Ne Obliviscaris (band)

Ne Obliviscaris (Latin for "forget not"; Clan Campbell motto) are a six-piece Australian progressive metal band from Melbourne. Formed initially as a four-piece in April 2003,[3] the group was founded by Marc "Xenoyr" Campbell and Adam Cooper. The current line-up comprises vocalist Xenoyr, violinist and clean vocalist Tim Charles, guitarists Matt Klavins and Benjamin Baret, bassist Martino Garattoni and drummer Daniel Presland. To date, the band has released a demo, two extended plays and three studio albums. Their most recent album, Urn, was released on 27 October 2017.

Ne Obliviscaris
Ne Obliviscaris performing in Tokyo in 2015
Background information
OriginMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genres
Years active2003–present
LabelsSeason of Mist
Associated actsVipassi
MembersTim Charles
Marc "Xenoyr" Campbell
Matt Klavins
Daniel Presland
Benjamin Baret
Martino Garattoni
Past membersNelson Barnes
Corey King
Corey Baker
Sherri-Jesse
Adam Boddy
Adam Cooper
Brendan "Cygnus" Brown

History

Formation and early years

Ne Obliviscaris were formed in April 2003 by vocalist Xenoyr and bassist Adam Cooper, later adding a second guitarist and a female soprano. Current vocalist/violinist Tim Charles followed in September 2003. The band went through a number of line-up changes before releasing an independent demo, The Aurora Veil, in 2007.[4] The demo featured three songs which would later appear on their debut album. Their music, whilst being firmly rooted in extreme metal, shows influences from a range of musical styles, including death, black, thrash and melodic metal, as well as classical, jazz, avant-garde and flamenco. [5]

Drummer Dan Presland left the band towards the end of 2011 and was replaced by Nelson Barnes. However, due to the distance between Queensland and Melbourne, Ne Obliviscaris parted ways with Barnes[6] and Presland's return to the band was announced on 24 August 2012.

Portal of I (2012–2014)

Released 7 May 2012 [7] Portal of I was the first full-length album by the band. The release of the album was delayed due to the departure of their guitarist, Corey King, in 2007[8] and the search for a replacement.[9] Benjamin Baret later joined as the lead guitarist, but was subject to lengthy delays in his visa application process.[10]

The album received generally positive reviews[11][12][13] with Metal Injection praising the composition and the musicianship of the album. [14]

The band toured in support of the album, which took them overseas for the first time,[15] with the band playing in Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Thailand.[16] They were also the headlining act for Progfest 2012 around Australia.[17]

And Plague Flowers The Kaleidoscope from Portal of I was included in a teaching curriculum at Sydney Conservatorium of Music, the song being analysed for its composition[18]

Citadel and Brown controversy (2014–2017)

Recorded during 2013,[19] Citadel was released through Seasons of Mist on 7 November 2014. The album reached number 42 on the ARIA Albums Chart.[20]

The album was generally well received,[21][22] with Metal Hammer giving it a four out of five rating.[23] Metal Injection again praised the complexity of the arrangements.[24]

In June 2014, the band announced a crowdfunding campaign[25] to support a world tour with an initial target of $40,000 AUD. This target was reached in just two days,[26] reaching a final figure of $86,132 AUD and breaking the Australian record for crowd-funding in the process.[27]

The subsequent world tour saw Ne Obliviscaris return to Asia supporting Fleshgod Apocalypse as well as their first tours of Europe, the UK and North America where they supported British band, Cradle of Filth. They also played in India for the first time, where they headlined the B-School of Rock at the Unmaad Festival in Bangalore.[28]

2015 saw them perform at festivals across the world: Hellfest (France), Motocultor Festival (France), Graspop Metal Meeting (Belgium), Rockstadt Extreme Fest (Romania), Metaldays (Slovenia), Vagos Open Air (Portugal), Resurrection Fest (Spain), Tuska (Finland), Bloodstock Open Air (UK), Brutal Assault (Czech Republic), Summer Breeze (Germany), Alcheringa (India) and Soundwave (Australia).

