Double Dragon (band)
Encyclopedia
Double Dragon are a heavy metal
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 Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...

, Australia. Their name is a homage to the 1980s cult video game Double Dragon
Double Dragon
is a classic beat 'em up video game series initially developed by Technos Japan Corporation, who also developed the Kunio-kun series ....

. Double Dragon's musical style is heavy metal, but has also been described as melodic death metal or metalcore, featuring twin guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...

 harmonies, prominent lead guitar solos, and clean and screamed vocals.

Band history

Double Dragon originally formed in 2002 when upon the demise of his previous band Screwface:13, guitarist Matthew 'Roady' Johnston decided to create a new project that focused more on melody than the down tuned style of 90's nu metal
Nu metal
Nu metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. It is a fusion genre which combines elements of heavy metal with other genres, including grunge and hip hop...

. After starting rehearsals with friend Danial Busch on drums, then bass player Jason Moon soon after, the three began writing material. Eventually they recruited Busch's long-time friend Shane Christford as their singer. After recording a two-track demo (unofficially dubbed 'Pirate Metal' due to its home-made skull and crossbones style artwork), Christford left the band during mid 2003 due to personal differences.

Whilst still searching for a replacement frontman in late 2003, they were joined by lead guitarist Ben Murphy, who had previously been a member of Adelaide hardcore–metal band Three Chain Break and death metal band Scorched Earth Policy before that. Murphy also later spent a brief period playing with Adelaide screamo band Hi End Audio.

Within two months of Murphy's addition to Double Dragon, the band were joined by ex The Undamynd frontman Lee Gardiner as their vocalist. With the lineup now solidified, Double Dragon performed regularly to local audiences, and in the latter half of 2004 recorded their first 5-track demo/EP "Have Them Destroyed" (a name the band considered before settling upon 'Double Dragon'), which was eventually released independently in January 2005.

In between a successful CD launch and beginning to tour interstate on a regular basis, the band continued writing material for their next recording. However, in August 2005 singer Gardiner was injured in a domestic house fire, suffering third-degree burns to both thighs and hands. During his rehabilitation period, the remaining members of the band began writing heavier and more aggressive songs – some of which would eventually be lyrically based around Gardiner's injuries and the impact it had on the band. These would be the songs that made up their official debut EP Scars Of Fire, which was recorded from late 2005 to early 2006 with producer Ian Miller. Upon its completion the band was signed by Adelaide-based record label Truth Inc Records. Scars Of Fire was released Australia wide in June 2006.

Following the success of their debut EP, Double Dragon went on to headline shows Australia wide, as well as earning the opportunity to support international tours featuring bands such as Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...

, Arch Enemy, Dark Tranquillity
Dark Tranquillity
Dark Tranquillity is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Gothenburg. They are one of the longest-standing bands from the original Gothenburg metal scene, and are one of the most integral pioneers of the melodic death metal genre of music....

, The Black Dahlia Murder, Cephalic Carnage
Cephalic Carnage
Cephalic Carnage is an American grindcore band formed in 1992 in Denver, Colorado. The band comprises vocalist Lenzig Leal, guitarists Steve Goldberg and Brian Hopp, drummer John Merryman and bassist Nick Schendzielos...

, and Mastodon
Mastodon (band)
Mastodon is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1999. The band is composed of bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders, guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds, guitarist Bill Kelliher and drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor...

. The band also played on the Local Produce stage at the 2007 Adelaide Big Day Out
Big Day Out
The Big Day Out is an annual music festival held in several cities in Australia and New Zealand in late January. It started in Sydney in 1992, spread to Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth by 1993, with the Gold Coast and Auckland joining in 1994...

.

Double Dragon received airplay on JJJ
JJJ
JJJ may refer to:* J. Jonah Jameson or JJJ, a character in the Marvel Comics universe* Jesse Jackson, Jr., an American politician* John Joe Joyce or JJJ, an Irish boxer* JJ Radio or Triple J, an Australian radio station* J. J. Johnson, jazz trombonist...

's Full Metal Racket
Full Metal Racket
The Racket is an Australian heavy metal radio show airing on alternative youth broadcaster Triple J. It is hosted by Andrew Haug, who is also the drummer for Melbourne metal band Contrive...

as well as community radio nationally. Their debut film clip for "Dead But Still Killing" appeared several times on music program Rage
Rage (TV program)
Rage is a popular all-night Australian music video program broadcast on ABC1 on Friday nights, Saturday mornings and Saturday nights. It was first screened on the weekend of Friday, 17 April 1987. With Soul Train no longer being produced, it is the oldest music television program currently still...

and on music channel Channel V
Channel V
Channel [V] is the brand name for multiple international music television networks owned by STAR TV and Fox International Channels, fully owned subsidiaries of News Corporation.-Channel [V] International:...

. Double Dragon were also part of V energy drink's promotions on Channel V to coincide with their performance at the 2007 Big Day Out
Big Day Out
The Big Day Out is an annual music festival held in several cities in Australia and New Zealand in late January. It started in Sydney in 1992, spread to Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth by 1993, with the Gold Coast and Auckland joining in 1994...

