Eye of the Enemy are a death metal band from Melbourne, Australia.[1] The band formed in 2006 and has since released an EP and three full-length albums, the latest of which, Titan was released on 11 October 2019.[1] They have undertaken national and international tours[2] in support of their albums and have also supported international acts including Cradle of Filth,[3] Amon Amarth,[4] Fleshgod Apocalypse,[5] Malevolent Creation,[6] Despised Icon,[7] Sybreed,[8] At The Gates,[1] Fear Factory,[9] Children of Bodom,[10] Hypocrisy[11] and Kataklysm.[11]

Eye of the Enemy
OriginMelbourne, Australia,
Genres
Years active2006–present
Labels
  • Swimming With Sharks Records
  • Patterns of Bane
  • Art is War Records
Members
  • Chris Kane
  • Maurizio Piras
  • James McInnes
  • Simon Headley
  • Mitch Alexander
Websitewww.facebook.com/EyeoftheEnemyBand/

History

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Formation and release of self-titled EP (2006-2009)

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Eye of the Enemy’s founding members Julian Detar (vocals), Chris Kane (guitar), Sean Blanchard (guitar), Gene Arenas (bass) and Taran Parker-Brown (drums) discovered each other via an online forum in 2006.[1] Prior to the release of their first recording, a self-titled EP, in 2008[1] Arenas was replaced by Jamie Walker-Preece and Parker-Brown was replaced by Troy McCosker.[12]

Shortly after the release of the EP, the band signed with label Just Say Rock Records and booking agent Welkin Entertainment.[13]

Only a year after the release of their EP, in 2009 the band supported Cradle of Filth at their Melbourne show [3] and Amon Amarth nationally at shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.[4] They also played at Screamfest Festival in Sydney alongside Cynic, Dark Funeral, Destruction, Deströyer 666, Edguy, Ensiferum, Malevolent Creation, Rotting Christ, Sonata Arctica and Spawn of Possession among others.[14]

Prior to the release of their debut album, Walker-Preece was replaced by Angus Murray and Blanchard was replaced by Anthony Mavrikis.[12]

Weight of Redemption (2010-2013)

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In 2010 the band released their debut album, Weight of Redemption.[15] Following its release, 2010 also saw Eye of the Enemy embark on a national tour of Australia[2] and support international acts Malevolent Creation[6] and Despised Icon,[16] both at their Melbourne shows.

Eye of the Enemy also played at Melbourne’s Sonic Forge Festival in 2010, 2011 and 2012 as well as playing other notable Australian festivals in 2011 including the inaugural New Dead Festival[17] in Adelaide and Metalfest in Melbourne.[18]

In 2011 Murray was replaced on bass by Ben Hunt and then in 2012 McCosker was replaced on drums by Simon Headley and Mavrikis was replaced on guitar by Justin Macdonald.[1]

In 2012 the band supported Amon Amarth nationally for the second time at their shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane[1] and then in 2013 they supported At The Gates at their Melbourne show.[1] 2013 also saw the band sign to record label, Rockstar Records[4]

The Vengeance Paradox (2014 - 2018)

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In April 2014, the band’s sophomore album, The Vengeance Paradox, was released.[19][20] Shortly after its release, the band supported Children of Bodom on their national tour, playing shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.[21][22]

In 2014 they also embarked on a national tour in support of the album[23] and were signed with US record label Swimming With Sharks Records, founded by Noah "Shark" Robertson of Motograter/The Browning fame.[24]

On 9 November 2014, the band announced that Detar's last show with the band would be on the 29th of that month. Mitch Alexander was unveiled as the new vocalist on 23 January 2015.

Eye Of The Enemy were awarded the "Breakthrough Australasian Metal Band" category at the 2014 GMA (Global Metal Apocalypse) Awards, this was announced at the end of 2014.[25]

In 2015, continuing the Vengeance Paradox tour, the band toured across Asia. Four of the eight shows of the tour were in support of Fleshgod Apocalypse, also playing alongside fellow Australians Psycroptic and Ne Obliviscaris and the remaining four shows were the band's own headline shows.[5][25][26][27][28]

In August 2015, shortly after returning from Asia, the band announced the departure of guitarist Justin Macdonald and, on 15 November 2015, announced that his replacement would be Chris Themelco who is also the vocalist and guitarist for Melbourne's Orpheus Omega.[29]

In late 2015 the band also announced that they were working on writing their third album.[30]

On 17 March 2018, Eye of the Enemy announced that long-term bassist Ben Hunt was stepping down due to medical issues and that he was to be replaced by James McInnes.[31][32]

Titan (2019 - 2023)

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In August 2019 the band announced that their third studio album, Titan, would be released through Art is War Records.[33] Five years since their last release, on 9 September 2019 Eye of the Enemy released the song "Clay", the first single from Titan, which was accompanied by a video clip.[34] Shortly after, on 27 September 2019, the second single from Titan, "Abrasive Turns of Phrases", was released along with a lyric video.[35]

Titan was released on 11 October 2019.

