Your Guide To The 2017 SAM Awards Rock Nominees

Bad//Dreems

Bad//Dreems’ eagerly-anticipated sophomore LP Gutful was released earlier this year. Working, not for the first time, with the production team of Mark Opitz (INXS, the Angels, Cold Chisel) and Colin Wynne at their West Brunswick studio in the latter part of 2016, Gutful is 11 tracks of literate, Antipodean rock'n'roll anthems, refining the powerful sound we heard on Dogs At Bay.

Baltimore Poet

A high energy, emotive and honest five-piece rock/alternative band from Adelaide, Baltimore Poet have developed a signature writing style, matching intense, heavy-hitting riffs with honest, meaningful lyrics. Having the benefit of multiple song writers and many different influences, the band has been able to skilfully craft their very unique blend of songs, and continue to develop their music through engaging and energetic live shows, right up until the 2017 release of Paper Planes And Promises.

Battlehounds

The first single from Battlehounds' debut EP Damn Demons, Night Crawl is an uncompromising three-and-a-half minute rollercoaster, slathered in grimy guitars, gristle and beer-soaked vocals. Recorded in Adelaide with John McNichol, mixed by Ali Wells (Bad//Dreems, West Thebarton) and mastered by Joseph Cara (King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, The Peep Tempel, Bloc Party), the track received extensive support through triple j, community radio and press nationally.

Bitchspawn

After the success of their debut EP Sex And Politics and follow up Attack Of The Octoboob, Bitchspawn have earned themselves a reputation for painfully-catchy melodies, tongue-in-cheek lyrics and fantastic, booze-fueled live performances. 2017 brings highs for Bitchspawn, as they release their strongest CD to date, The Minivan Of Dreams.

Black Avenue

With intent to transform blood, sweat and beers into a unique flavour of hard-hitting rock music, their influences draw not only from a wide variety of sub-genres, but from the dimly-lit paths of life also.

Cosmo Thundercat

The band present a raw and honest personality, creating music with a captivating and emotive landscape. Their sophomore EP, Warning Bell, mixed and post-produced by Dani Castelar (Paolo Nutini, REM, The Panics), quickly gained the attention of some of Australian music's leading taste-makers.

Diplomat

Diplomat formed in Adelaide in 1994. Initially playing as three-piece Rash for several years and releasing a bunch of EPs, the band acquired a second guitarist and renamed as Diplomat around the year 2000. The band's debut album Welcome Departure opened Diplomat to a wider audience, playing gigs with bands such as Swervedriver and McLusky. Following their last EP release in 2003, and a new split 12" under the belt in 2017, Diplomat have returned to the live stage.

Erin Mo

Erin Mo is an emerging singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Their style incorporates elements of indie, folk and jazz. They have been learning and performing music since a young age, ranging from studio orchestras to solo eisteddfod competitions. For Erin Mo, music has always been at the core of who they are. They express vulnerability and openness in their writing, which often reflects their experiences with people and their connection to world.

Horror My Friend

Horror My Friend's approach to indie-rock is youthful and idiosyncratic. Tapping into the spirit of '90s college-rock and shoe-gaze, the trio (Josh Battersby, Tom Gordon and Sam Kolesnik) break new ground with their raw yet melodic, auteurist songwriting, bolstered by frenetic, energetic live performances.

iHeart

iHeart (Intermittent Heart) are a kickass two-piece from RADelaide, comprising of husband and wife duo Jarrad and Skye Levi. iHeart deliver a killer stage performance.

iiah

Since 2013, iiah have created emotionally-driven, ambient post-rock. Following on from their 2015 EP, the release of their debut album Distances in May has reached a number of post-rock channels around the globe with a positive reaction. iiah build their sound around heavy, atmospheric soundscapes and soaring vocals, with a strong melodic focus behind the wall of sound.

Larsen

Larsen are about to enter their third year of bringing their brand of grunge-inspired alt-rock to venues around Adelaide. From supporting the likes of The Delta Riggs and Gooch Palms on their national tours, to landing their very own slot at 2016's Stonecutters Festival, Larsen released an EP in their first year, and are now on the cusp of dropping their first full-length album.