.

In late 2007 Double Dragon began recording their next album Devastator
Devastator
Devastator may refer to the following:Vehicles* TBD Devastator, a World War II-era torpedo bomber* USS Devastator , a mine sweeper of the United States Navy* USS Devastator , a mine sweeper of the United States Navy...

, eventually released through Truth Inc Records in July 2008. Featuring ten tracks stylistically varying from traditional heavy metal, death metal, straight out hard rock as well as ballads, "Devastator" showcased the band's diverse appreciation for heavy music. Track seven, "Breathing Fire
Breathing Fire
Breathing Fire is a 1991 martial arts movie starring Jonathan Quan, Eddie Saavedra, Ed Neal, Jerry Trimble, and Bolo Yeung which was filmed on location in the San Gabriel valley in California. The movie also features famed 1997 Canadian TMOV kick-boxing champion Jason Li.Michael, a Vietnam vet,...

", featured additional guest vocals by Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...

 singer–songwriter Emma Dean
Emma Dean
Emma Kate Dean is a musician from Brisbane, Australia. Dean uses a soprano singing voice, and has played violin, mandolin, keyboards and piano for Bittersuite , Kate Miller-Heidke Band or her own Emma Dean Band.Emma Dean Band was formed in 2005 with her brother, Anthony Dean, on drums and Dane...

. The album debuted at number one on the SAMIA Adelaide charts, and the band received a nomination for 'Best Metal Act' in a local street press magazine (dB Magazine) poll. The album's official launch show in Adelaide in July 2008 marked the farewell performance for lead guitarist Ben Murphy, who decided to leave the band to spend more time with his family. He was briefly replaced by former 'A Thousand Nightmares' guitarist James Cunningham, but eventually the position was permanently filled by 'A Red Dawn' guitarist Davin Buttery. In 2008 Double Dragon was the main support act for Australian tours by Swedish metal bands The Haunted
The Haunted
The Haunted is a Swedish metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1996.The original members were Anders & Jonas Björler, Peter Dolving, Adrian Erlandsson and Patrik Jensen...

 and Soilwork
Soilwork
Soilwork is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Helsingborg. They are currently signed to Nuclear Blast. Formed in late 1995 by Björn Strid and Peter Wichers, originally under the name Inferior Breed, the band changed their name in late 1996 to Soilwork .Their sound is a fusion of the classic...

, as well as opening for Carcass
Carcass (band)
Carcass are an extreme metal band from England, who formed in 1985 and disbanded in 1995. A reunion was enacted in 2008 without one of its original members, drummer Ken Owen, due to health reasons....

 from the UK in Adelaide.

In December 2008, Double Dragon were mentioned in Blunt
Blunt
Blunt may refer to:* Blunt , a surname * Blunt , a term used in the cigar industry to designate blunt-tipped, usually factory-rolled cigars* Blunt , a slang term used in cannabis culture...

magazine's "25 Australian bands to watch in 2009".

On February 27, 2009, the band performed on the metal stage at the Adelaide leg of the Soundwave tour alongside Lamb Of God
Lamb of God
The title Lamb of God appears in the Gospel of John, with the exclamation of John the Baptist: "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" in John 1:29 when he sees Jesus....

, In Flames
In Flames
In Flames is a Swedish heavy metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1990. Since the band's inception in 1993, they have released ten studio albums and one live DVD...

, Devildriver
DevilDriver
DevilDriver is an American heavy metal band from Santa Barbara, California, formed in 2002. The band was originally named Deathride, however, due to copyright issues and the name being taken by several bands, Deathride changed its name to DevilDriver, which refers to bells Italian witches used to...

, Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil is an Italian gothic metal band from Milan. Formed in 1994, the group has had two name changes since being previously known as Sleep of Right and Ethereal and was inspired by the combination of gothic imagery and music...

, 36 Crazyfists
36 Crazyfists
36 Crazyfists is a four-piece metal band originating from Anchorage, Alaska. They are now based in Portland, Oregon. The band's name comes from a Jackie Chan movie, Jackie Chan And The 36 Crazy Fists...

, Every Time I Die
Every Time I Die
Every Time I Die is a metalcore band from Buffalo, New York, formed in 1998. Their musical style is rooted in technical hardcore with strong southern metal and mathcore elements, and is also characterised by their cryptic, bitingly sarcastic lyrics. The band announced on July 14, 2008 that they had...

, Poison The Well
Poison the Well (band)
Poison the Well was an experimental hardcore band from Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Florida who were last signed to Ferret Music. Guitarist Ryan Primack and drummer Chris Hornbrook were the only remaining members of the band who were involved since their inception, although vocalist Jeffrey Moreira was...

, Evergreen Terrace
Evergreen Terrace
Evergreen Terrace is a five-piece melodic hardcore/metalcore band from Jacksonville, Florida. Formed in 1999, they are named after the street on which The Simpsons claim residence...

