Mere Theory are an Australian indie rock

Indie rock

Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...

 band that formed in Adelaide's southern suburbs in the year 2000.

History

The band has released two EPs: Towering Sun (featuring vocalist Nathan Dalton) in 2002, and Disengage (featuring vocalist Ryan Paterson) in 2004, both through Building Records. Mere Theory received airplay on Australian community radio and the national youth radio station Triple J

Triple J

triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...

 with the song "Freedom In Mind" from Disengage. dB Magazine described the band's unique style and passionate energy when commenting upon their live show saying, "Mere Theory blew me away with their technical ability and diverse style: their music is technical yet melodic, aggressive and at the same time very passionate. Standout moments included three part vocals. Mere Theory are one of the more dynamic rock outfits playing a unique mix of heavy rocking guitar riffs, explosive drumming, intense three part vocal harmonies and a very distinctive style of heavy to mellow rock."

Mere Theory's debut full-length album, Catalan Atlas was released via a license deal with Melbourne based Boomtown Records in September 2007. The album received favourable reviews including Rolling Stone, BLUNT and The Adelaide Advertiser. In BLUNT issue #66, Catalan Atlas was dubbed one of the "Top 100 Albums You Should've Heard In 2007." Their review went on to say "They had already released two fairly decent EPs, but Adelaide foursome Mere Theory took a giant leap in 2007 with their debut album, Catalan Atlas. Taking all the best bits from the likes of Sunny Day Real Estate, Texas Is The Reason and Elliott, then integrating them into their own Oz punk stylings, Mere Theory came out with a rock album of international standard."

2007 saw Mere Theory set out on a national tour in support of their debut album Catalan Atlas which began in Adelaide on November 9 and finished in Melbourne on December 13. The band toured New South Wales with Fifty Sixx and Sailmaker, Queensland dates were shared with Repeat Offender, while Blueline Medic

Blueline Medic

-History:The group formed in mid 1999 after the downfall of bands Caustic Soda and Mid Youth Crisis from which guitarists Donnie Dureau and Adrian Lombardi were members...

 and Calling All Cars

Calling All Cars

Calling All Cars can refer to:*Calling All Cars , an Australian rock band*"Calling All Cars" , an old radio program*"Calling All Cars", a song by Senses Fail*"Calling All Cars"...

 played the Victorian show. An eight date national support with Australian band Karnivool

Karnivool

Karnivool are an Australian progressive rock band formed in Perth in 1997. The group currently consists of Ian Kenny on vocals, Drew Goddard and Mark Hosking on guitar, Jon Stockman on bass guitar, and Steve Judd on drums. Karnivool emerged from a band Kenny and Goddard formed during high school...

 in April 2008 saw the band playing to an average 1000 people a night.

A third tour in support of Catalan Atlas, the Australian Atlas Tour visited South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia in the latter part of 2008. The show at the Edinburgh Castle Hotel in Adelaide was Matt Adey's last show. Mere Theory recruited Ross Simpson (Hi-End Audio/Move To Strike) as their new bass player, and the band entered Broadcast Studios (Adelaide) to record their second album Walking In Storms. Mere Theory released a free two-song download from the forthcoming album Walking In Storms via bandcamp on 15 May 2010. The band is currently seeking distribution for Walking In Storms.

Live Performance

Mere Theory began touring in 2002. They have played over 300 shows across Australia, sharing the stage with international contemporaries Millencolin

Millencolin

Millencolin is a punk rock band that was formed in October 1992 by Nikola Šarčević, Mathias Färm, and Erik Ohlsson in Örebro, Sweden. In early 1993, drummer Fredrik Larzon joined the band...

, Alexisonfire

Alexisonfire

Alexisonfire was a five-piece, Juno-nominated post-hardcore band that formed in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada in 2001. The band consisted of George Pettit , Dallas Green , Wade MacNeil , Chris Steele , and Jordan Hastings .They describe their music as "the sound of two Catholic high-school girls...

