How's this for the next 3 gigs I'm going to in Melbourne. Seriously, isn't this a metal wet-dream of some kind??

I'm really pumped for this tour and looking forward to it.

Like most people here, I'm doing multi shows as well: Syd > Melb > Adel.

Support has been announced. I sorta had a feeling they'd be in the running.

http://www.metalobsession.net/contrive- ... n-townsend

Yep, definitely wasn't a surprise. Kind've a shame though, I think there are definitely some more interesting/quirky bands that would have been a better support.

[JuZ]

No offence to Andrew Haug, but this isn't exactly the choice I was hoping for at all. Good luck to them and Mr Haug's been a huge supporter of Devin's, but I'm "just not that into" them.

...but I'm "just not that into" them.

Don't worry, neither is anyone else going.

They're an ok band, but they seriously don't fit in with Dev's music.

[JuZ]

...but I'm "just not that into" them.

Don't worry, neither is anyone else going.

They're an ok band, but they seriously don't fit in with Dev's music.

Exactly. Just don't see how they go together at all. Oh well, I'll have 2 hours of DTP so can't be too upset!

There were certainly other choices, but I'm just glad they put on a local support, unlike Dream Theater...

There were certainly other choices, but I'm just glad they put on a local support, unlike Dream Theater...

You could look at that differently... Local acts could tour Australia pretty much any time they want, overseas acts might not have the possibility if it wasn't for a support slot.

There were certainly other choices, but I'm just glad they put on a local support, unlike Dream Theater...

You could look at that differently... Local acts could tour Australia pretty much any time they want, overseas acts might not have the possibility if it wasn't for a support slot.

That's the very short sighted way of looking at it. Not sure what it's like in the Netherlands, but here alot of Rock/Metal fans only emerge from their dark holes when their favourite big name overseas band comes to town. They wouldn't support the local scene if they had a gun to their head. The one and only chance many local bands get to be exposed to the average fan is to get good supports. If these marginal fans happen to catch part of the set of a local support band who's really good, it'll spark some interest, and they may actually start getting out and supporting local music. That's how it starts. And the more of these people who start getting out, the more bums go on seats at local shows, the more money gets put into the industry, more venues spring up to play in and the more generally vibrant the scene becomes.

Not sure what it's like in the Netherlands, but here alot of Rock/Metal fans only emerge from their dark holes when their favourite big name overseas band comes to town. They wouldn't support the local scene if they had a gun to their head.

That's a very fair point, Roddy. I definitely fall into this category. It's not that I'm against the local scene, it's just that I know exactly what bands I do love and, with the one exception of Alchemist, they are ALL from overseas. Certainly if we're talking metal, that is. But it's good to turn up to a gig and hear a local band support an international act. But what my reaction invariably is to these local acts is that it always sounds "stock" to me; this band sounds like Slayer, that band sounds like Napalm Death. That's why I have always loved Alchemist - NO-ONE sounds like Alchemist, here or abroad. They have their own sound. And when it comes down to it, that's the common thread between all the bands I'm into - no-one sounds like anyone else. So, you can imagine how excited I am to learn that the great Devin Townsend is actually going to mix the new Alchemist record!!

\m/

Not sure what it's like in the Netherlands, but here alot of Rock/Metal fans only emerge from their dark holes when their favourite big name overseas band comes to town. They wouldn't support the local scene if they had a gun to their head.

That's a very fair point, Roddy. I definitely fall into this category. It's not that I'm against the local scene, it's just that I know exactly what bands I do love and, with the one exception of Alchemist, they are ALL from overseas. Certainly if we're talking metal, that is. But it's good to turn up to a gig and hear a local band support an international act. But what my reaction invariably is to these local acts is that it always sounds "stock" to me; this band sounds like Slayer, that band sounds like Napalm Death. That's why I have always loved Alchemist - NO-ONE sounds like Alchemist, here or abroad. They have their own sound. And when it comes down to it, that's the common thread between all the bands I'm into - no-one sounds like anyone else. So, you can imagine how excited I am to learn that the great Devin Townsend is actually going to mix the new Alchemist record!!

\m/

I've always said that if you can't find very much you like locally, you're not looking and listening hard enough. Check out 'The Amenta', truly unique, as much as Alchemist. Psycroptic are incredible. Have a listen to Synthetic Breed's 'Catatonic' album, it's world class. And Brisbane's 'Empyrean', again world standard symphonic Black Metal. Even give Sydonia a try. More 'Alterna-Metal', but nonetheless amazing. Didn't support Stone Sour across America, and Slipknot and LOG across Oz for nothing.

And that's amazing news about Alchemist and Dev!!

I've always said that if you can't find very much you like locally, you're not looking and listening hard enough. Check out 'The Amenta', truly unique, as much as Alchemist. Psycroptic are incredible. Have a listen to Synthetic Breed's 'Catatonic' album, it's world class. And Brisbane's 'Empyrean', again world standard symphonic Black Metal. Even give Sydonia a try. More 'Alterna-Metal', but nonetheless amazing. Didn't support Stone Sour across America, and Slipknot and LOG across Oz for nothing.

And that's amazing news about Alchemist and Dev!!

Yes, it's excellent news! I heard about it on Alchemist's Myspace. Can't wait for that.
Thanks for the recommendations about some of those local acts. I'll have to check them out. Every now and then it helps to get pointed in the right direction musically. You can get a little stuck in the safety of the bands you already know and trust, but that only leads to staleness in your taste. So, cheers for that!

I tell you what - I'm getting so pumped now for this DTP show. I said to my brother the other night, if he closes with 'Awake' from Addicted, I'm absolutely going to lose the plot in that mosh pit. These days I'm a little more sedate at gigs, but I'll be making an exception for this show. And like I said, if he closes with 'Awake', I won't care if I die in there - it'll be sheer bliss

\m/

[JuZ]

Dev's producing Alchemist? Eeeeeexcellent.

Dev's producing Alchemist? Eeeeeexcellent.

I believe he's only mixing, not producing. But if he were that would be twice as cool!