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This is Art... in Exile.
Art In exile' play a diverse brand of 'Extreme gothic metal'. Unnerving, intense and violently emotional, combining elements of symphonic, progressive, industrial and avantgarde with melodic death metal and fronted by one womans uniquly distinctive harmonious and guttural vocals.
Art in Exile formed in 2002, with Mel Bulian (vocals/guitar), Liv Sellick(Bass), Matt Redmond(Keys/guitar), and Tim Robinson(drums).
The band entered the studio in Nov. 2006 to record their debut EP, quickly followed by the recruitment of Stuart Robinson on guitar. The independent release gained Art:In:Exile exposure both nationally with airplay on such shows such as Triple J’s ‘Full Metal Racket’ and Melbourne’s ‘Musically Incorrect’, and internationally with US Internet radio show ‘The Darkside’ and European website/radio station ‘Goth Metal World, following reviews in webzines such as Germany’s ‘Metal DE’, Australia’s ‘Metal Forge’ and ‘Ultimate Metal’, and street magazines ‘Rip It Up’ and ‘dB’.
The band played their first show in July 2006 at Fowler’s Live in support of the Melbourne glam act ‘The Dead Things’, followed quickly by a successful show supporting emerging progressive black metal band ‘Ne Obliviscaris’. Art:In:Exile then returned to the live circuit in early 2007 to play The Australia Day Metalfest at the Lizard Lounge with ‘Stargazer’ and Melbourne’s ‘Veil Of Anguish’ among others, and then made an immediate impact with the Official Launch of their EP at the Enigma Bar in February 2007.
Shortly after supporting goth/industrial ‘Ice Cocoon’ in April the same year, bassist Liv Sellick announced her departure from the band and was replaced by Leni Benton, an experienced metal musician in her own right. Finally, after a shock decision to leave his main band, Rocco De Maria of Adelaide’s death-grind outfit ‘omnium’, joined the ranks not only to allow Mel to concentrate fully on her vocal duties, but to help extend the possibilties of the growing guitar influence on the music.
In a major coup for the band’s international profile, they negotiated an international distribution contract on UK label Casket Music. With promotion from Casket, and widespread distribution with their partner Plastichead, Art:In:Exile re-released their debut EP in a repackaged format in Europe and the US. Now with their definitive line-up in place, a developing repertoire of live material, and label distribution & promotion, Art:In:Exile, in Nov 2009, released their first full-length album ‘Aeon Somnia’. This ten track opus promises to be a major step in their career, demonstrating their most mature work to date. This is proving to be a productive year for this Australian act.
BUY ART IN EXILE MERCHANDISE (click images)
AEON SOMNIA also available at BIG STAR RECORDS & MUSES (Leading edge music) Adelaide
Reviews
IMHOTEP, NORWAY - Matt Coe 2/9/08
Art In Exile certainly aren’t for the timid in the experimental metal community. Mel has the warmth of the best female gothic singers treading the world when she sings cleanly, but I guarantee that her nails on the chalkboard screech for the violent parts will keep Art In Exile firmly in the truest of underground metal hearts. Think Opeth, Lacuna Coil, Death, Strapping Young Lad and Katatonia got into a five way cage match the ultimate winner becomes Art In Exile. I’m anxious to hear new material as the land down under never fails to surprise me with creative genre bending like this.
ZERO TOLERANCE - Steve Earles
"An album that manages to be emotionally and musically extreme. Highly recommended for lovers of honesty in music."
ORGAN MAGAZINE UK Issue269 Aug 7 2008
An extreme gut-ripping screamathon. This is impressive – epic gothic metal drama and bag loads of light, shade, colour and emotion both in Mel's voice and their dramatic music. Demonic shrieks, raw anger, powerful emotion, moody quietness. One rather impressive, original, colourful, complex modern metal band here!
METAL HAMMER - Malcolm Dome
'Oddly unnerving, there is something hauntingly, coherently charismatic here' 7/10
dB Magazine – Issue 439
James McKenzie
Art In Exile's music is an absolute collision of styles. Dark, brooding passages give way to frenetic breakdowns. Disconcerting tempo shifts are complemented by wonderful hooks. In the live environment they prove to be a challenging but exhilarating proposition. Mel Bulian is a dynamic and occasionally intimidating front person as she by turns sings, screams and growls. Utterly engrossing, their unique brand of 21st century schizoid metal is lapped up by the crowd.
LIVE @ LIZARD LOUNGE - Angela Darlington
Art in exile left a great impression on me, with their dark, sad, painfully haunting music. They knew how to build up the atmosphere in their music, changing the pace when required. Mel’s vocals were amazing, going from screaming to bellowing and worked well with the rest of the group. The whole band was able to create an angry but haunting effect. Every now and then after a slow part in a song, Mel would erupt into her screaming vocals creating a powerful tune, when they felt that they had built up enough atmosphere in the song. The crowd admired what they saw, listening to the demonic voice, which was able to change to a screaming banshee in about three seconds. Art in Exile said they were having some technical difficulties as well and apologized for this, but despite this I really enjoyed their show, and I can’t wait to see them again in 2008.
Rock3 UK – 80%
4/6/2008
Bringing an Australian energy and vibe to what is ostensibly an experimental sound, utilising math rock, Industrial metal and gothic darkness and this is just the first song!..
MYSTIC METALl
Art In Exile are fronted by what I can only describe as an arrangement of femme psychosis. Tormenting screams and hollow melodies backed by lunacy and utter angst. The lyrics are pure poetry. They are dark, atmospheric, gothic, punk and metal combined.
Dead Earnest - Andy Garibaldi
Yes, it's true – the Australians really do have a goth scene – and, from the evidence of this CD, a hardcore scene, a death metal scene, a modern metal scene and something that makes the likes of Within Temptation and Nightwish sound more like Bucks Fizz and Bananarama!! Yes folks, welcome to the world of Art In Exile as the opening track drowns you in the boiling oil of its metal guitar onslaught, the massively crushing wheels of its rhythm section and the screaming torture rack of intensity that is its female singer." Andy Garibaldi (Dead Earnest) 07-08
METAL MAIDENS - Toine Van Poorten
From the first notes on of “Magnetism”, I know that we’re in for yet another GATHERING copycat. Boy, was I wrong here! Mel suddenly opens her mouth and shouts out so loud, that I can hardly believe this is the same female singer that just whispered to me so softly. I’m so sorry miss Bulian, that I insulted you and for judging your band a bit too premature. Please continue screaming like this, because I like it a lot. I hear the doomy sound of CANDLEMASS and PARADISE LOST, the serenity of ANATHEMA, the wild screams of ARCH ENEMY and CRADLE OF FILTH, the dreamy sound of THE GATHERING and the noisy madness of BABES IN TOYLAND. What an immense brutality is unleashed here!
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