DC Back in Black (Alberts, 1980)
Whether it can be called true metal or not, Back in Black is unquestionably one of the best albums of all time. Outrageously simple but undeniably effective, every track is an instant classic. Deservingly one of the top five selling albums in history.
Alchemist Organasm (Chatterbox, 2000)
Trying to pick the best Alchemist album is difficult because all of them are good. Organasm however was the culmination of all their previous work, heavy in all the right places, trippy in the others, with more focused songwriting and a more tightened musical direction; it pips Spiritech, but only just.
Allegiance D.e.s.t.i.t.u.t.i.o.n. (Id, 1994)
With major label backing, Perths ace metal unit Allegiance put together the most focused and best realised Australian thrash metal release of the early 90s. D.e.s.t.i.t.u.t.i.o.n. is stacked with hook-laden songs with an aggressive attitude but nonetheless a clear commercial appeal that pushed them to the very front of the scene.
Astriaal Renascent Misanthropy (Blacktalon Media, 2003)
Astriaal blends violent but melodic black metal with inherently catchy riffing and a death metal sensibility on Renascent Misanthropy to create one of the very best metal albums of any kind to appear in 2003, and unarguably one of the greatest extreme releases this country has yet produced.
Avrigus The Secret Kingdom (Well of Urd, 2001)
Few Goth metal acts can match the pure brilliance and majesty of this Sydney two-piece entitys 2001 full length album. Recorded on a computer over a series of years, this accompaniment to a rainy days sorrow is virtually flawless from the orchestral soundtrack-like music to the bell-like vocals of Judy Chiara.
Black Majesty Sands of Time (LMP, 2003)
Combining all the melodic sensibilities of the best European power metal bands and the complex progressive songwriting of the likes of Queensryche, Black Majesty have unquestionably stamped themselves as a force to be reckoned with among the elite of power and prog entities with Sands of Time.
Blood Duster Str8outtanorthcote (Dr Jims, 1997)
Grind and rock have never been blended so well as on Blood Dusters first real full-length release. Resplendent with toilet humour, dumb sexism and cartoon violence, Str8outtanorthcote is also wall to wall with crushingly heavy and insanely catchy rock n roll riffage thats a counterpoint to the undercurrent of spastic grind.
Damaged Do Not Spit (Black Hole, 1993)
As a statement in barely controlled violence and pure hatred, few albums have come close to Do Not Spit. The breathtaking drumming, the incredible tapestry of razor-sharp, lightning fast riffs and the utterly incomprehensible rage of Jaymi Ludbrookes vocal attack combines to make this album an unceasing and almost insurmountable slab of extreme noise terror.
Daysend Severance (Chatterbox, 2003)
Overhyped? Perhaps, but theres no denying that Daysend has made a killer album with Severance. Fine songs, catchy hooks and exactly the right blend of melodic death metal and commercially-flavoured alterna-metal elements to appeal to a broad audience without straying too far from their roots.
Destroyer 666 Phoenix Rising (Seasons of Mist, 2000)
Somewhat more directed than the album before, but unflinchingly uncompromising as anything theyve done. Phoenix Rising takes advantage of a better budget but doesnt mess with Destroyers catchy, relentless war-metal thrashing.
dISEMBOWELMENT Transcendence into the Peripheral (Relapse, 1993)
Virtually every doom band to have emerged in the last ten years has paid homage in some way to this Melbourne bands immense and only album. Featuring some of the most depressing but aggressive doom of all, Transcendence into the Peripheral is one of the most important albums in the history of death and doom metal.
Dreadnaught Body.Blood.Skin.Mind (Deported 1996; Blahblahblah 1997)
Criminally ignored due to the abysmal distribution efforts of both labels that handled its release, Body.Blood.Skin.Mind is one of the best examples of dark and dramatic melodic technical metal ever made. Featuring perhaps the best post-break up song yet recorded, Flowers and the passionate and immensely powerful voice of Greg Trull, Dreadnaughts first album is a masterpiece.
Dungeon A Rise to Power (Metal Warriors 2002; LMP 2003)
Never has an Australian band produced such a near-perfect traditional metal album. Incorporating elements of European and American power metal, melodic thrash and a tiny death metal influence with infectiously catchy songs and amazing musicianship, A Rise to Power easily stands as one of best metal albums from anywhere released in 2003.
Earth Star Condemnd (Black Hole 2000)
Few bands outside of Gothenburg have been as successful as emulating the Swedish melodic sound as Melbournes Earth. Opening with one of the best Australian metal songs of all, Prophecy or Destiny Star Condemnd is one monstrous slab of enormous death metal after another, capped off with a (hidden) version of Children of the Grave that makes the original sound timid indeed.