In October 2022, after seven years with the band, the band announced that Chris Themelco would be leaving the group.[36] The band and Themelco have continued to work together at his heavy music production house, Monolith Studios, where Titan had been engineered and mixed.[37]

2024

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On 14 March 2024, the band released a new single "All Of It For All Of Us" recorded and produced by Themelco, and mastered by Thomas "Plec" Johansson at The Panic Room.[38]

Members

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Current members

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  • Chris Kane - guitar
  • Mitch Alexander - vocals
  • James McInnes - bass
  • Simon Headley - drums
  • Maurizio Piras - guitar

Past members

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  • Chris Themelco - guitar
  • Ben Hunt (bass)
  • Justin Macdonald - guitar
  • Julian Detar - vocals
  • Sean Blanchard - guitar
  • Anthony Mavrikis - guitar
  • Gene Arenas - bass
  • Jamie Walker-Preece - bass
  • Angus Murray - bass
  • Taran Parker-Brown - drums
  • Troy McCosker - drums

Discography

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  • Eye of the Enemy (demo EP) (2008)
  • Weight of Redemption (2010)
  • The Vengeance Paradox (2014)
  • Titan (2019)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Damon Jackson. "Eye of the Enemy", Heavy Music Magazine, Issue 11, 2014
  2. ^ a b Booth, Mitch (20 June 2010). "Eye of the Enemy touring the country". Metal Obsession. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Cradle of Filth (Melbourne) – 26/05/2009". Metal Obsession. 27 May 2009. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Eye of the Enemy". Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  5. ^ a b Besank, Jonathon (27 April 2015). "Eye of the Enemy announce Asia tour & shows with Fleshgod Apocalypse, Psycroptic, and Ne Obliviscaris". Metal Obsession. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  6. ^ a b "SWS signs Eye Of The Enemy (Australia)". Swimming With Sharks Records. 12 May 2014. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  7. ^ Lendrum, Tom (6 October 2010). "Despised Icon to Tour Australia". The AU Review. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  8. ^ "Mosphere Festival Feat. Sybreed (Switzerland)". Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  9. ^ "Fear Factory, Circles & Eye Of The Enemy @ Prince Bandroom, Melbourne 04/06/2016". Metal Obsession. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Children of Bodom, Orpheus Omega & Eye of the Enemy Live @ Billboard, Melbourne 07.05.14". Heavy. 7 May 2014.
  11. ^ a b Rizk, Anwar (21 February 2019). "Eye of the Enemy to support Hypocrisy and Kataklysm this May". Metal Obsession. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  12. ^ a b "Eye of the Enemy". Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  13. ^ "Eye of the Enemy". Triple J Unearthed. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  14. ^ Smith, Toby (30 July 2009). "Screamfest New Years Eve 2009". Music Feeds.
  15. ^ Booth, Mitch (24 August 2010). "Eye of the Enemy – Weight of Redemption". Metal Obsession. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  16. ^ "Despised Icon announce local supports". 5 October 2010. Archived from the original on 5 July 2011. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  17. ^ "The New Dead Metalfest: November 19th". Metal as Fuck. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  18. ^ http://www2b.abc.net.au/EventCentral/View/event.aspx?p=2&e=6974061[permanent dead link]
  19. ^ Mason, Amanda (2014). "Local Boys Do Good". Heavy Music Magazine. No. 10.
  20. ^ "Eye of the Enemy". Trend Kill. No. 64. April 2014.
  21. ^ "Children of Bodom + Eye of the Enemy + Orpheus Omega - Billboard, Melbourne (07.05.14)". 8 May 2014. Archived from the original on 16 September 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  22. ^ Brenchley, Amanda (11 May 2014). "Children Of Bodom, Eye Of The Enemy & Emergency Gate @ The Hi-Fi, Brisbane 10/05/2014". Metal Obsession. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  23. ^ "Eye of The Enemy 'The Vengeance Paradox' Australian Tour 2014 @ Gershwin Room, The Espy". Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  24. ^ Besanko, Jonathon (14 May 2014). "Eye Of The Enemy Gets Signed With Independent US Record Label". Metal Obsession. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  25. ^ a b Morrison, Robyn. "Eye Of The Enemy announce Asian tour dates". Heavy.
  26. ^ Morrison, Robyn. "Eye of the Enemy Asian Tour Diary Part 1 – Hong Kong and Taiwan". Heavy.
  27. ^ Morrison, Robyn. "Eye of the Enemy Tour Diary – Part 2 – Japan". Heavy.
  28. ^ Mason, Amanda (19 August 2015). "The Highs and Lows of International Touring w/ Fleshgod Apocalypse, Psycroptic, Ne Obliviscaris & Eye of the Enemy". Metal Obsession. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  29. ^ Rizk, Anwar (15 November 2015). "Chris Themelco joins Eye Of The Enemy". Metal Obsession. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  30. ^ Morrison, Robyn. "Brewtality Festival Spotlight: Eye Of The Enemy". Heavy.
  31. ^ "Eye of the Enemy". Facebook. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  32. ^ Rizk, Anwar (19 March 2018). "Melbourne's Eye Of The Enemy announce new bassist". Metal Obsession. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  33. ^ "Eye of the Enemy to Release Titan Album in October; Teaser Video Posted". BW&BK. 21 August 2019.
  34. ^ Eye of the Enemy - Clay - Official Music Video - 2019 Album: Titan, YouTube, 8 September 2019, retrieved 26 March 2021
  35. ^ "Eye of the Enemy - Abrasive Turns of Phrases - Official Lyric Video". YouTube. 26 September 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  36. ^ "Eye of the Enemy". Facebook. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  37. ^ "Monolith Studios". Monolith Studios. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  38. ^ "Eye of the Enemy". Bandcamp. Retrieved 12 June 2024.