Wikipedia

Metal Down Under

Metal Down Under is a 2014 documentary directed by Nick Calpakdjian.[1][2] The film uses interviews, archival footage and animation to trace the history of heavy metal music in Australia. Calpakdjian partly funded the film through crowd-funding website Pozible. It was released in Australia on 22 August 2014 with distribution by MGM. On 1 September 2014 it debuted on the ARIA Top 40 Music DVDs chart at #4.[3]

Metal Down Under
Film poster
Directed byNick Calpakdjian
Produced byNick Calpakdjian
Distributed byMGM (Australia), Plastic Head (UK)
Release date
  • 22 August 2014 (2014-08-22)
Running time
165 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish

Content

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Metal Down Under traces the history of heavy metal music in Australia from the early influences of bands such as Buffalo, AC/DC, The Angels and Rose Tattoo to present day acts including Ne Obliviscaris, King Parrot, Karnivool and Psycroptic. The film is divided into three 55-minute episodes featuring interviews, archival footage and animation sequences with the first episode discussing the early development of metal from hard rock influences to the thrash scenes of late 1980s Melbourne and Sydney, in particular Hobbs' Angel of Death and Mortal Sin. There is also some examination of the niche record stores Metal For Melbourne and Utopia, Hot Metal magazine and the influence of public radio on the spread of the genre. Part two looks at the influence of Perth band Allegiance in the development of a national touring circuit, as well as the Metal for the Brain festival and the extreme metal bands Blood Duster, Alchemist and Sadistik Exekution. The third part looks primarily at several of the more prominent currently active bands with some discussion of the metalcore scene and the shape of the scene at the present time.

Distribution

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Metal Down Under was released on DVD in Australia through MGM Distribution. It was released in the UK and Europe through Plastichead Distribution on 10 November 2014.[4] Its official release date on iTunes is 18 November 2014 worldwide (ex USA).

Reviews

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"Nick Calpakdjian has made a funny and engrossing film that finally sheds a light on a part of Australia's popular culture that has been left in the dark for its entire existence, a vital and important document that even people who couldn't care less about heavy metal should see. After spending two years of his life on this, he deserves nothing but respect." Reviewed by Brian Giffin.[5]

"One might even go so far as to say that Metal Down Under is an important piece for the Metal community, as it may well be, itself, a stepping stone to another such feature in the future; and that will hold promise for another time. " Reviewed by Tristan Peterson, Metal Obsession.[6]

Interviews

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Artist Band
Steve Hughes Mortal Sin, Slaughterlord
Dave Harrison Allegiance
Tony Campo Allegiance
Peter Hobbs Hobbs' Angel of Death
Dave Slave Sadistik Exekution
Adam Agius Alchemist, The Levitation Hex
Rodney Holder Alchemist
Steve Rowe Mortification
Matt Skitz Damaged, King Parrot
Jason Fuller Blood Duster
Dave Haley Psycroptic, Blood Duster
Shane Southby Taramis
Phil Gresik Hobbs' Angel of Death, Deströyer 666, Bestial Warlust
Sham Littleman Nothing Sacred, Hobbs' Angel of Death
Karl Lean Nothing Sacred, Hobbs' Angel of Death
Chris Rand Segression
Glen Dyson Claim the Throne
Lord Tim Lord, Dungeon
Jason North Truth Corroded
Greg Shaw Truth Corroded
Mark Palfreyman Alarum, The Levitation Hex
Steve Watts Manticore, Heaven the Axe
Tim Aldridge Abramelin
Matt Young King Parrot
Andrew Goddard Karnivool
Mark Hosking Karnivool
Matthew Chalk Psycroptic, Mephistopheles
Mat Maurer Mortal Sin
Johnny Stoj Pegazus
John Gibson Renegade
Aaron Butler Frankenbok
Dan McDougall Frankenbok
Greg Trull Dreadnaught
Richie Poate Dreadnaught
Joe Kapiteyn iNFeCTeD, The Devil Rides Out
Tim Charles Ne Obliviscaris
Daniel Estrin Voyager
Simone Dow Voyager
Mark De Vattimo Psychonaut

Non-musicians

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  • Andrew Haug, broadcaster
  • Lochlan Watt, broadcaster, writer
  • Brad Wesson, co-owner, Soundworks Touring
  • Robyn Doreian, journalist, editor Hot Metal magazine
  • Greta Tate, record store manager
  • Simon Lukic, broadcaster
  • Chris Maric, publicist
  • Leigh Wilson, collector who has filmed Australian metal shows since 1981
  • Brian Giffin, writer, broadcaster

References

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  1. ^ "Australian Metal Documentary METAL DOWN UNDER".
  2. ^ "Metal Down Under: A History of Australian Metal (DVD review) | Metal Obsession". 10 September 2014.
  3. ^ ariacharts.com.au http://www.ariacharts.com.au/chart/music-dvds. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ^ "PhD Megastore - Home Page".
  5. ^ "Film Review: Metal Down Under". Archived from the original on 16 October 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  6. ^ "Metal Down Under: A History of Australian Metal (DVD review) | Metal Obsession". 10 September 2014.
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