Alarum

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  • Current Line-up
    • Mark Palfreyman (vocals, bass)
    • Mark Evans (guitar)
    • Rob Brens (drums)
  • Former members
    • Scott Young (guitar) 1997 - 2007
    • Matt Racovalis (drums) 1992 - 2006
    • Luke Morris (vocals) 1994
    • Lester Perry (bass) 1994

Website

alarum.com.au

Formed

Melbourne, VIC, 1992

Band information

Alarum represents one of the most technically proficient bands currently in circulation. In existence in some form since at least 1992, Alarum plays a form of progressive metal in the vein of Cynic and Atheist, incorporating jazz jams into a technical death metal base. After an appearance on an early Def Records compilation, the group's line-up consolidated with guitarists Mark Evans and Scott Young plus bassist and vocalist Mark Palfreyman and drummer Matt Racovalis. Their first album Fluid Motion emerged in 1999 and later in the year they opened at Metal for the Brain.

The next year Alarum was added to the line-up again as replacement for Sadistik Exekution. Racovalis and Young then featured as part of The Berzerker's live line-up that toured North America in 2001.

Alarum then began working on the follow-up to the debut, issuing a promo CD featuring three forthcoming tracks in mid-2002. It was to be another two years, however, before the album, intriguingly entitled Eventuality..., appeared, immediately scoring high praise for its sophisticated amalgamation of melody, metal and jazz. The album tied with Dungeon's One Step Beyond for Australian Album of the Year on the Triple J radio show Full Metal Racket; at the Australian Heavy Metal Music Awards in February 2005, Alarum won awards for Best Bass Player, Best Drummer, Best Band and Best Album.

In April 2006, Alarum travelled to North America for an extensive tour with Neuraxis, Arsis and Cattle Decapitation. On their return to Australia, drummer Matt Racovalis announced he was leaving the band. Nevertheless, Alarum completed a tour with Dark Tranquillity and played at the 2006 Metal for the Brain. This was Racovalis' last show with Alarum and he was replaced by Rob Brens. The band supported Obituary in mid-2007 and Scott Young then also left the band.

Discography

Albums:

Year Title Label
Alarumcvr.jpg 1999 Fluid Motion Metal Warriors
Alarum.jpg 2004 Eventuality... Willowtip

Compilation tracks:

Year Track Title Album Title Label
1995 "Silence" Death Down Under Def
1999 "Taking Place" Halloween Metalfest 99 Metal Warriors
2000 "Realization" Full Metal Racket EMI/ABC
2005 "Velocity" Underearthed 3 Independent
2005 "Woven Imbalance" Metal for the Brain 2005 Faultline/Gorilla