Joe Xerri

Joe Xerri

BANDS:

• Split Sceen (1989-1993) - Guitar
• Phnortt (1994-1995) - Guitar
• Litter (2021-2022) - Guitar, Bass
• Descentcunts (2023) - Bass
• Winter Underpants (2023-Current) - Guitar

REGION: Western Sydney, NSW

 

Leith Phillips

Leith Phillips

• Total Abuse (1993-1994) - Drums
• Hate is Enough (1996-1998) - Drums
• Drut (1997) - Drums
• Headbutt (1997-1998) - Drums
• Special Patrol Group (2001-2019) - Drums

REGION: Western Sydney, NSW

Matt Brajkovic

 

Matt Brajkovic

• Jel (1996) - Bass, Backing Vocals
• Unnamed Acid Funk band (2000) - Bass, Backing Vocals
• Infringement (2000-2001) - Bass, Backing Vocals
• Inakin (2003-2006) - Bass, Backing Vocals
• GreenDay Show (2009-2012) - Bass, Backing Vocals

REGION: Western Sydney, NSW

Warren Abela

Warren Abela

• Nineaway (1997-1998) - Bass
  
• Hollow Point (1999-2003) - Bass
• Blindhoarse (2003-2006) - Bass
• The Havknotz (2009-2013) - Bass
• Riot Pack (2023) - Bass
• The Miskeens (2025-Current) Guitar

REGION: Quakers Hill, NSW

Ruben Sanchez

Ruben Sanchez

• Kilswitch (1990-1995) - Guitar
• You Blabbed About Mars (1996-2002) - Guitar
• Threequency (2014-2017) - Guitar
• Cloverfield Collective (2018-2025) - Guitar
• Coverage (2022) - Guitar

REGION: Western Sydney, NSW

Shane Edwards

Shane Edwards

• Venus Fly Trap (1995-1998) - Bass
• Dipstick (1996-1998) - Bass
• Inakin/Jel (1998-2008) - Guitar

OTHER:

Music producer/Engineer at:

• Electric Sun Studios (2003-2013)
• Karma Sound Studios (2014-2020)
• Studio28 (2020-Current)

REGION: Western Sydney, NSW

Ned Jankovic

Ned Jankovic

BANDS:

• Notion (2000-2001) - DJ (as DJ Feeder)
• Subnation (2006-2008) - Guitar 
• Me Vs. You (2008-2011) - Guitar
• Caulfield (2010-2012) - Guitar 
• Awaken I Am (2011-2013) - Bass, (2014-2019) - Guitar
• Redhook (2019-Current) - Bass, Guitar

REGION: Western Sydney, NSW

 

Troy Zarb

Troy Zarb

• Cry Mercy / Retlaw (1995-1999) - Guitar
• Infringement (2001) - Guitar
• Tsunami (2005-2007) - Vocals, Guitar
• Felix of Exile (2007) - Vocals, Guitar
• Scarlet's Revenge (2008-2018) - Vocals, Guitar
• Crimes Against Fashion (2019-2020) - Vocals, Guitar
• Trojan Guns (2022-Current) - Vocals, Guitar

Region: Western Sydney, NSW

Tristan Courtney-Prior

Tristan Courtney-Prior

• The Undersided (2000-2006) - Guitar
• Peabody (2008-Current) - Guitar 
• Shearin' (2016-Current) - Guitar
• Solo Project (2022-Current) - Vocals, Guitar

REGION: Western Sydney, NSW

Cameron Robinson

Cameron Robinson

• From the Sideline (2003-2005) - Vocals, Bass
• Drive Like Reason (2005-2007) - Vocals, Bass
• Envy Parade (2007-2010) - Vocals, Bass
  

REGION: Western Sydney, NSW

Brendan Kennedy

Brendan Kennedy

BANDS:

• Hackenbush (2003) - Guitar
• Sniperival (2004-2010) - Guitar, Backing Vocals
• Ivan Drago (2014-2017) - Vocals, Guitar
• Faux Effects - Guitar
  

REGION: Western Sydney, NSW

 

Ryan Lambert

Ryan Lambert

• Venus Fly Trap (1997) - Drums
• Infringement (1999-2001) - Drums
• My Name is John (2001-2003) - Drums
• Town Hall Steps (2003-2011) - Drums
• Columbia's Pain (2005) - Drums
  

OTHER:

• Ryan also ran Party Pig Studios in the '00s. Shows put on at the studio:
• Pig Day Out - 22nd March, 2003

REGION: Western Sydney, NSW

The Black Arts Movement

ORIGINS: Parramatta, NSW

GENRE: Metal, Death Metal, Metalcore, Thrash Metal

YEARS ACTIVE: 1997-2007

 

