CultureLoad

Benzene burst onto the Melbourne scene in 2002 and quickly impressed crowds with their melodic hard rock sound and explosive live performances. This soon led to shows supporting the likes of Powdermonkeys and Shihad as well as shows at most of Melbournes top venues.

The band picked up airplay on FM radio stations including Triple J, Triple M and Fox FM with their first single, Fairytale, and played relentlessly all over Melbourne and regional Victoria. Added to that, ABC’s Rage, also had the video for the single on rotation. Reviews for the band were more than positive in the local street press, with Neala Johnson describing them in Beat Magazine as ‘worthy of more than 15 minutes of fame ‘.

In 2003 an Arts Victoria grant enabled them to record an E.P and continue touring. ’In The Red’ was released independently a few months later and an East Coast tour quickly followed. More dates were added, eventually taking in South Australia and again regional Victoria. Unfortunately, at the end of the tour, a few line-up changes had to be made. This was detrimental to the band as all the momentum built previously, grinded abruptly to a halt.

On returning, the band’s songwriter, Michael Bonanzinga, and drummer, Ben Ferrara, were the only remaining members. The replacement auditions took much longer than expected, but the songwriting continued at a rapid pace, and Benzene’s sound developed from straight out grunge influences, to a more streamlined rock edge.

In late 2004, Benzene returned to the live circuit with new members. Guitarist ,Paul Hillier, and West Aussie bass player, Jason Armstrong, were given the nod to complete the new and current Benzene line up making it better than it ever had been before.

Benzene have just finished recording their debut, fully self funded, album - Electric DNA - with engineer and producer , Matt Gearing-Thomas (The Fireballs, Fez Perez) at the helm. Stay tuned for a single release and video very shortly.

With explosive and electric live shows combined with solid rocking tracks, it’s only a matter of time before the boys get their foot in the doorway of success.

Check the website for upcoming shows and more information.