The Australian version of the Festival looks to be a nirvana for fans of heavy music, featuring many, many international and Australian grindcore, hardcore, death and thrash metal bands. Grindcore veterans Rotten Sound and Birdflesh will be making the trip from various metal havens in Scandinavia, and local heroes Blood Duster will be flying the flag for the Australians.
“Its’ been happening in Europe for years,” says Blood Duster bassist Jason Fuller. “This year it’s happening in Jakarta and Mexico for the first time. In Europe it brings about 5,000 people from all over the continent who just get together and watch grindcore for three days, it’s just insane. There’s been a few Australian bands who’ve gone over and played the festival in the past and it’s just a big excuse for a party really.”
Obscene Extreme is driven by one Curby, an international man of mystery from the Czech Republic. “Curby is overseeing it, choosing all the bands, doing all that kind of stuff,” says Jason. “He’s got a bunch of people in Australia who are doing all the hard work. He comes in and just enjoys himself. The festival started as his birthday party. It’s all about who he wants to see.”
These tongue-in-cheek (though seemingly accurate) proclamations belie respect and affection for the guy who’s created an enduring global event on the metal calendar. “We went over there in 2005 and 2007 with Blood Duster. It was awesome. It’s one of those things where as an Australian band you can feel a little disconnected, but you go over and all the bands you’ve been buying the records of are all there right next to you having a drink. When we played with Napalm Death it was just us, Captain Cleanoff and them in the hotel. We put on a keg and they arrived a day early, left a day late, everyone was there to have a good time. It’s a real party vibe.”
A few of the international acts featured in the Australian Festival will be playing both nights, so that punters can be sure to catch a glimpse of their set. “For an underground festival to bring out two international bands like Rotten Sound and Birdflesh is a pretty big undertaking. These are the only shows they’re doing in Melbourne. There’s also a Japanese band, one from New Caledonia, there’s like 40 bands – too many for me to remember,” he says.
It surprises Jason that more advantage isn’t taken of the proximity of two quality venues in The Tote and the Bendigo Hotel. The idea of working across both venues to stage Obscene Extreme “makes perfect sense” he says. “The Tote and the Bendigo are working together really well. There doesn’t seem to be a downside yet. We’re going to have some people on the street to make sure everyone knows what’s going on.
“There’ll be a line of people in grindcore t-shirts around the block. If you’re into grindcore you’re going to go – tickets are selling really well, and heaps of people are coming from interstate. With band members alone we’re going to have around 100 people so it’s already getting there once you factor in all their guests and everything else. We’ll probably fill one venue with that alone,” he says.
For those in the know, the grindcore scene has a reputation of being pretty friendly. “The scene is generally pretty small,” says Jason. “It’s always been a community vibe, despite the lyrical content of the songs. Obscene Extreme has a really friendly vibe. Hopefully it happens here as well.”
BY JOSH FERGEUS