MEMBERS:

• Trev Raiss - Bass
• Nathan McMahon - Drums
  
• Pat Orriss - Vocals (2004-2006)
• Chris Maloney - Vocals, Bass (1997-2003)
• CJ McMahon - Vocals (2007)
  
• Dane Brett - Guitar (1999-2007)
• James Zulich - Guitar (1997-1998)
• Jonathan Talan - Guitar (1997-2003)
• Tommy Jarvis - Guitar (2007)
  

RELEASES: 

 

• The Remnants of Self Destruction (1999) [as Baraka]
• 1. The Remnants of Self Destruction
• 2. Outbreak
• 3. Beneath These Scars
• 4. Aftermath 
  

• Self-Titled (2001) [as Baraka]
• 1. Welcome to the New World
• 2. The Remnants of Self Destruction
• 3. Recto-Cranial Inversion
• 4. Tunguska
• 5. B.R.S.
• 6. Aftermath  

• Demo (2003) [as Baraka]
• 1. Disturbance
• 2. Oxygen
• 3. Reborn
• 4. Seizure Apprenticeship
• 5. Inside My Head
• 6. Tydes
• 7. Innocence Lost
• 8. Your Sympathy
• 9. Defiance on the West Bank
  

• Demo (2004) - Download Here.
  
• 1. The Conversation's Passed (no vocals)
  
• 2. Embalming
• 3. Momentarily
• 4. S.I.N.
• 5. The Conversation's Passed

• A Wall and a Tomb (2006) - Download Here.
  
• 1. Disturbance
• 2. Seizure Apprenticeship
• 3. My Sympathy
• 4. Reborn
• 5. Oxygen
• 6. The Method to Ruin
• 7. Anagram

• Live (2006) - Download Here.
  
• 1. Intro / Momentarily
• 2. The Conversation's Passed
• 3. Libran / Cancerian
• 4. My Sympathy
• 5. Reborn
• 6. Seizure Apprenticeship
• 7. The Method to Ruin
• 8. When Two Negatives Collide
• 9. S.I.N.

SUMMARY: Beginning at Northmead High School as 'Baraka', the band developed into a hard-edged metal act who played a variety of All Ages and pub shows throughout the early '00s. Their first EP, The Remnants of Self-Destruction, was distributed by the South Australian record label Necrodecay. Baraka made some additional recordings before undergoing some lineup shuffles around 2003/2004. At this point the band decided to change their name to The Black Arts Manifesto after learning of a touring Japanese band of the same name, and around this time Pat Orriss joined the band as vocalist. The band continued for a couple of years and recorded a final studio EP before Pat left the band. CJ McMahon (later of Thy Art is Murder) joined The Black Arts Movement briefly as the new vocalist before the band called it a day.

 

SHOWS: 

• PCYC, Hornsby - unknown date, 1999 (as Baraka)
  
• Forest Inn, Bexley - 3rd February, 2001 (as Baraka)
• Bloodlust Festival, PCYC, Penrith - 12th July, 2001 (as Baraka)
• Pig Day Out, Party Pig Studios, Girraween - 22nd March, 2003 (as Baraka)
  
• Backdoor, Panthers Leagues Club, Penrith - 5th November, 2004
• Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills - 26th August, 2005
• Backdoor, Panthers Leagues Club, Penrith - 21st January, 2006
• Metal in the Veins, Excelsior, Surry Hills - 26th May, 2006
  

ORAL HISTORY:

CHRIS MALONEY: Baraka was my first band and was started with a few friends from Northmead High school who were all into heavy metal. We were in Year 9 or 10 and we used to practice in the lounge room of his family home. After about six months we started playing local schools and all ages metal festivals. When we turned 18 (around 2000) we started playing the local bars. One of our first gigs was at the Forest Inn in Bexley. This was one of the venues we played most regularly at in the early days. It was great just being on stage with my mates playing songs we wrote together.  

Chris Maloney (Vocals, Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

The start of the band - founding members.

 

NATHAN: We loved the movie Baraka and we were young and pretentious, haha. At the time we just liked how worldly the film was, and both the cinematography and music was amazing. 

Nathan McMahon (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

CHRIS MALONEY: The scene for metal was still relatively small with only a handful of venues across Sydney, so all the bands knew each other quite well. The small festivals were always fun, with Cryogenic a crowd favourite. We used a play a lot with the band Headmess and were friends with the pop-punk guys Secondbest as well.  