, Unearth
Unearth
Unearth is an American metalcore band from Winthrop, Massachusetts. Formed in 1998, the group has released five studio albums. Their fourth record, The March was released on October 14, 2008 meeting with high positive reception by many...

 and All That Remains
All That Remains (band)
All That Remains is an American heavy metal band from Springfield, Massachusetts, which formed in 1998. They have released five studio albums, a live CD/DVD, and have sold nearly 800,000 records...

. Also performing at the festival were acts Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...

, Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr...

, The Bloodhound Gang
The Bloodhound Gang
The Bloodhound Gang may be a reference to:*The Bloodhound Gang , a segment on the program 3-2-1 Contact*The Bloodhound Gang, a band that took its name from the TV show segment...

, The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan is an American mathcore band from Morris Plains, New Jersey. The group originated in 1997 after the disbanding of Arcane, a hardcore punk trio consisting of Ben Weinman, Dimitri Minakakis, and Chris Pennie. The band's current line-up consists of guitarist Ben Weinman,...

 and many more.

Double Dragon spent the latter part of 2009 playing at the annual Against The Grain metal festival in Adelaide, this time in its fifth year, as well as opening for U.S. metal bands Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...

 and Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...

 around Australia on their October 2009 national tour. In Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...

 vocalist Tom Araya
Tom Araya
Tom Araya is a Chilean musician, best known as the bassist and vocalist of the American thrash metal band Slayer...

 had a throat illness, which resulted in Lee Gardiner doing the vocals for Slayer song "Hate Worldwide". After supporting Obituary
Obituary (band)
Obituary is an American death metal band formed in 1984 in Tampa, Florida under the name Executioner, then changed the name's spelling to Xecutioner, and later changed their name to Obituary in 1988. The band comprises vocalist John Tardy, drummer Donald Tardy, guitarists Trevor Peres and Ralph...

 in Adelaide in November 2009, the band toured the country as special guests on U.S. metal band Chimaira
Chimaira
Chimaira is an American heavy metal band from Cleveland, Ohio. Formed in 1998, the group is a notable member of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal scene. The band's name is derived from the word Chimera, a monstrous creature in Greek mythology...

's 'Spreading The Infection' Australian tour in January 2010.

Double Dragon
Double Dragon
is a classic beat 'em up video game series initially developed by Technos Japan Corporation, who also developed the Kunio-kun series ....

 have completed tracking for their sophomore album titled Sons of Asena. Loosely based on a fictional story written by vocalist Lee Gardiner the album will feature 11 songs. This album will be the first to feature new members Liam Weedall and Josh Lamonte. Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...

 singer/songwriters Kate Miller Heidke and Keir Nuttall
Keir Nuttall
Keir Nuttall is a Brisbane guitarist, singer and songwriter. He performs and records in the band of his partner Kate Miller-Heidke, the Brisbane singer-songwriter and Sony-BMG artist, as well as in the progressive rock trio Transport....

 appear as guest musicians on the closing track titled "Asena". Jason North from Adelaide band Truth Corroded appears on the track "Transfusion".

Influences

Double Dragon are heavily influenced by New Wave of British Heavy Metal
New Wave of British Heavy Metal
The New Wave of British Heavy Metal was a heavy metal movement that started in the late 1970s, in Britain, and achieved international attention by the early 1980s. The movement developed as a reaction in part to the decline of early heavy metal bands such as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Black...

 acts like Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...

, Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...

 and Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...

, thrash metal bands such as Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...

 and Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...

, alternative acts like Faith No More
Faith No More
Faith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike...

 and Mr Bungle

Band members

  • Lee Gardiner - Vocals
  • Matthew Johnston - Guitar
  • Davin Bummery - Guitar
  • Joshua Lamont - Bass
  • Tico Torres - Drums

Releases

  • 2005 - Have Them Destroyed (Independent)
  • 2006 - Scars Of Fire (Truth Inc./MGM)
  • 2008 - Devastator (Truth Inc./MGM)
  • 2009 - Devastation Vs Decimation EP (Truth Inc./MGM)
  • 2011 - Sons Of Asen

Sources

  • Double Dragon - Myspace site
  • http://www.beat.com.au/review.php?id=1399
  • http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=111637
  • http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=111637
  • http://www.dbmagazine.com.au/403/iv-DoubleDragon.shtml
  • http://www.metal-archives.com/
  • - Fasterlouder Against The Grain Review site
  • http://www.tsunamimag.com/?process=
  • http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/BLABBERMOUTH.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=103866
  • http://www.beat.com.au/review.php?id=1399
  • http://www.musicsa.com.au/artists/doubledragon/
  • http://www.spirit-of-metal.com/groupe-groupe-Double_Dragon-l-en.html
  • http://www.dbmagazine.com.au/352/mr-DoubleDragon.shtml
  • http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/reviews/events/6598/Arch-Enemy-Double-Dragon—Fowlers-Live-Adelaide-191006.htm
  • http://www.ripitup.com.au/stateofsound/1081
  • http://www.ravemagazine.com.au/content/view/9243/82/
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