The most isolated metal band in the world, Southeast Desert Metal, are from Ltyentye Apurte, a remote community in central Australia. They've developed a sound that reflects their surroundings: dynamic and iconic. Chief songwriter Chris Wallace writes about Arrernte culture, passing on dreaming to the next generation.
Their debut album spread its wings in 2015 with the lead single EAGLE (over 120,000 views and counting). The band initiated the Rain Maker Music Festival to launch the album. A “guest programmer” spot on RAGE and their first national tour sent the band soaring to new heights.
They followed in 2018 with the album BREAK THE SILENCE. Tracks such as "Rainmaker" caught the ears of fans and peers alike. Festival spots followed including MONA FOMA and GARMA. They lapped the continent three times, joining forces with Karnivool and playing to ten thousand fans over three weeks.
The pandemic was a period of creativity. The documentary, Desert Metal Dreaming, was released to ABC iView in 2021. This was followed with a hit cover of Beds Are Burning for ABC Music. A third album was written and recorded and is now ready to release into the world. In 2023, Southeast Desert Metal will remind Australia where they come from.