Chris Maloney (Vocals, Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

 

DANE: The Black Arts Movement started in 2003 from a lineup change in a previous band, Baraka, which started in 1997. The original Baraka lineup was a four piece - one guitarist left and then I joined. This lineup continued for about four years until The Black Arts Movement happened. My first show with the band was at Hornsby PCYC in the basement there in 1999.

Dane Brett (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

NATHAN: The Black Arts Movement emerged from the band Baraka. We changed the name to The Black Arts Movement as there was a band overseas called Baraka. The Black Arts Movement sounded cool and also was a representation of counter-culture and minority expression (metal being the minority). Kind of pompous stuff. 

Nathan McMahon (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

At the Bexley Inn, c. 1998

DANE: We played a smallish festival, Bloodlust, at Penrith PCYC in 2001 and it was the biggest show we played up until that date. Forest Inn shows at Bexley were also fun and it was a cool place to play. We used to play a lot of shows with bands like Headmess, Flesh Mechanic, Tocata, and a lot of bands from Penrith. It was fun to play shows back then - social media like MySpace was only just starting out so it was all about putting up flyers and drum media ads to promote shows. It was Nathan mostly who did that side of things. 

Dane Brett (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

PAT: The band was originally called 'Baraka'. I think we changed the name just after I joined actually. I came to the band through mutual friends. I'd see Baraka and The Black Arts Movement as two separate bands but the other guys might see things differently. All I know is that I never performed under the name Baraka. There were a few songs that rolled over - 'Seizure Apprenticeship' wasn't my lyrics. I still have no fucking idea what's going on there. The newer stuff I found more to my taste but that's biased.

Pat Orriss (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

NATHAN: I knew Patrick Orriss through friends and his work in Dyasphere. When he joined the band that's when we became The Black Arts Movement. We reworked some songs that had been done under Baraka, and then recorded the EP A Wall and a Tomb.  

Nathan McMahon (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

DANE: There was a bit of a different sound with the newer songs and we kept a bunch of Baraka songs but some lyrics changed.

Dane Brett (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

Pat on vocals.

PAT: Metal in the Veins at Blacktown RSL was a pretty fucken tight show. The Daysend guys swung some compliments our way that day and I thought that was the duck's nuts 'cause I held them in pretty high esteem. We got to show off a few new songs at another show, our EP launch, which I was excited for too. Awesome crowd. I ended up losing my voice that night. I often listen back to the recording we had done of that - I'm proud of the work we put in but disappointed for the guys because of my form on the night. It is what it is. Live and learn. 

Pat Orriss (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

DANE: We went in as The Black Arts Movement to just do a demo, maybe three songs, but we did those pretty quick and then recorded a few more. It took two years in total to complete it as we weren't happy with the mixing of it and it took a while to find someone to do it to our satisfaction.

Dane Brett (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

PAT: Compared to other bands I'd been in, I found The Black Arts Movement to be much more involved in the less-musical part of being in a band - the visual art and monetary side of things - probably because I never got that far with a band in that sort of business sense before. The sum of my ambition was the music, I didn't take the rest seriously. I enjoyed composing with those guys, as much as I could act like a clown and fuck around and do some stupid stuff. Every now and again I'd get a smile or a laugh and I thought 'fuck it, worth it'. 

Pat Orriss (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

 

PRESS RELEASE: Bursting out of Western Sydney, Australia, The Black Arts Movement are here to change your perception of modern metal. With genres and stereotypes being the new black, The Black Arts Movement throws this on its head, baring a title and profile that polarises its audience; the willing and the complacent. Black Arts? Think a little further. The Black Arts Movement is about the progression of metal from socially outcast stereotype to a credible form of music that is both accessible yet abrasive and confronting. It's about aggressive music being a tangible medium that can churn a crowd into a frenzy yet on another face provide contemplative thought and emotion. The Black Arts Movement formed in early 2004 after the demise of previous incarnation Baraka, which had been playing with local and interstate bands since 1998. The Black Arts Movement grew out of an idea to push people's perceptions of what extreme metal is by combining influences ranging from folk music to brutal death metal.

Press Release, Triple J Unearthed Website, 2006

DANE: Our rehearsal space was in the middle of an industrial area - it was a big space that we could leave our gear set up in and we had a PlayStation and an almost-360 degree porn wall.

Dane Brett (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

PAT: I tuned out when things got serious. Couldn't help it. Now I think about it, it's probably because I was doing it for me, and not anyone else.

Pat Orriss (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

With third vocalist, CJ McMahon, in 2007

DANE: Pat left in 2006 and then two guys from another Penrith band, Evolvar, joined us for about 6 months on vocals and bass. We had enough new songs for another EP - we talked of going and recording them but it didn't happen. We had a few members leave for other projects. So it was Nathan and me continuing on for a few months but we couldn't find anyone else at the time and just decided that was it.