In July 2016, the band began a headlining tour of North America.[29] with headlining shows in the U.K and Ireland following in October 2016 with Atlanta-based band Oceans of Slumber as support. Also announced were further European tour supporting Enslaved between September and November 2016,[30] and headline shows in Australia at the end of November and beginning of December 2016.[31]

On 26 January 2017, the band released longtime bassist Brendan "Cygnus" Brown following allegations of domestic violence. Although they initially gave "irreconcilable personal differences" as the reason, they later explained that it was due in part to the allegations, but also because they believed that Brown needed help. Following accusations from a website that the band knew about Brown's violent behaviour and had been hiding it for years, the band explained that they were only aware of a domestic incident between Brown and his mother six years prior, and, after discovering the truth, immediately tried to get Brown to get help, and relieved him of his services to the band.[32] Brown confirmed both the allegations and the band's statement to be true, adding that being released made him "realize the extent of damage I have caused to people over the years and how badly I need to get help to get my life back on track." He also stated that he had been physically and sexually abused by his mother since childhood, and that the trauma, which caused mental health disorders and ended in drug abuse, made him "an unpredictable character at times, and I have lashed out at people close to me both physically and verbally. I am deeply sorry to anybody that has been victim to this inexcusable behaviour". He also explained that the domestic violence incident with his mother six years prior was him fighting her back for the first time, and that he had not spoken to her since despite his mother harassing both him, his girlfriend, and the band on several occasions, which had led them to complain to the police.[32]

Urn (2017–present)

On 26 July 2017, the band announced that their new album, Urn, would be released on 27 October 2017, and released a music video for the track "Intra Venus".[33] They also announced Robin Zielhorst, former member of Cynic, Exivious, and Our Oceans, as their session bassist for the album. On 29 August 2017, they released another song from the album, "Urn (Part I) – And Within the Void We Are Breathless".[34] On 10 October 2017, they released another song, "Urn (Part II) – As Embers Dance In Our Eyes".[35] Urn released on 27 October 2017, though it had been released to Patreon contributors a few days earlier.

In support of the album, the band embarked on a North American tour in November and December 2017, supported by Allegaeon, which was followed by a tour of Australia and New Zealand in February 2018, supported by Circles, and a European tour from March to May 2018, supported by Allegaeon and Virvum. Martino Garattoni joined as bassist after being chosen in online auditions. A North American tour supporting Wintersun followed in September and October 2018.

From 29 October to 11 November 2018, the band supported Ihsahn’s first European club tour, this also included performing at Damnation Festival (UK).

In 2019, the band took part in the 70000 Tons of Metal cruise early February, followed by a support show with Eluveitie in Mexico City on 9 February. Later February the band embarked on a short headline tour through Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

In May 2019, the band headlined ‘The Painted Progression Tour’ through Australia supported by Caligula's Horse, Beyond Creation, Allegaeon, and Rivers of Nihil. In June they performed at FortaRock Festival (The Netherlands), Download Festival (UK), and Graspop Metal Meeting (Belgium).

On 22 June 2019 it was announced that the band's track, Intra Venus won the 2018 Independent Music Award for Best Metal / Hardcore song.[36]

On 31 December 2019, their publisher Season of Mist announced that they would be releasing a new album in 2020,[37] which was later delayed to 2021[38] due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.[39]

Use of crowdfunding

In addition to the campaign to fund their world tour, the band announced in March 2016 that they were starting a subscription based service through the Patreon micro-payments platform. This was in part inspired by Thy Art is Murder frontman, CJ McMahon, quitting the band for financial reasons.[40] The decision to use Patreon generated some controversy on social media platforms to which vocalist and violinist Tim Charles responded.[41]

Members

Timeline

Discography
Studio albums
Extended plays
  • The Aurora Veil (2007 - demo)
  • Sarabande to Nihil (2015 - re-recordings of earlier material from 2004-2005)
  • Hiraeth (2015 - re-recordings of earlier material from 2004-2005)

