Dreadnaught (heavy metal band)
Encyclopedia
Dreadnaught is a heavy metal
band from Melbourne, Australia
. The group was formed out of the remnants of some Tasmanian bands including Fridge from Launceston who recorded an album in 1994.
The band recorded a single titled "Flowers" in 1995 that was released on cassette by Melbourne label Subversive. The following year the full-length album Body.Blood.Skin.Mind
saw release on Deported. This album displayed a combination of dark, introspective rock and melodic, progressive thrash metal
. Citing a breach of contract from the label that stemmed from inadequate promotion, Dreadnaught successfully sued Deported and had the album re-released on BlahBlahBlah Records in 1997. Deported subsequently folded as a result.
In the meantime, the band was forced to change the spelling of its name from the original "Dreadnought" to the current affectation when it was discovered that Queensland
finance company Dreadnought Finance held a trademark
on the name. The independently-released EP "Idiosyncracy" appeared in 1998 and at approximately the same time, drummer Aaren Suttil (aka Suds) formed a thrash metal band called Atomizer while still remaining a member of Dreadnaught.
During 1999, Dreadnaught began touring more widely, supporting Cathedral
, Pitchshifter
and Nevermore on Australian tours. The band also signed to Roadrunner Records
through what was at the time an Australian-based development roster called Dark Carnival. Dreadnaught's first album release for the label was 2000's Down to Zero. The style of music on the album was less progressive and with more of a rock feel. Shortly after its release, bass player Andy Livingston-Squires (aka Squiz) left the band. He was replaced by Ando McDougall; in the interim, Dreadnaught recorded an EP in early 2001 called "One Piece Missing
" with Michael Meagher on bass. A national tour was mounted with fellow Dark Carnival signing Frankenbok
. This was followed by tours with Devin Townsend
and Nickelback
later the same year.
Dreadnaught was less active nationally for the next two years before beginning work on the third full-length album in 2004. Almost immediately, Suttil resigned from the group in order to concentrate on his other band Atomizer and he was replaced by Sandy Bettenay. Suttil recorded three albums and a number of singles and EPs with Atomizer until his death on 27 December 2006.
Dreadnaught's third album was released by Roadrunner in late 2005 Dirty Music showed that the group's transformation from progressive metal to groove rock was complete. The band supported Testament
's tour of Australia in early 2007.
Matt Racovalis (ex-Alarum, ex-The Berzerker) replaced Sandy Bettenay on drums in 2008. In mid-2009, the band issued their self-titled fourth album.
Dreadnaught toured Australia with Testament again during 2010.
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band from Melbourne, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The group was formed out of the remnants of some Tasmanian bands including Fridge from Launceston who recorded an album in 1994.
The band recorded a single titled "Flowers" in 1995 that was released on cassette by Melbourne label Subversive. The following year the full-length album Body.Blood.Skin.Mind
Body.Blood.Skin.Mind
Body.Blood.Skin.Mind is the debut album by Australian heavy metal band Dreadnaught. It was originally released in 1996 by Melbourne independent label Deported in 1996...
saw release on Deported. This album displayed a combination of dark, introspective rock and melodic, progressive thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
. Citing a breach of contract from the label that stemmed from inadequate promotion, Dreadnaught successfully sued Deported and had the album re-released on BlahBlahBlah Records in 1997. Deported subsequently folded as a result.
In the meantime, the band was forced to change the spelling of its name from the original "Dreadnought" to the current affectation when it was discovered that Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
finance company Dreadnought Finance held a trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
on the name. The independently-released EP "Idiosyncracy" appeared in 1998 and at approximately the same time, drummer Aaren Suttil (aka Suds) formed a thrash metal band called Atomizer while still remaining a member of Dreadnaught.
During 1999, Dreadnaught began touring more widely, supporting Cathedral
Cathedral (band)
Cathedral are a doom metal band from Coventry, England. The group forged a link between early doom metal and a 1990s extreme metal aesthetic, making doom slower and heavier. Their debut album, Forest of Equilibrium, is considered a classic of the genre. They later on changed their doom style,...
, Pitchshifter
Pitchshifter (band)
Pitchshifter are a British five-piece electronic-metal band from Nottingham, United Kingdom formed in 1989. The band was started by bassist and vocalist Mark Clayden, lead guitarist and programmer Johnny A...
and Nevermore on Australian tours. The band also signed to Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
through what was at the time an Australian-based development roster called Dark Carnival. Dreadnaught's first album release for the label was 2000's Down to Zero. The style of music on the album was less progressive and with more of a rock feel. Shortly after its release, bass player Andy Livingston-Squires (aka Squiz) left the band. He was replaced by Ando McDougall; in the interim, Dreadnaught recorded an EP in early 2001 called "One Piece Missing
One Piece Missing
One Piece Missing is the second EP by Australian heavy metal band Dreadnaught. It was the first recording not to include original bassist Andrew Squires, which inspired the name of the EP and would prove to be the last Dreadnaught recording for drummer Aaren Suttil. This was released in 2001 by...
" with Michael Meagher on bass. A national tour was mounted with fellow Dark Carnival signing Frankenbok
Frankenbok
Frankenbok is a Heavy Metal band from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Frankenbok were founded in 1997 by guitarist Aaron Butler and vocalist Adam 'Hutch' Glynn and have since released three full-length albums and one EP...
. This was followed by tours with Devin Townsend
Devin Townsend
Devin Garret Townsend is a Canadian musician and record producer. He was the founder, songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist in extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad from 1994 to 2007 and has had an extensive career as a solo artist....
and Nickelback
Nickelback
Nickelback is a Canadian rock band from Hanna, Alberta. Since 1995 the band has included guitarist and lead vocalist Chad Kroeger, guitarist and back-up vocalist Ryan Peake and bassist Mike Kroeger.. The band's current drummer and percussionist is Daniel Adair who has been with the band since 2005....
later the same year.
Dreadnaught was less active nationally for the next two years before beginning work on the third full-length album in 2004. Almost immediately, Suttil resigned from the group in order to concentrate on his other band Atomizer and he was replaced by Sandy Bettenay. Suttil recorded three albums and a number of singles and EPs with Atomizer until his death on 27 December 2006.
Dreadnaught's third album was released by Roadrunner in late 2005 Dirty Music showed that the group's transformation from progressive metal to groove rock was complete. The band supported Testament
Testament (band)
Testament is an American metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983. They are often credited as one of the most popular bands of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
's tour of Australia in early 2007.
Matt Racovalis (ex-Alarum, ex-The Berzerker) replaced Sandy Bettenay on drums in 2008. In mid-2009, the band issued their self-titled fourth album.
Dreadnaught toured Australia with Testament again during 2010.