Dane Brett (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

RELATED BANDS: Cherub Mafia, Dyasphere, Evolvar, Many Ions Apart, Tocata, Remember That You Will Die, Ignite the Ibex, Hemina, Avarin, Transcending Mortality, Violator, Vegas in Ruins, Thy Art is Murder, Namorrodor, No Home For Heroes

 

As Baraka, 1997-2003

Original guitarists Jonathan and Jimmy

 

 As The Black Arts Movement, 2004-2006

 

 

As The Black Arts Movement, 2007
 

Savage Dog

ORIGINS: Western Sydney, NSW

GENRE: Metal

YEARS ACTIVE: 1993-1998

 

MEMBERS:

• Danny Young - Vocals
  
• Jayson Maguire - Drums
• Matt Palmer - Guitar
• Ben Palmer - Bass
• Jonny - Guitar (1993)
• Steve - Bass (1993)
  

RELEASES: 

 

• Hail to the Underground (1997) - Download Here.
  
• 1. Hail to the Underground
• 2. Burn
• 3. Snakebite/Vampires
• 4. Fight in the Pit
  

SUMMARY: Forming in 1993, Savage Dog started playing shows as a tight four-piece band in 1994 alongside other Sydney metal bands such as Mortality, Cryogenic, Mortal Sin, etc, and built a reputation for themselves as a solid live band in the scene. An EP was recorded towards the end of the band's time but never released. Savage Dog called it a day not long after vocalist Danny Young left. 

 

SHOWS:

• Seven Hills - unknown date, 1994
  
• The Collector Tavern, Parramatta - 26th September, 1994
• The Happy Shamrock, Five Dock - 5th October, 1994 
• The Cage, Sydney - 11th October, 1994
• Waterloo Tavern, Sydney - 26th January, 1996
• Waterloo Tavern, Sydney - 3rd March, 1996 
• Enfield Boulevarde, Enfield - 25th May, 1996
• The Pit, Guildford Hotel, Guildford - 24th May, 1997 
• The Pit, Guildford Hotel, Guildford - 5th June, 1997
• Bondi Pavilion, Bondi - 6th June, 1997 (All Ages)
• The Pit, Guildford Hotel, Guildford - 14th June, 1997
• The Happy Shamrock, Five Dock - 5th July, 1997
• Feedback, Newtown - 6th July, 1997
• Kurrajong Heights Hotel, Kurrajong - 19th July, 1997
• Happy Shamrock, Five Dock - 26th July, 1997
• Greystanes Community Hall, Greystanes - 27th September, 1997 (All Ages)
  
• Jolly Frog Hotel, Windsor - 3rd October, 1997
  
• Jolly Frog Hotel, Windsor - 1st November, 1997
• Jolly Frog Hotel, Windsor - 3rd April, 1998
  
• Trams, Newtown - 24th April, 1998
• + many many more 
  

 

ORAL HISTORY:

JAYSON: Myself and Danny put the band together. Dan and I had pitbulls - we met at a dog show and got chatting. We were into the same music and Danny said he had some ideas about vocals and had started to write lyrics. I had played in other bands and went to the Institute of Music and the Academy of Drumming and Percussion, so I knew my way around the kit! Dan had seen me play and was like, "Fuck, dude, we gotta get a band together", and so we formed then and there. We called the band 'Savage Dog' because we had awesome pitbulls. Dan put an ad in the paper and we had two brothers turn up for the first rehearsal... Johnny was on guitar and he could play good but his bro on bass had no fucking clue whatsoever. So Jonny and I got stuff started and by first rehearsal we had one song from start to finish and it kicked ass! And so, Savage Dog was formed.

Jayson Maguire (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

DANNY: I was into the band scene. Mainly international bands but I'd also go to see my good friends from Mortality play, and sometimes Cryogenic. I saw Mortality play once and after that I thought, I'll give this band thing a crack. I had never sung before but you need to start somewhere. The bands that influenced me most were Alice in Chains, Pantera, Faith No More, Rob Zombie, and Life Death Sex. We did a lot of rehearsals in and around Sydney... we had some band member changes at that point but once the band settled it was the same lineup from our first show to the end. 

Danny Young (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

 

JAYSON: Jonny and his brother only lasted for a month or two - they were pains in the arse and broke and too young! So we put up a new ad and Matt and Ben, another brother combo, turned up and fuck yeah, the magic started. We were influenced by Fear Factory, White Zombie, Sepultura, Pantera and all the big heavy hitters but we created our own sound.

