Top Ten, Over 10:00, Before ’10: Australian Black Metal

OPINION

Wave. It has several meanings, mostly referenced in science and nature as the movement of combined energies from one spot to another.

When used in reference to music, such as ‘first wave’ and ‘second wave’ — I’ve gathered it refers to the defined movement of a specific sound, aesthetic or ideal that progresses, develops and contributes to the versatility and growth of a particular genre or sub-genre. I’ve never really grasped the term. I prefer era. A particular musical era has captured my attention for over 15 years now — the 2000–2010 Australian black metal scene.

Before the millennium ticked over, the extreme metal scene in Australia established itself from the late 1980’s to early 1990’s, with a flurry of black-influenced thrash and death metal styled bands such as Abominator, Bestial Warlust, Destroyer 666, Gospel of The Horns and Sadistik Exekution. All of these groups did a stellar job in creating the reputational quality in the national market through a brutal and ferocious brand of extreme metal, attracting attention from abroad as international acts began to arrive on our distant shores.