Atomizer formed in July 1998 with the intention of playing rock ’n’ roll styled black metal. Recording the first demo in December 1998 did not quite go as planned, and that original line up dissolved soon after this.
However, a seed had been sewn with that recording and a suitable line up was able to be forged from that, as well as a number of deals being offered to the band.
Choosing to sign with End All Life productions for a vinyl only release of their debut album ’The End Of Forever’ (reissued as ’The Death Of Forever’), the LP sold out surprisingly fast and a CD version followed not long after. There has since been a CD reissue of the debut album as well as a pic disc version on Hells Headbangers. Both feature two bonus tracks from the first demo.
A 7" was the next official release and ’Gimme Natural Selection’ was a 4 track EP released by Nihilist Void Records from Norway in 500 copies. The first 100 on white, the second on red and the last 300 on black. This record featured two covers - Ace Of Spades by Motorhead, and Wish You Were a Beer by the Cycle Sluts From Hell. In addition, the lead track ’Gimme Natural Selection’ which has only ever appeared on this release as well as a demo version of ’Death Mutation...’ which was called ’DMDA In The Raw’.
’Death Mutation Disease Annihilation’ was the second Atomizer album and while it took two goes at recording it, it did eventually happen and it was released on LP again by End All Life Productions in April 2002 and then on CD by Drakkar Productions in September 2002. This was the last recording that would feature guitarist Justin Allen who was removed from the band during October 2001. He would not be the last person in this band not to see a recording from start to finish. For if one thing tests ones mettle, it’s the studio. Personally, it’s my least favourite Atomizer release, though I really love the artwork... like that amounts to anything he he. This is also available as a Pic Disc LP through Hells Headbangers featuring 2 bonus tracks - one which is a cover of Venom’s ’Black Metal’. And in 2008 there will be a CD reissue via Drakkar which will feature 6 bonus tracks not on the original CD edition.
During 2002 we released another two 7" EPs. The first was an Australian tribute EP of sorts called ’Tyrus: The Doom War Of The Armoured Angel’ which if you know anything about Australian metal you’ll know that Tyrus and Armoured Angel were really cult bands that put out some killer stuff. War were also a band, and we recorded three tracks and an intro. The EP was released by Soulseller Records in 500 copies and was sold out the day it was released. First 100 on white vinyl with a badge and the rest on black vinyl. All came with an insert.
We also put out a split 7" with Root that year via the AJNA Offensive. This featured a demo track of the ’Weapon...’ song ’And The Hunt Starts Again’. This was originally slated for a comp LP but some bands took forever, so Tyler decided to do a split with us and Root. That was 666 copies and sold out in a reasonably short time.
At the start of 2003 we began recording our third album ’The Only Weapon Of Choice’ and once again, a different line up was assembled to see this venture from start to finish, though like every one of our studio sessions, it ends in some form of disaster. We spent 5 months completing this album, and the final results are totally worth it, but it was a fuckin’ nightmare trying to accomplish this feat. Still, it is a really killer album and one I am fiercely proud of, despite the torturous episodes that surrounded its recording, and the ongoing bullshit we endured after signing to Agonia records for its release on CD and Pic LP. But anyone who has dealt with this label will know what I am talking about so there is no need to further elucidate on that.
The album was released on the following formats
*CD - Australia and New Zealand (Animosity International)
*Gatefold LP - Worldwide (AJNA Offensive)
*Pic Disc LP - Worldwide (Agonia Records)
*CD - Worldwide (Agonia Records)
*Ltd Edition DCD - Worldwide (Agonia Records)
With both guitarists from the ’Weapon...’ sessions out of the band, we tried one last time to enlist another two guitar players. With a lot of material I wrote while waiting for the ’Weapon...’ sessions to be finished, plus some new ideas introduced by Brent, ’Songs Of Slaughter - Songs Of Sacrifice’ was recorded. This release is 8 tracks (9 for the CD version) and is probably in part a little more experimental than much of our previous stuff. Also contains our first ever instrumental.
This release is available in the following formats:
*Double gatefold 7" EP with Poster on Agent Orange Vinyl (Hells Headbangers)
*Double pic disc 7" EP in cloth bag with insert (Hells Headbangers)
*Mini CD with bonus track (Hells Headbangers)
*Double CD (Disc II of Weapon) (Agonia Records)
I’m guessing that during April - May 2008 a 10" Live Mini album titled ’Atomic Bloodlust’ will be released by Hells Headbangers. this was recorded live at the Bloodlust Festival in July 2003 and features 3 cuts from the ’Weapon...’ LP and 3 cuts from ’The End Of Forever’. Loud, raw and nasty as fuck, it will come on red/black splatter vinyl in 500 copies.
Atomizer recently completed the recording of the final studio album which is titled ’Caustic Music For The Spiritually Bankrupt’. The drum tracks were laid down by the illustrious Sean Cummiskey of Astriaal fame, and I can tell you that they are beyond all mastery! I performed everything else on this album and all instrumentation, beyond the trumpets, and that component was captured by the very capable Ren Parisi at Melbourne Studios.
Kurt Ballou of the mighty Converge mixed the album, which was expertly mastered by Carl Saff at Saff Mastering. I cannot recommend Carl enough.
Expect a new and radical offering from Atomizer. Coming in 2008 on the revered Hells Headbangers label in deluxe double CD and gatefold LP formats.
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