Your Guide To The 2017 SAM Awards Heavy Nominees

Abstract The Light

Abstract The Light is an avant-garde black metal band fusing sonic elements of dark and fast black metal with underlying melodic and Celtic/folk elements. Eclectic and eccentric metal birthed and inspired by all or nothing that has come before or will be again.

Behold The Sea

Late 2013 saw the birth of a new and exciting metalcore band, Behold The Sea. Individually, each member displays outstanding musical talent with fast paced riffs, brutal breakdowns and a high-intensity live show.

Days Of Deceit

Days Of Deceit are driven by their passion and love for music of all kinds. The Ruckus EP was released in September 2016 and went on to win MOSH Radio's Best South Australian Release. The film clip for lead single August also picked up an award at the Australian Cinematographers Society Annual Awards.

I, Protagonist

Beginning in the autumn of 2013, the idea was hatched to create a new project to work exclusively in the extreme arc of the metal spectrum. Concepts both high and low, were bandied around until the image of The Protagonist took shape. Appealing to each of our higher selves seemed to correlate with the musical style, and from that point, songs were begun, refined, and unleashed as 2017 began.

Ice On Mercury

Ice On Mercury have recently released their third and most acclaimed EP to date, Blind Leading The Lifeless. With that release, Ice On Mercury have firmly cemented their place as one of Australia’s next emerging hard rock metal acts and a band not to be overlooked.

In:Extremis

After 20 years buried deep in the earth, encased in 200 tonnes of concrete and steel (for the safety of the planet), the purveyors of chaos known only as In:Extremis have broken free of their tomb and are roaming free among the unsuspecting earth dwellers. 2017 marks the rebirth of chaos around the world, and the In:Extremis juggernaut will once again rise up out of the filth to shred the skin from your body infiltrate the inner reaches of your soul to twist and deform normality.

Japam

Combining the heavy, technical groove of modern progressive music and the melodic appeal of' 90s pop and rock music, Japam creates an energetic and infectious soundscape. Japam released Hows My EP? in 2016, and this year have toured regional SA and Victoria, supported Twelve Foot Ninja and more.

Massix

Much like genre heavyweights Opeth, Metallica and Avenged Sevenfold, Massix delivering a compelling wall of noise. 

Nuseum

Three brothers and a mate pushing the boundaries of hard rock. Together they formed Nuseum after a decade of playing together under different names and genres. If you want to rock - see these guys in action.

Sleep Talk

After releasing their debut EP, Growing Pains, in mid-2016, Sleep Talk captured the attention of some of Australia’s heaviest acts and industry figures. Their debut single, Sorry, currently holds over 100,000 hits on YouTube and 140,000 streams collectively on Spotify.

Terminal Zero

Terminal Zero is a hard hitting Adelaide alternative rock outfit with a modern twist. Identical twin brothers Simon and Matthew Warnock, along with Peter Nattass and Heath Newman have released their latest album after a couple of years of reworking material and writing new tracks. Terminal Zero's originality and diversity are on display in this latest release.

Tony Font Show

Tony Font Show are a spastic, funkadelic four piece that prides themselves on their ability to write punk funk party anthems. Since their inception back in 2005, Tony Font Show have recorded a total of four EPs, toured Australia, and featured on festivals including the Big Day Out. Their latest seven-track EP, Deluxe, is a high energy audio onslaught that is, without a doubt, their most visceral and chaotic release to date.

Vault of Valor

Vault Of Valor debuted online a year ago with their debut EP, Pathways. Since then they've honed their skill throughout relentless gigging and won Buried Ln Verona's Last Leg Up competition, which saw them open for the band on their final Australian tour.

Wounded Pig

Wounded Pig combine furious guitar work, devastatingly low bass tones and vitriolic vocals with unrelenting machine-gun like beats to deliver a different breed of grindcore. Best described as blast beat punk, the trio have self-produced six releases in four years, amassing an arsenal of explosive, face-melting tracks.