Lord Kaos Thorns of Impurity (Warhead, 1996)
At a time when other black metal acts were still developing their symphonic stylings, Thorns of Impurity showed that Lord Kaos was well on the way to perfecting theirs. With cold, shrieking and at time almost indistinct vocals laid over haunting, atmospheric keys and occasional surprisingly intricate guitar work from Astennu (later to join Dimmu Borgir), Thorns of Impurity remains as a widely undiscovered minor black metal masterpiece.
Mortal Sin Mayhemic Destruction (Mega Metal, 1987; Vertigo 1988)
The most successful Australian thrash metal album of all time is still one of the best. Despite the almost primeval production Mayhemic Destruction touched base with the likes of Metallica, Testament and Kreator and showed the world that Australia could be more than just a backwater with tracks like the multi-faceted Lebanon and the near-death extremity of the title cut remaining classics to this day.
Mortality Structure (Warhead, 1997)
Structure was the culmination of Mortalitys journey to the top of Sydneys thrash and death metal scene in the mid-90s. Fusing the math-metal technicality of Meshuggah with simple but enormous Fear Factory-style riffs and a huge vocal attack, Structure is pure crushing but over-looked magnitude.
Mortification Scrolls of the Megilloth (Nuclear Blast, 1992)
Who would have thought that a Melbourne-based Christian band could produce such an exhausting Bolt Thrower-style death grind holocaust? Scrolls of the Megilloth is Mortification at their extreme height. Forget the cheesy Bible-thumping lyrics and just bang your head off the immense noise.
Psycroptic The Scepter of the Ancients (Unique Leader, 2003)
Psycroptics first album was merely a foreshadowing of the incredible technical brutality they would unleash on the follow up. On The Scepter of the Ancients, the young Hobart lads carve out an unceasing and unmerciful display of dextrous brutal death metal reminiscent of Cryptopsy with better songs and more interesting vocals.
Segression L.I.A. (Oracle, 1996)
Wollongongs Segression embraced the modern thrash style of Machine Head on their breakthrough debut release. Opening with the explosive violence of indisputable classic Cage of Nails, L.I.A. is a caustic, abrasive and passionate volume of solid, aggressive thrash metal.
AC/DC Back in Black (Alberts, 1980)
Whether it can be called true metal or not, Back in Black is unquestionably one of the best albums of all time. Outrageously simple but undeniably effective, every track is an instant classic. Deservingly one of the top five selling albums in history.
Alchemist Organasm (Chatterbox, 2000)
Trying to pick the best Alchemist album is difficult because all of them are good. Organasm however was the culmination of all their previous work, heavy in all the right places, trippy in the others, with more focused songwriting and a more tightened musical direction; it pips Spiritech, but only just.
Allegiance D.e.s.t.i.t.u.t.i.o.n. (Id, 1994)
With major label backing, Perths ace metal unit Allegiance put together the most focused and best realised Australian thrash metal release of the early 90s. D.e.s.t.i.t.u.t.i.o.n. is stacked with hook-laden songs with an aggressive attitude but nonetheless a clear commercial appeal that pushed them to the very front of the scene.
Astriaal Renascent Misanthropy (Blacktalon Media, 2003)
Astriaal blends violent but melodic black metal with inherently catchy riffing and a death metal sensibility on Renascent Misanthropy to create one of the very best metal albums of any kind to appear in 2003, and unarguably one of the greatest extreme releases this country has yet produced.
Avrigus The Secret Kingdom (Well of Urd, 2001)
Few Goth metal acts can match the pure brilliance and majesty of this Sydney two-piece entitys 2001 full length album. Recorded on a computer over a series of years, this accompaniment to a rainy days sorrow is virtually flawless from the orchestral soundtrack-like music to the bell-like vocals of Judy Chiara.
Black Majesty Sands of Time (LMP, 2003)
Combining all the melodic sensibilities of the best European power metal bands and the complex progressive songwriting of the likes of Queensryche, Black Majesty have unquestionably stamped themselves as a force to be reckoned with among the elite of power and prog entities with Sands of Time.
Blood Duster Str8outtanorthcote (Dr Jims, 1997)
Grind and rock have never been blended so well as on Blood Dusters first real full-length release. Resplendent with toilet humour, dumb sexism and cartoon violence, Str8outtanorthcote is also wall to wall with crushingly heavy and insanely catchy rock n roll riffage thats a counterpoint to the undercurrent of spastic grind.
