Albatross Play Three Shows In Australia This Month

Albatross

Who would have thought that Dr. Hex’s brand of medicine had fans in Australia? But going by what Australian promoters had to tell Dr. Hex aka bassist Riju Dasgupta, whose band Albatross has been booked to play in three cities in Australia this month, his band has enough superfans, who are willing to ditch Polish death metal band Behemoth’s shows to attend theirs. Behemoth is scheduled to play on the same dates and same cities as Albatross in Melbourne and Sydney on October 25th and 26th.

If this were not exciting enough, Albatross have been placed on the same bill as  veteran Aussie thrash metallers Hobbs’ Angel of Death. Says Dasgupta, “It’s incredible to be part of this. We’re the only international band playing those gigs. In fact, some of the bands there are talking about opening for us.” 

Their Mumbai metaller’s third gig Down Under is at the university town of Wollongong and is more of a farewell show, according to Dasgupta. “We’re flying from Melbourne to Sydney but driving down to Wollongong from there. I don’t think many Indian metal bands have done consecutive nights like this.” 

Before they head to Australia, Albatross play a warm-up show at the student-organized rock and metal gig, Rock Riot 2013 in Vashi. Says Dasgupta, “I’m a sucker for emotional things and when the organizer told me that he had been stopped from organizing a rock gig in his college, and took the fest into his own hands, I said yes.” The bassist jokes, “Plus, our top two fans are from Vashi.” Albatross will play a 30-minute set, which is half of the setlist they have prepared for Australia, including songs such as “Children of the Cloud” and “In the Lair of Dr. Hex” from their upcoming six-track full-length album, Fear From the Skies. Says Dasgupta about the album, which is due next year on Indian metal label Transcending Obscurity India, “It’s two stories presented in one album, with three songs for each story arc.”

 Albatross Wings Down Under Australia Tour 2013

October 25th ”“ Central Club Hotel, Victoria, Melbourne w/Vanishing Point, Crimsonfire and Alaskan Thunder.

October 26th ”“ The Bald Faced Stag, Sydney w/Hobbs’ Angel of Death, Bastardizer, Disintegrator, Paralysis.

October 27th Dicey Riley’s Hotel, Wollongong w/Darker Half, Rampage, Sylvain

 Albatross plays at Rock Riot 2013 alongside Blame the Herb, Orcus, Wired Anxiety, Asylum, Vajra and Anubhuti on October 12th, 2013 at Marine Center, Vashi. Entry: Rs 150. Event details here.