References
  1. Nate (25 November 2014). "Album Review: NE OBLIVISCARIS Citadel". Metal Injection. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  2. Kennelty, Greg (20 August 2014). "Prog Masters NE OBLIVISCARIS Will Release Citadel This November". Metal Injection. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  3. "INTERVIEW: XENOYR FROM NE OBLIVISCARIS". Groundcast.com.br. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  4. "The Aurora Veil". Progarchives.com. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  5. "Album Reviews : Ne Obliviscaris – The Aurora Veil". Metalobsession.com. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  6. "Interview: Dan Presland of Ne Obliviscaris". Echoesanddust.com. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  7. "Portal of I – Ne Obliviscaris". Metal-archives.com. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  8. "NE OBLIVISCARIS Parts Ways With Guitarist, Seeks Replacement". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  9. "Ne Obliviscaris (Xenoyr)". Noisefull.com. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  10. "Interview with Benjamin Baret by Prog Metal Zone". Progmetalzone.com. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  11. "NO CLEAN SINGING » NE OBLIVISCARIS: "PORTAL OF I"". Nocleansinging.com. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  12. "Ne Obliviscaris Portal of I". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  13. "Ne Obliviscaris: Portal Of I (Review/Kritik) - Album-Rezension (Progressive Extreme Metal)". Musikreviews.de. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  14. "CD Review: NE OBLIVISCARIS – Portal Of I". Metalinjection.net. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  15. "Interview with Dan Presland from Ne Obliviscaris". Metal-temple.com. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  16. "Portal of I Asian Tour 2013". Metalstorm.net. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  17. "News : Progfest 2012 dates announced; Ne Obliviscaris headlining all shows". Metalobsession.net. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  18. "NE OBLIVISCARIS". Seasons-of-mist.com. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  19. "Ne Obliviscaris: If you want to think while you bang your head, this is the band for you". Newnoisemagazine.com/. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  20. The ARIA Report, Issue 1291
  21. "Album Reviews : Ne Obliviscaris – Citadel". Metalobsession.net. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  22. "Ne Obliviscaris' Citadel: Another Helping of Jewel-Encrusted Sorcerer-Elephant Metal". Metalsucks.net. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  23. "Citadel: Ne Obliviscaris Album Review". Teamrock.com. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  24. "Album Review: NE OBLIVISCARIS Citadel". Metalinjection.net. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  25. "Ne Obliviscaris WORLD TOUR by Tim Charles, Xen and Dan Presland". Pozible.com. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  26. "Ne Obliviscaris Crowd-Funded $40,000 For a Full World Tour in Just Two Days". Metalsucks.net. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  27. "World Domination: Interview with Tim Charles". Themusic.com.au. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  28. "Ne Obliviscaris to headline iim bangalores b school of rock 2015". Headbangers.in. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  29. "Ne Obliviscaris Prepares For North American Headlining Tour Dates". Metalunderground.com. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  30. "Tue, Jun 28 2016: NE OBLIVISCARIS". Season-of-mist.com. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  31. "Ne Obliviscaris announce The World Their Canvas Australian tour for this November/December". Metalobsession.net. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  32. "NE OBLIVISCARIS Let Its Bassist Go Due To Allegations of Domestic Violence". Metal Injection. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  33. Season of Mist (26 July 2017). "Ne Obliviscaris - Intra Venus (official music video)". YouTube. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  34. "Ne Obliviscaris - Urn (Part I) - And Within the Void We Are Breathless (official premiere)". YouTube. 29 August 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  35. Season of Mist (10 October 2017). "Ne Obliviscaris - Urn (Part II) - As Embers Dance In Our Eyes (official premiere)". YouTube. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  36. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 June 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2019.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  37. Season of Mist (31 December 2019). "Season of Mist on Instagram: "We've had a spectacular 2019 with amazi…". Instagram.com. Archived from the original on 14 March 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2020. We're looking forward to 2020 with exciting new albums from (among others):…Ne Obliviscaris…
  38. Xenoyr (23 May 2020). "X E N on Instagram: "Looking forward to touring again - We're (NeO) working on plans currently in anticipation of our now 2021 release (providing travel won't…"". Instagram.com. Retrieved 1 August 2020. Looking forward to touring again - We’re (NeO) working on plans currently in anticipation of our now 2021 release (providing travel won’t be an issue).
  39. Ne Obliviscaris (9 April 2020). "Ne Obliviscaris on Instagram: "We hope everyone is safe. Short update for those unaware; since we're spread across three countries due to lockdown/isolation restrictions…"". Instagram.com. Retrieved 1 August 2020. … Short update for those unaware; since we’re spread across three countries due to lockdown/isolation restrictions the album recording has been delayed… 
  40. "Ne Obliviscaris's Patreon Campaign Was Partially Inspired By CJ Quitting Thy Art Is Murder". Musicfeeds.com.au. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  41. "Ne Obliviscaris violinist responds to Patreon criticism". Killyourstereo.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
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