Switchblade
Switchblade | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Sydney, NSW |
| Genres | Thrash metal, death metal |
| Years active | 2001 - 2011 |
| Labels | Amphead |
| Associated acts | Descend, Friar Rush, Icon of Deceit, Paradigm, Infernal Method, The Amenta, Vaticide, Killrazer, Sanctium |
| Past members | Symon Al-haddad, Chris Apps, Scott Bernascone, Ben Bessant, Gerard Dack, Anthony Delvecchio, Adam Helmreich, Andrew Najdek, Matt Piccolotto, Sway |
Band Members
- Final Line-Up
- Gerard Dack (bass)
- Anthony Delvecchio (guitar)
- Andrew Najdek (guitar)
- Matt Piccolotto (drums)
- Former Members
- Adam Helmreich (vocals) 2005 - 2010
- Symon Alhaddad (bass) 2006 - 2008
- Ben Bessant (bass) 2001 - 2006
- Scott Bernascone (guitar) 2004 - 2005
- Sway (Colin Druery) (vocals) 2002 - 2005
- Chris Apps (vocals) 2001
Formed
Sydney, NSW, 2001
Band Information
Switchblade was a Sydney band thrash and melodic death metal. Formed in 2001 by Matt Piccolotto, Andrew Najdek and Ben Bessant, a demo was recorded with vocalist Chris Apps, but Apps left and Sway joined in mid-2002. A few months later he had to leave the group when he damaged his vocal cords but by early 2003 he was back. Scott Bernascone joined in time for a show with Machine Head in Sydney in October 2004.
The End of All Once Known was released in April 2005. Bernascone and Sway decided to leave after a festival in Sydney; during the final song of their set Adam Helmreich joined the group on stage and was recruited almost immediately. Anthony Delvecchio replaced Bernascone after a few months but during the downtime, Najdek joined Infernal Method for a brief period.
Switchblade was booked to appear at Metalstock in 2006 but shortly before the show Ben Bessant suddenly left the band. Symon Alhaddad from Vaticide took his place and they went on the play at the Come Together Festival in Sydney in June. The band then played at Metal for the Brain in November 2006 and the Festival of the Dead alongside Nevermore the same evening.
The band began their second album during 2006. Invictus Infinitum featured a guest appearance by Jeff Loomis of Nevermore and was released in April 2009. Gerard Dack joined the band on bass during the recording period. Switchblade then embarked on a national tour. On October 15, 2009, Switchblade was the opening act for Slayer's special live performance of the Reign in Blood album in Sydney. They opened for Exodus in Sydney in October 2010 but then went inactive after the departure of Helmreich. In May 2011, Switchblade announced they had split up.
Discography
Albums:
| 2005 | The End of All Once Known | Independent |
| 2009 | Invictus Infinitum | Independent |