, Rufio

Rufio

-History:Rufio was formed when bassist Jon Berry was a freshman in college and the other three members, Scott Sellers, Mike Jimenez, and Clark Domae were in their senior year of high school. Sellers and Domae had been acquainted for some time and found a shared talent in the guitar. Sellers met...

, Unwritten Law

Unwritten Law

Unwritten Law is an American rock band formed in 1990 in Poway, California and currently recording for Suburban Noize Records. They have released seven full-length studio albums and have toured internationally, including performances on the Warped Tour...

, MXPX

MxPx

MxPx is a pop punk band from Bremerton, Washington with connections to the Christian punk scene. The band has recorded eight studio albums, four EPs, four compilation albums, a live album, a VHS tape, a DVD and released 20 singles....

, Anberlin

Anberlin

Anberlin is an American rock band formed in Winter Haven, Florida in 2002. Since the beginning of 2007, the band has consisted of lead vocalist Stephen Christian, guitarists Joseph Milligan and Christian McAlhaney, bassist Deon Rexroat, and drummer Nathan Young.Members of Anberlin originally formed...

, The Juliana Theory

The Juliana Theory

The Juliana Theory are an American rock quintet from Greensburg and Latrobe, Pennsylvania. The Juliana Theory signed to Christian record label Tooth & Nail Records despite not being a Christian band. The group later signed to Epic Records for the release of the album Love. The Juliana Theory...

, Off Minor, Bouncing Souls, Midtown

Midtown

-In cities:Nepal*Midtown, Kathmandu, NepalUnited States*Midtown, Agoura Hills, California*Midtown Atlanta, Georgia**Midtown , passenger rail station near this area*Midtown Columbus, Georgia*Midtown, Detroit, Michigan...

, Useless ID

Useless ID

Useless ID is a four-piece punk rock band, formed in Haifa, Israel in 1994. Known as one of the most successful Israeli punk bands worldwide.-History:...

, Dropkick Murphys

Dropkick Murphys

Dropkick Murphys are an Irish-American punk rock band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. The band was initially signed to independent punk record label Hellcat Records, releasing five albums for the label, and making a name for themselves locally through constant playing and yearly St....

, Your Black Star, and Australian acts including Gyroscope

Gyroscope (band)

Gyroscope is an Australian rock band from Perth, Western Australia, formed in 1997. The band comprises vocalist and guitarist Daniel Sanders, guitarist and back up vocalist Zoran Trivic, bassist and back up vocalist Brad Campbell and drummer Rob Nassif....

, After the Fall

After the Fall

After the Fall may refer to:* After the Fall , an Australian musical group* After the Fall * After the Fall * After the Fall , a novel in the Dragonriders of Pern series...

, Karnivool

Karnivool

Karnivool are an Australian progressive rock band formed in Perth in 1997. The group currently consists of Ian Kenny on vocals, Drew Goddard and Mark Hosking on guitar, Jon Stockman on bass guitar, and Steve Judd on drums. Karnivool emerged from a band Kenny and Goddard formed during high school...

, Frenzal Rhomb

Frenzal Rhomb

Frenzal Rhomb are an Australian punk rock band which formed in 1992 with mainstay Jason Whalley on lead vocals and rhythm guitar. In 1996, Lindsay McDougall joined the line-up on lead guitar and backing vocals. Two of the group's albums have peaked into the top 20 on the ARIA Albums Chart, A...

, Shihad

Shihad

Shihad is a New Zealand hard/alternative rock band, currently based in Melbourne, Australia. During Shihad's recording career, they have produced four number-one studio albums and three top-ten singles in their home country of New Zealand....

, Bodyjar

Bodyjar

Bodyjar were an Australian punk rock/pop punk band based in Melbourne. They began performing under the name Bodyjar in 1994; their previous names included Damnation and Helium.-History:...

, Grinspoon

Grinspoon

Grinspoon are an Australian rock band from Lismore, New South Wales formed in 1995 and fronted by Phil Jamieson on vocals and guitar with Pat Davern on guitar, Joe Hansen on bass guitar and Kristian Hopes on drums. Also in 1995, they won the Triple J-sponsored Unearthed competition for Lismore,...

