Ultimatum (Australian band)
Encyclopedia
Ultimatum were an influential hardcore punk
band based in Melbourne
, Australia
formed in 1995. They were the first vegan straight edge
band in Australia and appeared around the same time that Earth Crisis
released Destroy the Machines
. Ultimatum were one of the early Australian bands to introduce the modern 'new school' metal influenced form of hardcore to Australia. They were also recognised, not only for their vegan straight edge stance, but also for their emotional and politically charged lyrics.
In 1995 upon release of their demo, Ultimatum raised the interest and ire of people within the small punk and hardcore scene in Australia with their expressedly militant lyrics and fanzine interviews.
In late 1996, after some line-up changes, Ultimatum rechartered their direction, taking a more personal and broader political focus in their lyrics. They garnered a following around Australia and in Europe
with the release of their first self titled EP
in 1997, recorded by engineer Scott Harper and mastered by Martin Pullan.
Ultimatum's second split EP released on Melbourne based Trial and Error
/Shock Records
, with highly regarded and now defunct hardcore band Not for You was well received. This release promptly sold out and is now a rare item.
During their time, Ultimatum performed with international bands H2O
, Strife
, Vision of Disorder
, Sommerset and Australian bands 28 Days
, Mindsnare
, Vicious Circle and many others.
Ultimatum disbanded in 2000. Members of the band have gone on to perform in other outfits in various music genres including Meatlocker (UK), Within Blood, Hitlist, AudioWoundStabber and The Stupid Questions.
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band based 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...
, 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...
formed in 1995. They were the first vegan straight edge
Straight edge
Straight edge is a subculture of hardcore punk whose adherents refrain from using alcohol, tobacco, and other recreational drugs. It was a direct reaction to the sexual revolution, hedonism, and excess associated with punk rock. For some, this extends to not engaging in promiscuous sex, following a...
band in Australia and appeared around the same time that Earth Crisis
Earth Crisis
Earth Crisis is an American metalcore band from Syracuse, New York, active from 1989 until 2001, reuniting in 2007. Their most recent record, To the Death, was released in May 2009 through Century Media....
released Destroy the Machines
Destroy the Machines
-Credits:*Karl Buechner - vocals*Scott Crouse - lead guitar*Ian Edwards - bass*Dennis Merrick - drums*Kris Wiechmann - rhythm guitar-Trivia:*The song Forced March was covered by the band Between The Buried And Me in their album The Anatomy Of....
. Ultimatum were one of the early Australian bands to introduce the modern 'new school' metal influenced form of hardcore to Australia. They were also recognised, not only for their vegan straight edge stance, but also for their emotional and politically charged lyrics.
In 1995 upon release of their demo, Ultimatum raised the interest and ire of people within the small punk and hardcore scene in Australia with their expressedly militant lyrics and fanzine interviews.
In late 1996, after some line-up changes, Ultimatum rechartered their direction, taking a more personal and broader political focus in their lyrics. They garnered a following around Australia and in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
with the release of their first self titled EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
in 1997, recorded by engineer Scott Harper and mastered by Martin Pullan.
Ultimatum's second split EP released on Melbourne based Trial and Error
Trial & Error Records
Trial & Error Records is an independent record label based in Melbourne, Victoria. It is one of Australia's largest hardcore labels. The label is owned and run by Mindsnare bassist, Nigel Melder.-Current Artists:*4dead*Against* Antagonist A.D...
/Shock Records
Shock Records
Shock Records is Australia's largest independent record label. It helps distribute records from overseas records labels such as Epitaph Records, and also for small record labels designed specifically for that band such as Cement Records...
, with highly regarded and now defunct hardcore band Not for You was well received. This release promptly sold out and is now a rare item.
During their time, Ultimatum performed with international bands H2O
H2O (American band)
-Prologue:Prior to the formation of H2O, in the early-mid-1980s, Todd Morse and Rusty Pistachio were part of the speed punk band "Roadside Petz". This band featured Wayne Williams on drums...
, Strife
Strife (band)
Strife is an American hardcore punk band from Thousand Oaks, California. But is now primarily based out of Los Angeles, California. They formed in 1991...
, Vision of Disorder
Vision of Disorder
Vision of Disorder is a hardcore punk band from Long Island, New York, US. Vision of Disorder disbanded in 2002, but reunited from time to time over the next six years. In October 2008, they announced that they would record a new studio album...
, Sommerset and Australian bands 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....
, Mindsnare
Mindsnare
Mindsnare are an Australian hardcore band from Melbourne, Victoria. Formed in 1993 under the name Mad Circle, their music is a blend of traditional "old school" hardcore punk and crossover metal, and as such has seen them play alongside metal bands like Kreator and Ringworm, as well as more...
, Vicious Circle and many others.
Ultimatum disbanded in 2000. Members of the band have gone on to perform in other outfits in various music genres including Meatlocker (UK), Within Blood, Hitlist, AudioWoundStabber and The Stupid Questions.
Members
- Daniel Kukiel - Vocals
- Lloyd Denovan - Guitar
- Emillie Reader - Bass
- Tim Dywelska - Guitar
- Bomber - Drums
Demos and EPs
- Demo (1995)
- Ultimatum EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
(1997) - Self Released, UP002 - Split CD with Not for You (2000) - Shock RecordsShock RecordsShock Records is Australia's largest independent record label. It helps distribute records from overseas records labels such as Epitaph Records, and also for small record labels designed specifically for that band such as Cement Records...
, Trial and Error
Compilations
- New Tools for the Hunter (1997) - First Blood Records
- Mother Earth (1997) - Impression Recordings
- Bastard Squad (1997) - Bastard Squad Fanzine
- Underground Surf (1998) - Phantom RecordsPhantom RecordsPhantom Records was an Australian independent record label established by Dare Jennings Phantom Records was an Australian independent record label established by Dare Jennings Phantom Records was an Australian independent record label established by Dare Jennings (founder of Mambo (Clothing) and...
, Mushroom RecordsMushroom RecordsMushroom Records is an Australian recoJrd company formed by Michael Gudinski and Ray Evans in Melbourne in 1972. After its sale in 1998, it merged into Festival Mushroom Records. From 2005 to 2009, it is one of the record labels operated by Warner Bros...
, Underground Surf Magazine - Falsestart Vol. 1 (1998) - Falsestart Magazine
- The Good Life (1999) - Good Life Records, Trial and Error
- Punk You (2000) - Shock RecordsShock RecordsShock Records is Australia's largest independent record label. It helps distribute records from overseas records labels such as Epitaph Records, and also for small record labels designed specifically for that band such as Cement Records...
- True 'til Death Vol. 2 (2005) - Snapshot Records