Adelaide metal outfit Diabolic Rites have been kicking it hard since 2017, but this year could well be the year they break hard on the metal scene after personnel changes and a fresh outlook. I recently caught up with band drummer Matt Sanders, or Skitz, to chat about their new album and a raft of gigs that will see the band hit the highway interstate.
Skitz is a drumming wrecking ball and his chops are well known around the metal traps of Adelaide. And a fearsome character to boot. He explains Diabolic Rites was basically a couple of bands melded into one after a road trip that went wrong changed the trajectory of him and his bandmates.
“The band started in Adelaide in 2017 out of another band. We were in another band that wasn’t working out. We were going home from playing shows in NSW and we said fuck this we’re not doing this. There was someone with a drug issue with us coming down after days of doing drugs and it was fucked up.”
With that decision made after an exhausting and soul-destroying drive back to SA, Diabolic Rites was born.
“This band has only just started to do gigs really. We haven’t left Adelaide yet. We played five gigs last year which were Adelaide based and that’s all we’ve done to this point.”
The bands’ new album ‘Litanies Of The Lecherous’ was released earlier this year and according to Skitz, the response has been encouraging.
“Because it’s in its early stages, we haven’t done much promotion for it. But it’s been pretty good so far. With touring, Australia is massive so even just organising a few interstate shows takes a fair bit of effort logistically. So we’ll be playing Victoria and South Australia and Sydney too.” So far their only real live experience this year was the April album launch.
Musically Skitz thinks the best comparison would be old school black metal from the 1980s and 90s. And for a three-piece band the lads really can pack a punch with their fast guitar work, slashing bass and Skitz’s drum work taking things to a new level.
The band will play at Karova Lounge in Ballarat on August 9. Check it out here.
Written by Chris Michaels
