Artist description Dark and brutal death metal from Australia, with twisted riffing and a chaotic sound

Music Style Death Metal

Musical Influences all styles of metal

Similar Artists cannibal corpse angelcorpse hate eternal immortal incantation immolation deeds of flesh marduk cryptopsy nile dissection morbid angel slipknot emperor cradle of filth deicide

Artist History Hobart - the smallest capital city in Australia. Approximately 200,000 people live in Hobart ( 400,000 in the state of Tasmania). This is where Psycroptic call Formed in March of 1999 from the ashes of 3 Tasmanian extreme metal bands, Psycroptic set out with the aim of combining all styles of metal, ranging from Black and Death right through to Power Metal to create an original sound. The band consists of Matthew Chalk - Vocals , Cameron Grant - Bass, Joe Haley - Guitars and David Haley - Drums. Over 18 months leading up to recording, Psycroptic had been writing and refining their songs in preparation for it, as well as playing numerous local gigs including supports with well known Australian bands such as Dreadnaught, Atomizer and Alarum On Friday 13th of October 2000, with a budget of just $1500 (about $700 U.S.), Psycroptic entered Red Planet studios to record "Isle of Disenchantment", their debut (self financed) release. Even with such a limited budget, Psycroptic managed to lay down 10 tracks, 9 of which they felt were worthy of releasing Although there was much discussion about the format of their first release (ie CD or demo tape), the band felt that it was in their best interests to release a full length CD, in an effort to give those in the metal community who obtain the release a quality product worthy of purchase. Since the release of "The Isle of Disenchanment" in Janurary 2001, Psycroptic is writing new songs for the next release. These songs are in the same vain as previous material, but with a darker and more extreme feel to them

Group Members David Haley - Drums Cameron Grant - Bass Joe Haley - Guitar Matthew Chalk - Vocals