, COG

Cog

Cog may refer to:* A part of a gear system* Cog , a small sailing vessel* A tenon that extends all the way through another piece of wood, in joinery* The evil robots in Toontown Online...

, Kisschasy

Kisschasy

Kisschasy are an Australian rock band formed in Victoria, Australia, in 2002. Since forming, their line-up has consisted of lead vocalist Darren Cordeux, bassist Joel Vanderuit, guitarist Sean Thomas and drummer Karl Ammitzboll....

, The Hot Lies

The Hot Lies

The Hot Lies were an alternative rock band based in Australia. The band formed in Adelaide, Australia, in 2004. Their line-up consisted of lead vocalist Pete Wood, rhythm guitarist Benjamin Pix, drummer Jared Brown, lead guitarist Luke Szabo and former I Killed the Prom Queen bassist Leaton Rose...

, The Open Season

The Open Season

The Open Season were a four piece alternative rock band from South Australia.The Open Season formed in December 2004, they have supported bands such as Motion City Soundtrack, Behind Crimson Eyes, Matchbook Romance, Mere Theory, After The Fall, Lagwagon, Kisschasy, Gyroscope, In The Grey,...

, One Dollar Short

One Dollar Short

One Dollar Short were an Australian punk rock band. Formed in 1998, and hailing from Terrigal in New South Wales' Central Coast region, members included Michael Smith , Trent Crawford , Tim Flaherty , Adam Check and Scott E. Woods...

, Blueline Medic

Blueline Medic

-History:The group formed in mid 1999 after the downfall of bands Caustic Soda and Mid Youth Crisis from which guitarists Donnie Dureau and Adrian Lombardi were members...

, 28 Days

28 Days

28 Days are a punk rock band formed in Bacchus Marsh, Australia during 1997. At their career peak, they had a #1 album on the Australian ARIAnet Albums Chart and also a #12 single on the ARIAnet Singles Chart....

, Antiskeptic

Antiskeptic

Antiskeptic is a rock band based in Melbourne, Australia.-History:Formed in 1999, the band was originally only a side project for Andrew Kitchen and Sean Daly who were at the time performing in another band 'Dispersia' which later broke up and gave way to Antiskeptic...

, I Killed the Prom Queen

I Killed the Prom Queen

I Killed the Prom Queen is an Australian metalcore band which formed in 2000 with mainstays JJ Peters on drums and Jona Weinhofen on guitar. The band featured prominently on the Australian live music scene and toured the USA, Japan and parts of Europe several times...

, and The Nation Blue

The Nation Blue

The Nation Blue is a rock band formed in Tasmania and based in Melbourne, Victoria, noted for their intense live performances and bleak subject matter. They have toured nationally in Australia and internationally in Brazil, America and Japan and have supported Helmet and Foo Fighters...

.

Albums

Catalan Atlas (2007) - Boomtown Records

Boomtown Records

Boomtown Records is an independent record label founded by Jaddan Comerford in October 2002 and based in Melbourne, Australia. In 2011 the label was rebranded with Staple Management to new company - We Are Unified- History :...

1. "Every End is a New Beginning"
2. "You Will Never Win"
3. "Gracefully"
4. "Stand Up"
5. "Stabilise"
6. "Breathe (Take This Vaccine)"
7. "Design Of Influence"
8. "Eye For An Eye"
9. "Misconception"
10. "Defeating This Feeling"
11. "Ghost Reflex"

Demos

1.8.2006 Demo (2006)

1. "Stand Up"
2. "Eye For An Eye"
3. "Misconception"

1.7.2005 Demo (2005)

1. "You Will Never Win"
2. "All is One"
3. "System Failure"

EPs

Disengage EP (2004) - Building Records

1. "Freedom in Mind"
2. "Disengage"
3. "Growing Down"
4. "Kill For a Moment"
5. "Replacement"
6. "Always Safe"

Towering Sun EP (2002) - Building Records

1. "Some Day Soon"
2. "All In Time"
3. "Stranger"
4. "Towering Sun"

External links

• Official Site
• MySpace