Metal For The Brain - The Festival

The Festival

Even in a country where heavy metal bands are neglected or reviled even by the alternative music press and industry, Metal for the Brain grew consistently since its inception. By 2000, the show had grown so big that it necessitated a move to a new venue from its long-time home at the ANU. From a bill of only six bands in 1991, by 2006 Metal for the Brain featured more than 30 and extended for more than 14 hours across three stages. In 2000, an international act was added to the show for the first time when Canadian metal pioneers Voivod headlined the event. German thrash band Destruction and Japanese thrash band Sun's Owl were booked to play MFTB in 2002; however due to insurance problems the show was cancelled for the first time ever. Over the years, the musical focus of the event moved from exclusively death, thrash and black metal bands to a variety of styles and in later years nu metal, industrial, hard rock, progressive rock and hardcore bands took to the various stages. This caused some discontent among some sections of the heavy metal fanbase but MFTB remained the single largest event on the calendar for Australian metal fans.

Overseas touring commitments for Alchemist meant the festival was not held in 2004, but returned in February 2005. That year, smaller versions of the festival were held in Brisbane and Perth. Alchemist also played at these shows.

On 25 July 2006, an announcement was made on the heavy metal radio show Full Metal Racket on Triple J that the festival that year would be the last. US death metal band Skinless headlined the show.