Lost Woods

Lost Woods, an indie-rock five piece, created a name for themselves with their 2016 self-titled EP. Secrets In Our Sleeves taken from the EP was a finalist in the 2016 Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition. Having already performed alongside the likes of Holy Holy, Kingswood, Harts, Andy Bull and Alice Ivy, their future looks bright.

Luke Carlino

Luke Carlino has begun carving a niche for himself in his hometown of Adelaide. With nods to the innovation of DD Dumbo and Big Scary, his songs of slowly constructed melodies expand from traditional pop and rock song writing structures. Electronic beats and layered guitar-driven loops help build the intensity in each track, complimented by his emotive vocal style.

Matiah

Writing and recording music from a young age, Matiah's songs showcase a mixture of orchestral melodies and haunting harmonies. In 2017, she released her EP, Watch The Stars, containing an array of lyric-driven, alternative songs that relate back to her rock influences, telling her story.

Moss

Five-piece "heartland rock" band Moss grew up in an era where music acted as media commentary; the stage was the podium and the lyrics were the speeches. Music was the only platform for a political, social voice. Emily is the third song on the collective's first record, Face The Music, released a year ago.

Siamese

Honing a unique sound and frenetic live show in the short space of one year, Siamese (Tom Matheson, Colby Robertson, Baden Guillou and Gere Fuss) have shared the stage with the likes of Ceres, Flyying Colours and Screamfeeder. The band has basked in an already benevolent 2017, including a triple j Unearthed spotlight.

Somnium

Through a relentless local gig schedule and nothing but pure love for live music, Somnium are proud to bring you their debut album, OMNISM. The sound of the album is depicted by punchy riffs, floating melodies and hypnotic motifs, incorporating elements of blues, garage and psychedelia. OMNISM has brought the band to the forefront of the local rock scene, drawing support slots for The Babe Rainbow, King Gizzard, Pond, Buried Feather and Flyying Colours.

Stranger Things Have Happened

Stranger Things Have Happened is a band best caught live; a place where it's easy to get lost in their intricate blend of guitar lines and drums, perfectly punctuated by intermittent shouts. STHH craft a sound that is layered and enveloping; focused, yet danceable. May saw the release of the band's second EP titled This Is The Self-titled EP, which received a wide range of radio play and online interest both interstate and overseas.

The Byzantines

While they do hold a reputation as a party band, others see a deeper, more complex side to this collective, with underlying social commentary laced throughout their songs. No matter how it’s painted, The Byzantines are a fusion of swagger-laden melodies, head-bopping hip hop beats and in your face vocals, making up the unique, yet familiar sound that the band have spent years finessing.

The Menace

The Menace are an original hard rocking power trio possessing a real passion for creating music. They have gained a reputation as an excellent live band that loves to party. Band members Scott Gordon (guitar, vocals), Brad Tsoumbris (drums) and Stuart Gordon (bass) deliver a sonic experience, heavily influenced by guitar-driven '70s and '80s hard-rock and traditional metal bands. Two albums, a video and a tour with Angry Anderson see The Menace hungry for more action.

The Montreals

After kicking the door down with their debut EP, Indigo Club, in late 2016, the band performed in support of the likes of Alpine, Last Dinosaurs, Andy Bull, Hey Geronimo and Dorsal Fins. Mixed by Magoo (The Jungle Giants, Art vs. Science), the three-track record garnered hundreds of thousands of streams worldwide.

The Motive

After three fantastic years together, this is the final release for The Motive. The track was recorded at Mixmasters and Hillside Studios, with the assistance of legends Mick Wordley and Matt Hills. Coupled with a clip filmed and edited by the incredible Ashley Starkey, the track was recorded and released in loving memory of Daniel Cava.

West Thebarton

It's been a massive year already for West Thebarton, who sold out their East Coast single tour, recorded their debut album between Adelaide and Sydney, and picked up new management and an international booking agency. With their name now shortened and new drummer on board, the seven-headed rock-hydra is turning their potential into a reality.

Yeahyeahabsolutelynoway!

Yeahyeahabsolutelynoway!'s unique brand of instrumental music defies easy categorisation, bringing together elements of post-rock, jazz and ambient music in a radically-distinctive way.  The band is made up of just three members; guitarists James Brown and Sam Cagney (who also share writing duties), and drummer Stephen Neville. The unconventionally bass-less trio have released two albums to date, both quite different in tone, texture and approach.