From Valley Ruins

ORIGINS: Penrith, NSW

GENRE: Screamo, Metalcore

YEARS ACTIVE: 2013-2016

 

MEMBERS:

• Matthew Neal - Vocals
• Chris 'Frosti' Tar - Guitar
• Andrew Jacovides - Guitar, Bass
• Benny Josh - Bass
• Joe Bailey - Drums 

SUMMARY: Forming in Penrith, From Valley Ruins were a metalcore band active in the early to mid-2010s. The band played a series of shows in the Sydney, Western Sydney, and Blue Mountains areas and recorded at least twice before disbanding. The recordings were not formally released while the band was active.

 

SHOWS: 

• Unknown Venue - 11th January, 2014
• SFX, Sydney - 18th January, 2014
• SFX, Sydney - 8th February, 2014
• Bull and Bush Hotel, Baulkham Hills - 20th February, 2014
• Tattersalls, Penrith - 7th March, 2014
• Bull and Bush Hotel, Baulkham Hills - 20th March, 2014
• SFX, Sydney - 19th April, 2014
• Hotel Gearin, Katoomba - 3rd May, 2014
• SFX, Sydney - 1st November, 2014
• Macquarie Arms Hotel, Windsor - 19th December, 2014
• Valve Bar, Sydney - 20th December, 2014
• Valve Bar, Sydney - 8th February, 2015
• SFX, Sydney - 7th March, 2015 [Show was cancelled]
• Hot Damn, Q-Bar, Darlinghurst - 12th March, 2015

ORAL HISTORY:

MATT: The band started with the drummer Joe and I going to some alternative nightclubs. Joe heard me screaming along to the music and we started joking that we should start a band. Eventually Frosti and Joe and I met and we asked Andrew if he wanted to join. We originally tried a good friend of ours, Brendan, on bass but this didn't work out so we played our first shows as a four piece with Andrew on bass.

Matthew Neal (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2026

MATT: We wanted the band name originally to be just 'Valleys' - inspired by the Penrith/Nepean Valleys where we were from - but there was already a heavy band from Sydney with that name. We added the 'Ruins' as Penrith and the Nepean areas were not known for being the nicest places.

Matthew Neal (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2026

JOSH: The first I heard about the band was when a few friends were forming it and that they needed a bassplayer. I hadn't been in any bands before so I joined with a mixture of nervousness and excitement.

Benny Josh (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2026

MATT: Due to the music we were writing we knew we needed to be a five piece. We approached our friend Josh, a guitarist, to see if he would play bass for us. This was the lineup we settled on. Frosti and Joe always liked to write in a room live so, excluding maybe one song, we wrote everything together in a practice room at Cream Studios in Blacktown. Ideas came from everyone but it was always Frosti who drove the main concepts. The riffs were heavily inspired by the band Misery Signals but with Frosti's own flavour.

Matthew Neal (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2026

MATT: Two years ago, we agreed that if Joe and I ever started a band together he could shave my head. 

Matthew Neal (Vocals), FVR Facebook Page, 2014

FROSTY: From Valley Ruins had a writing session at my place this arvo... and credit given where creidt due - I know I'm the senior, but these kids freak me out, how talented they are. Well played today boys, well played.

Chris 'Frosty' Tar (Guitar), FVR Facebook Page, 2014

MATT: From Valley Ruins played a handful of shows - a bunch at SFX Nightclub, one at Hot Damn, at Hotel Gearin in Katoomba, and a Christmas show at Macquarie Arms when there were a few decent shows happening there. We played a great Halloween show at SFX where Frosti dressed as Pikachu. Hot as fuck. 

Matthew Neal (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2026

MATT: We recorded two tracks and had always planned an EP... we later recorded more songs with Dax from Puzzle Factory as he was one of Frosti's best mates. Growing up around Frosti I knew Dax fairly well by extension. We finished up around 2016 when Joe and I moved to Scotland. We wanted a recording so we would have something to leapfrog off next when Joe and I came back to Australia. Life took us two overseas where we met long term girlfriends and spent time travelling, etc., and the Dax-recorded songs ended up on the shelf. One of them, 'In Hopes' was one of the first songs we wrote and I would say it was the favourite song of both Frosti and myself. 

Matthew Neal (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2026

FROSTY: I hope one day we could finish what we started. Peace and love.

Chris 'Frosty' Tar (Guitar), FVR Facebook Page, 2018

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