Damaged Do Not Spit (Black Hole, 1993)
As a statement in barely controlled violence and pure hatred, few albums have come close to Do Not Spit. The breathtaking drumming, the incredible tapestry of razor-sharp, lightning fast riffs and the utterly incomprehensible rage of Jaymi Ludbrookes vocal attack combines to make this album an unceasing and almost insurmountable slab of extreme noise terror.
Daysend Severance (Chatterbox, 2003)
Overhyped? Perhaps, but theres no denying that Daysend has made a killer album with Severance. Fine songs, catchy hooks and exactly the right blend of melodic death metal and commercially-flavoured alterna-metal elements to appeal to a broad audience without straying too far from their roots.
Destroyer 666 Phoenix Rising (Seasons of Mist, 2000)
Somewhat more directed than the album before, but unflinchingly uncompromising as anything theyve done. Phoenix Rising takes advantage of a better budget but doesnt mess with Destroyers catchy, relentless war-metal thrashing.
dISEMBOWELMENT Transcendence into the Peripheral (Relapse, 1993)
Virtually every doom band to have emerged in the last ten years has paid homage in some way to this Melbourne bands immense and only album. Featuring some of the most depressing but aggressive doom of all, Transcendence into the Peripheral is one of the most important albums in the history of death and doom metal.
Dreadnaught Body.Blood.Skin.Mind (Deported 1996; Blahblahblah 1997)
Criminally ignored due to the abysmal distribution efforts of both labels that handled its release, Body.Blood.Skin.Mind is one of the best examples of dark and dramatic melodic technical metal ever made. Featuring perhaps the best post-break up song yet recorded, Flowers and the passionate and immensely powerful voice of Greg Trull, Dreadnaughts first album is a masterpiece.
Dungeon A Rise to Power (Metal Warriors 2002; LMP 2003)
Never has an Australian band produced such a near-perfect traditional metal album. Incorporating elements of European and American power metal, melodic thrash and a tiny death metal influence with infectiously catchy songs and amazing musicianship, A Rise to Power easily stands as one of best metal albums from anywhere released in 2003.
Earth Star Condemnd (Black Hole 2000)
Few bands outside of Gothenburg have been as successful as emulating the Swedish melodic sound as Melbournes Earth. Opening with one of the best Australian metal songs of all, Prophecy or Destiny Star Condemnd is one monstrous slab of enormous death metal after another, capped off with a (hidden) version of Children of the Grave that makes the original sound timid indeed.
Lord Kaos Thorns of Impurity (Warhead, 1996)
At a time when other black metal acts were still developing their symphonic stylings, Thorns of Impurity showed that Lord Kaos was well on the way to perfecting theirs. With cold, shrieking and at time almost indistinct vocals laid over haunting, atmospheric keys and occasional surprisingly intricate guitar work from Astennu (later to join Dimmu Borgir), Thorns of Impurity remains as a widely undiscovered minor black metal masterpiece.
Mortal Sin Mayhemic Destruction (Mega Metal, 1987; Vertigo 1988)
The most successful Australian thrash metal album of all time is still one of the best. Despite the almost primeval production Mayhemic Destruction touched base with the likes of Metallica, Testament and Kreator and showed the world that Australia could be more than just a backwater with tracks like the multi-faceted Lebanon and the near-death extremity of the title cut remaining classics to this day.
Mortality Structure (Warhead, 1997)
Structure was the culmination of Mortalitys journey to the top of Sydneys thrash and death metal scene in the mid-90s. Fusing the math-metal technicality of Meshuggah with simple but enormous Fear Factory-style riffs and a huge vocal attack, Structure is pure crushing but over-looked magnitude.
Mortification Scrolls of the Megilloth (Nuclear Blast, 1992)
Who would have thought that a Melbourne-based Christian band could produce such an exhausting Bolt Thrower-style death grind holocaust? Scrolls of the Megilloth is Mortification at their extreme height. Forget the cheesy Bible-thumping lyrics and just bang your head off the immense noise.
Psycroptic The Scepter of the Ancients (Unique Leader, 2003)
Psycroptics first album was merely a foreshadowing of the incredible technical brutality they would unleash on the follow up. On The Scepter of the Ancients, the young Hobart lads carve out an unceasing and unmerciful display of dextrous brutal death metal reminiscent of Cryptopsy with better songs and more interesting vocals.
Segression L.I.A. (Oracle, 1996)
Wollongongs Segression embraced the modern thrash style of Machine Head on their breakthrough debut release. Opening with the explosive violence of indisputable classic Cage of Nails, L.I.A. is a caustic, abrasive and passionate volume of solid, aggressive thrash metal.
