INDUSTRY EP Launch Review by dB Magazine

Tonight sees the highly touted OCTANIC launch their debut EP 'INDUSTRY' by headlining a big and diverse bill of local metal bands.

Taking stage first are Satoria, who can be broadly described as progressive death metal. Musically very adept, their epic songs cram in plenty of ideas. Keyboards are very prominent, but this remains a very heavy yet melodic music. Last song Arduous Journeys is the highlight and Satoria are well received by and already sizeable audience.

Art In Exile's music is an absolute collision of styles. Dark, brooding passages give way to frenetic breakdowns. Disconcerting tempo shifts are complemented by wonderful hooks. In the live environment they prove to be a challenging but exhilarating proposition. Mel Bulian is a dynamic and occasionally intimidating front person as she by turns sings, screams and growls. Utterly engrossing, their unique brand of 21st century schizoid metal is lapped up by the crowd.

A change of pace as Black Orchid take the stage for their debut performance. Black Orchid are of course the reincarnation of the much loved and respected Chalice. Sounding fresh and reinvigorated, their music seems to now have greater focus and direction. It is still atmospheric, haunting and full of wonderful soaring melodies, but is now leaner and slightly more aggressive. To describe them as gothic metal doesn't do justice to the breadth and originality of their sound. Abby Skye's extraordinary voice has lost none of its power and lead guitarist Justin Hartwig is also in fine form. Indeed, the whole band seem very happy to be back on stage.

Fresh from supporting Whitesnake recently, the terrifying, tattooed men of Skintilla are next up. Now in their tenth year they have never failed to disappoint live, and tonight proves to be no exception. There are no atmospherics or subtleties here, just dirty, pummelling groove-filled old school heavy metal. Darren Pretty has a great voice, somewhere between Ronnie James Dio and Rob Halford and the twin lead guitars of Jeremy Burgess and Chris Benyk duel over a pounding rhythmic section. Scarlet Eyes, Hate and in particular Fall From Grace are just some highlights from a bruising set.

And so to headliners OCTANIC. Having heard the excellent 'INDUSTRY' EP and also having been impressed with the professional way they have gone about promoting themselves, I am very keen to see and hear whether OCTANIC can deliver live. Any doubts are quickly dispelled.

Their epic cyber metal at times recalls bands such as Fear Factory, In Flames and Strapping Young Lad, but OCTANIC already have forged their own distinctive sound. While the keyboards are very much to the fore and there are plenty of crunching, industrial riffs, their music has an organic quality with some serious grooves and melodies. There is little doubt that this is who most of the crowd have come to see and they are well rewarded with an intense, powerful and passionate performance delivered by a very talented band.