Albums The Isle of Disenchantment

Press Reviews Chronicles of Chaos Ezine – www.chroniclesofchaos.com 8.5 out of 10 It is hard nowadays to really find death metal music with an edge to it. Sure there are numerous acts out there (thousands, in fact) that play death metal with passion and honesty, but few manage to bring a distinct element to what they do. Just think of the numerous bands you have heard throughout the years that sounded like Cannibal Corpse, Incantation or Suffocation. Too many to count on two hands, eh? But every once in a while a band will pop up out of nowhere (or in this band's case near the edge of the world) and just dazzle you with their talent and musicianship. With a definite tight sound and a real knack for raw 'n' dark death metal comes Psycroptic, a punishing band that rallies a stunning display of death metal dexterity all over this nine-song debut disc. Singer Matthew Chalk delivers a vicious vocal assault, especially on such tracks as "Condemned by Discontent" (my fave track), the title track and the cleverly chaotic "Beneath the Ground We Dwell". Not only is this band playing death metal with passion but also they are making a strong effort to show variety and not be afraid to move their style from point A to B with a few new twists. This is not complex and varied like Gorguts (who is?), but _TIoD_ pumps a real adrenaline rush into your veins with each listen. Deadtide webzine – www.deadtide.com Very few bands can play ultra-technical grinding death metal AND write catchy songs, but I'll be damned if Psycroptic aren't well on their way to becoming one of the few that pull it off. Roaring out of Australia, Psycroptic pound out sound in a state somewhere between Cannibal Corpse and Dying Fetus where riffs fly, drums flutter and vocals grunt, gurgle and scream into your ears from within some incredibly complex, dense songs. Parts rarely get repeated more than twice and each song has more starts and stops than morning rush hour on I-94 to Detroit leaving you dazed and confused after the first listen and thoroughly challenged even after the tenth. I also gotta say that Joe Haley has one of the strongest wrists I've EVER fucking heard. The speed and precision of his picking is absolutely stunning and really helps set Psycroptic a notch above the rest. But the best thing is that Psycroptic are still songwriters at heart. Each tune tries to have it's own vibe, and even though they don't succeed 100% of the time, when they throw in the weird ass clean vocals on the Psycroptipath and The Labyrinth, I'm grinning from ear to ear at the thought of the potential these guys hold in their grimy little hands. Today, Psycroptic stands as a brutal contender the throne. Tomorrow they'll be fending off the challengers. Blistering online magazine – www.blistering.com 9/10 Exploding from literal obscurity Psycroptic have emerged with one of the strongest debuts in extreme metal in recent history, if not one of the strongest releases period. Hailing from the tiny island of Tasmania off Australia's mainland, awesome is the only word that could describe this pummeling new band. A completely self-funded album, what was originally intended to be only a demo CD to shop around has turned into a powerful slab of twisted tightly-crafted death metal. Performing a style that has equal parts old-school death and plain weirdness, 'The Isle of Disenchantment' is a standing ovation to what can be done on limited funds and buckets of talent. 'Carnival of Vulgarity' opens the disc in a typically crushing manner, and is probably the most straight-ahead archetypal death metal track on the album. But it's still heavy as all hell. From there on the album just goes from strength to strength, each track building on top of the last's momentum and intensity, branching off into all different areas of influences and sounds, until what you have on your hands is simply a solid continual wall of pounding heavy music. There's all out grind on 'Condemned By Discontent', an almost black metal styled riff opening 'Netherworld Reality' (not quite black metal, but almost in a way), and slow sinister menacing passages in 'Psycroptipath'. 'Of Dull Eyes Borne' is my pick of the album- intricate drumming, killer riffs, schizo vocals, everything you'll ever need. Occasionally an Abramelin reference can be made, but Abramelin never toyed with the surreal haunting clean vocals that pop up here and there on this album. A dense mix gives the album a somewhat garage recording feel to it, but that only adds to the rawness which makes it so appealing. Perhaps the only flaw that it has is that it can be difficult to discern one track from another, a problem soon remedied after repeated listens. The fact that a band with no previous releases, hardly any recording experience and zero name for themselves before now managed to release an album of such outright heaviness and professionalism is mind-boggling. This really is testament to what can be achieved in far less than perfect conditions if you take your time and hone your craft. Psycroptic are the best new band on the Australian scene since Astriaal, and 'The Isle of Disenchantment' is an outright corker. Primal Agony – www.musicpage.primalagony.com.au Upon inserting the CD into the player, an unholy tirade of Death Metal Armageddon explodes from the first few seconds and further pummels you with dark chaos until the very end. With an average age of 20 and with the technical skill on display and the maturity of the song compositions, comparisons of potential to Decapitated (Poland) are well in order. Summoning the godly brooding darkness of bands such as Immolation and Incantation they have created an identity of their own and this makes Psycroptic one to watch as a quick ascent through the Metal hierarchy within Australia is assured. Although not a perfect album, what few flaws that can be found in its parts are quickly forgotten with the sum of the whole. Instead of picking up the latest dreck import from overseas do yourself a favor and get this album. Nuclear Abominations There's something different in Australian music, be it Black or Death, though not always a clear cut one. PSYCROPTIC is an excellent band who could summarily be defined as Death Metal, with crude, deep throated grunts and some spit-out-of-the larynx shifts for double vocal effect. The riffs are never banal and well conceived as could have been LOUDBLAST some time ago, clear cut and lacking some filth but yet I can't find the power metal influence which is declared in their bio leaflet (whew). While definitely Metal and Death the music escapes a really definite comparison, seems as this music has a completely different concept on the other part of the planet. Musically the sound in this CD is absolutely crisp especially if you consdier this is their first release ever, originally meant to be a demotape, in the end took the form of a full length disc, with full color package and a definite pro-look, all self made. There are almost grinding parts and heavy accelerations, a neat structure and not much time to yawn at at some boring fakely poweful American slam. Good, high level Death Metal with elements which space right across the genres (including a tinge of melodic here and there) yet with a definite accurate arrangement, right out of rather young musicians (20 year on the average) . Good if not unearthly material. Lyrically the whole CD is a trip through reigns and kingdoms far beyond space, across vast seas into isles or beneath the ground, like a long quest to explore one's own emotiuons. Macabre Omens magazine I knew Aussie death metal was extreme but these Tasmanian devils overdo it! Or is it me that hasn`t heard some extreme death metal for a while? Or maybe it`s the scene that only offers mellow and retro stuff nowadays? Whoever`s fault it is, PSYCROPTIC is definitely not the one responsible, as they evidently show their passion in death metal through this ultra violence created in their debut and self - released album! The case here has as follows... 40 min. represented in 9 songs of non - stop (with a couple of exceptions) fast double bass drumming death metal resembling the American way rather than the European one. The songs do not really deal with typical death metal issues but mostly with matters covered in black metal songs, fantastic stories or even aliens. In other words, by reading these lyrics or even scanning the cover you would never come to the conclusion that this band is actually performing blasting death metal. Finally, the "Isle of Disenchantment" turned to something "enchanting" after all... Rottrevore Zine 10/10 Great mixture between death metal to black metal plus a little progresive.I'm very proud to have this cd fulfill with 9 sick songs each track have an amazing characters.They're professional composer to arrange thier style and push it into brutality's door.All of instruments are very heavy.RECOMMENDED !!! Season Of Decay magazine What a great debut from an Aussie death metal band that just popped up from almost nowhere! Full-on, straight out death, technical, melodic and the drumming is brilliant, this is a band comprised of great musicians. Reigning from Tasmania, this band have the quality an overseas band has, if not more than quite a few, and we'd be surprised to find that they weren't picked up really quick by a good label. Lots of different influential elements, perhaps bands that they each like personally; early Hypocrisy, Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, Slayer, not that they sound like these mentioned, it's just little bits and pieces here and there. This is a highly original, brutal and excellent release. One of our best death bands and one of the best new bands. We do think that the small section of clean vocals could have been emitted. Definitely worthwhile.

Location Hobart, Tasmania - Australia

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