Ne Obliviscaris

Ne Obliviscaris is an Australian extreme progressive metal band that melds death and melodic metal, classical, jazz, and vanguard improvisation. The group’s early works elicited significant acclaim in the metal underground. They courted mainstream success with the release of 2017′s Urn, which reached number 35 on the ARIA albums chart. Ne Obliviscaris’ fourth long-player, Exul, arrived in 2023. Conceived late in 2003 by violinist/clean vocalist Tim Charles and harsh vocalist Marc "Xenoyr" Campbell, the band included a female soprano vocalist, lead guitarist, bassist, and drummer. Former Gomorrah rhythm guitarist Matt Klavins signed on in early 2004, as did lead guitarist Corey King. Their original rhythm section was replaced in 2005 by bassist Brendan “Cygnus” Brown (ex-Aphotic Dawn/Primordial Space) and drummer Daniel “Mortuary” Presland. For nearly two years this unit continued to rehearse and play regional shows.
In 2007 the collective released the three-track, 33-minute demo The Aurora Veil to thunderous underground acclaim due to its signature yet unpredictable meld of death and melodic metal, classical music, jazz, and avant-garde improvisation. King left shortly after the record’s release and Ne Obliviscaris were forced to soldier on without a guitarist until they successfully auditioned French guitar slinger Benjamin Baret, who had played with Brown in Primordial Space in 2008. As Ne Obliviscaris began recording their full-length debut with this sextet in 2009, they held a concert called Festival de la Grenouille to raise funds for a Distinguished Talent Visa. It would allow Baret to relocate to Australia. After 14 months of waiting, and having a finished record about to be mixed, his application was denied.
Ne Obliviscaris appealed the decision by initiating a petition and letter-writing campaign that proved successful in 2011. The long-finished Portal of I was finally released in 2012. The evolution in sound and approach was greeted globally with critical and fan acclaim. In 2013 the band signed to Seasons of Mist and began recording a follow-up. After finishing the album, they began a crowd-funding campaign in June of 2014 to finance a world tour to support it upon release. They asked for $40,000 and received over twice that. Citadel was issued in November of 2014. The 2017 full-length Urn was heralded by the release of the singles “Urn (Part I) — And Within the Void We Are Breathless” and “Urn (Part II) — As Embers Dance in Our Eyes.” It became the group’s first ARIA-charting effort, reaching number 35. Tracking for the band’s fourth album began in earnest in March 2020, just as the world was going into lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite all of the setbacks — longtime drummer Daniel Preslend parted ways with the group in 2022 — Ne Obliviscaris persevered and completed the record. The resulting Exul was released in 2023. ~ Thom Jurek