Headkase

Performing a quirky and often spooky mix of metal and circus/carnival music, with jazz, techno and industrial elements, Australian 6-piece band HEADKASE have been described as "industrial/techno flavoured circus-metal". While Headkase play largley to a gothic audience, their high-energy shows are especially enjoyed by fans of Mr. Bungle, Fantomas, Vicious Hairy Mary, Dog Fashion Disco, Carnival In Coal, and other such abstract bands combining many styles of music to create something a little fresher than your average metal band. Crowd favourites at shows are: "Deja Vous" (like a haunted merry-go-round), "Cocaine & Caffeine" (a jazzy number), and "Murdered & Dumped in the Willow" (an almost death metal number). - HEADKASE have supported/opened for such acts as SKINLAB (USA), KILLING JOKE (UK), SUNS OWL (Japan), 8 FOOT SATIVA (NZ), JERK, THE TESTEAGLES, DEVOLVED.

Headkase started their reign of terror and confusion in 2001. They played their first gig to a handful of people at the Bracken Ridge "Rumjungle" before they had a bass player. With the recruitment of a bass player, they worked their way to the Grand Final of the 2001 Queensland Rock Awards. After that experience and exposure, they began gigging regularly. They produced a demo CD called "The Beginning", featuring crowd favourite "Deja Vous" at the end of 2001. The first high-profile band Headkase supported was DEVOLVED in 2002, which took them one small step up the ladder to acknowledgement within Brisbane's competitive music scene. Airplay on 4zZz FM and various interviews in music street press and zines were a first for Headkase in 2002. 2003 saw them play 30 shows, including support slots for JERK, SKINLAB (US), and KILLING JOKE (UK), which lead to some positive gig reviews in music street press. They produced another demo CD featuring crowd favourite "Murdered & Dumped in the Willow", leading to the upcoming album. Headkase continue to work hard, despite often being classed as "Brisbane's most hated band". That said, a healthy fanbase still crawls out of the shadows whenever Headkase dare to appear on stage. Recent update: Debut full-length album "The Worm County Circus" is available to order at http://www.headkase.net

We play live all the time. Playing live is our number one interest within this band. We dress up, act all theatrical on stage, put on a fun SHOW for the audience, rather than just stand there looking at our feet while churning out a bunch of bland songs. We mostly play in and around our home town of Brisbane (QLD), Australia. But we have also played in Adelaide (SA), Sydney (NSW), Newcastle (NSW), Lismore (NSW), Melbourne (VIC), Toowoomba (QLD), Ipswich (QLD), Sunshine Coast (QLD), and the Gold Coast (QLD). One of our best shows would have to be the one we played with Sydney band JERK in May 2003. Great crowd, great reception. We fed off the audiences' positive energy and had an awesome time putting on one of our most powerful and energetic shows! Headkase have also supported US metal giants SKINLAB, and UK Industrial Metal pioneers KILLING JOKE.

Similar Artists: Mr. Bungle, Fantomas, Vicious Hairy Mary, Dog Fashion Disco, Carnival In Coal, System of a Down, Slipknot, Secret Cheifs 3, Rammstein, Darth Vegas, Mushroomhead. Influences: Fantomas, Rammstein, Mr. Bungle, Slipknot, Ministry, The Bird, Hybrid, Fear Factory, Soulfly, System of a Down, Portishead, Nine Inch Nails, Pantera, Napalm Death.

Drums, two guitars, a bass, two keyboards, voice. You can read about the actual brands and models of equipment at the official HEADKASE website.

"A unique brand of eerie carnival-styled metal, combining the industrial effects of a keyboard with pulsating drumbeats" - TIME OFF "This six piece are re-defining a circus metal genre" - DEVOLUTION MAGAZINE (UK) "One just had to admire their tight and powerful sound, their energy and showmanship" - RAVE MAGAZINE "These guys are phenomanal live, but best viewed from a distance, unless you like to slam dance" - LIFEMUSICMEDIA.COM "Headkase have a sound all of their own" - UNDERGROUND UNITED "Death metal meets Mr. Bungle" - RAVE MAGAZINE "A unique combination of heavy groove metal with plenty of influences taken from Mr. Bungle's evil side" †THE FALLOUT MAGAZINE "The Worm County Circus is an album that every music fan on earth should own †simply amazing for a debut" - METAL REVOLUTION (Denmark) "The Worm County Circus sounds like a kid at a fete, jacked up on fairy floss, confused and excited by all the bright lights around them" - RAVE MAGAZINE "One of the most interesting albums of this year" - INFERNAL MASQUERADE (USA)