Jayson Maguire (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

MATT: I used to work at Rural Press in North Richmond and they used to print Drum Media, so I'd read it and always wanted to be in a metal band! I answered an ad for a punk band in Penrith. They didn't get my kinda vibe, I was bit hurt but moved on. I tried out for Savage Dog and the singer was unmovable on the name. I walked in and did some Hammett shit... they went, what the fuck? So I joined and they had two brothers in the band - one could play rhythm okay but his brother was just doing the job on bass, and I mean just. I said to Dan and Jay, my brother plays bass and has Mesa Boogie amps and all the shit, and can actually play. We had a jam without the other brothers and it was all over for them. When Ben came in it all just clicked. We rehearsed for at least six months. Our first gig was in Redfern - we played lots of gigs with a band called Shattered Mass but our first big gig was at Seven Hills supporting a Pantera cover band. Wayne Campbell from Mortal Sin was there and he said to us, "Where the fuck have you been hiding?"

Matt Palmer (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

JAYSON: We gelled big time and started to rehearse three days a week and shit got real really quick! We had a good set list and got hit up to start gigging. So off we went... and were kicking ass. Gigging with the likes of Mortality, Cryogenic, Neophobia, Shattered Mass, Sulkus... and so on. The list was mad.

Jayson Maguire (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

 

DANNY: The first gig was at a pub in Alexandria, Sydney. We did what any broke-arse band did and invited all our friends. It wasn't a bad night. To perform in front of people and get over the stage fright was the hardest thing. The band itself - those guys - they could play almost anything. They were (and no doubt still are) very talented. Me being a new-start - it was hard to sound like some of my favourite bands. 

Danny Young (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

MATT: Ben was the best player outside of Luke Ford (Mortality) back then but he was underage when we first started so he had to come in the back door all the time until he was legal. 

Matt Palmer (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

JAYSON: First Savage Dog show was at the Waterloo Tavern in Woolloomooloo on a Saturday night. It was fuckin' awesome, we had a medium turn out of people and the place was pumping.

Jayson Maguire (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

MATT: Playing in a metal band in the '90s? I loved it. We made no money but no one cared. Some weekends we would do a show Friday night and then play in the city Saturday night, then pack up and play yet another show on the same night in Richmond or Kurrajong Heights. It was just fun. My Mrs, now my wife Rachel, would drive home so I could drink; it was one of the best periods in my life.

Matt Palmer (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

 

JAYSON: There were so many great shows. We played at Bondi Pavilion and it was recorded by JJJ and played on the 3 Hours of Power show. Dan and I were listening to it on our way home and they played two of our songs back to back on the radio, was sick as!

Jayson Maguire (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

DANNY: We recorded but, sadly, we did not release. The original master recording sits in a bag in a dark closet in my home... we made some unmastered copies for ourselves but nothing more came of it. The band had really evolved in the four or five years we'd been together. You could hear it in our sound and music.

Danny Young (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

 

MATT: We got pretty close to releasing our EP. I was happy with most of it but the guy who recorded it had different filters and stuff on my sound. Any little stuff ups I did and wasn't happy with, he'd just say, "Ahh, we'll just fix it in the mix". Some of the little lead things I did were recorded with some sick effect that sounded awesome but he left it off on the recording. When I listen back to it I realise how much Dimebag had influenced me. The song 'Burn' was my favourite to play and the last song, 'Fight in the Pit', was popular at shows. We were starting to get heavier around the time we recorded.

Matt Palmer (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

DANNY: The shows that stood out most were the ones at the end. We would pull some large crowds. Our music had started to evolve - we wee finally finding our place in the Sydney music industry. Other bands told us they had noticed the support we had from the community. I think we were approachable - people could talk to us before or after the show and at other venues when we would go to support other bands. The metal community were just a bunch of awesome people. My favourite memory of being in Savage Dog was hanging out with a good group of people who had a common interest. The band and the community - everyone was there for the music.

Danny Young (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

JAYSON: We were going really good - new songs in the making, heaps of gigs booked, and we were about to kick some goals and open doors, but Danny had a dream to be a soldier and without us really knowing he joined the army. Before long we knew about it and we had to miss gigs, and then he was gone full time. We tried a few singers out but it just didn't have the same vibe, so when that happened I moved to Hunter Valley and Matt and Ben started a new band. We remain awesome brothers and stay in touch all the time, even though we're spread out where we live.

Jayson Maguire (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

RELATED BANDS: Judgement, Sharkara

 

Artwork is a combination of tattoos that the band members had.