Ambitious Conclusion

We're pulling the pin on the band, or going into an extended hiatus after these shows,” Chamberland frontman Ross Dowling reveals with straightforward honesty. “We've been around for thirteen years now in the same band, we've never played with anyone else and we're all getting a little older with families and what have you. We've come to the conclusion that our plans for world domination didn't quite pan out as we had hoped. We're intending to continue writing and recording the next album [the third and final chapter of their EP trilogy], but in terms of pushing for shows I think we're going to take a bit of a step away from that. It's a little bit sad, but it makes this show even more important to us.”

The show in question is to celebrate the launch of new graphic sci-fi novel, Sage: Escape, a conceptual narrative put together by fellow local Damian Simankowicz. “We actually met him because we went to high school together,” Dowling tells, regarding the initial contact between the pair. “But only recently, in the last twelve months, did we catch up – fifteen years out of school. And he has a passion for heavy music like we play, but he has a passion for local music as well.”

By coming together and working as one, both Chamberland and Simankowicz are looking to strengthen Brisbane's artistic community through two otherwise unrelated outlets. “The comic book scene is quite a cult thing – it's underground – and the local Brisbane [music] scene over the last few years has petered out a bit with the closing of some venues,” Dowling explains. “Damian thought it was a good idea opportunity to bring these two scenes together and boost one another – and to help expand the fanbase and share it among people that generally wouldn't get a chance to see or hear it.”

Along for the ride is Sydney's MC Kean and fellow local dark-wavers Trip Sinister, all three artists brought in as Simankowicz felt that the music was a good audio representation of the moods and themes found in Sage: Escape. “They are releasing a hard copy version of [the publication] but it's meant to be read online and as you flick through, it has our music supplementing the actual storyline and helping to tell that narrative,” Dowling explains. “It is a collaboration in the truest sense. The idea of bringing these two completely opposite genres together to make a single piece of art was something that was really quite exciting.”

Considering Chamberland have always been a band willing to push the idea of normality and challenge their audience with their brand of progressive alternative rock, this collaborative swansong makes complete sense. And it will all come to life together on stage, with screens to be set up so that the visuals can work in unison with the music and bring the entire vision to the fore. But just because the situation is skewed to the left of centre, don't go thinking that the quartet's strong live performances are going to shift from the mark. Dowling is clear in stating his determination to leave on the right note, as fans deserve nothing less.

“Every show we put absolutely everything into,” he states. “Our live show is something we're quite proud of and we are very passionate about hitting the stage and not leaving anything left. We've added some additional instrumentation [for the gig] and we've also got some audio for interludes in between tracks. That, combined with the visuals – it will certainly be something.”

Chamberland will be playing the following dates:

Friday 16 November - The Music Of Sage Escape, Tempo, Fortitude Valley QLD