Allegiance – D.E.S.T.I.T.U.T.I.O.N – Remastered, Reissued, Released Aug 26!
One of the greatest Australian thrash records of all time has been remastered and will be released on August 26 via EVP Recordings, distributed by Rocket!
Allegiance – D.e.s.t.i.t.u.t.i.o.n for your aural pleasure \m/
EVP Recordings (Behemoth, King Parrot, Psycroptic) presents the long awaited reissue of Allegiance’s ‘D.e.s.t.i.t.u.t.i.o.n.’, the landmark Aussie thrash classic from 1994…..
Super Deluxe Hardcover Media Book CD/DVD edition featuring the Original 12 Track release Remastered + ‘Time To React…..Live’ on DVD for the first time.
First time available on Vinyl. Limited to 200 copies.
Liner Notes By Andrew Haug
Extensive Archival Photos + Full Lyrics + Timeline
ALLEGIANCE BIOGRAPHY – TIMELINE
1990 – Allegiance form in Perth, Western Australia. The original line-up features Dave Harrison (Bass), Tony Campo (guitar), Conrad Higson (drums), John Mihos (vocals) and Steve Hiddon (guitar), and start jamming out original song ideas in a much heavier vein to anything around the local scene at that time.
The band’s first live shows take place at the Karrinyup Tavern supporting a hard rock covers band called Infra Red, which Dave and Conrad also played in. With the WA scene dominated by covers bands and Allegiance deemed too ‘heavy’ by local promoters, this was the only avenue for gigs at the time.
Although quickly gaining a loyal following after just a few months of regular gigging, the original line-up fell apart. Steve Hiddon replaced Jason Stone on guitar, Conrad was replaced briefly on drums by Dave Barry (soon making way for Glenn Butcher), only to return to the fold and replace John Mihos on vocals, cementing the classic Allegiance line-up.
Later that year Allegiance won the Public Choice award for ‘Most Popular New Band’ at the West Australian Music Industry Awards.
1991 – Armed with $250 from live gigs, the band headed to a small 8-track studio to record their first demo. ‘Make The Pledge’ is released in October 1991, features 4 tracks and displays an earlier straight thrash metal direction. In spite of its raw sound, it goes onto sell over 2000 copies, gaining favourable reviews in many national and international magazines and fanzines.
The next month, Allegiance won the ‘Most Popular’ band award at the Western Australian Music Industry awards.
February ’92 – Allegiance play the annual ‘Bindoon Rock’ outdoor concert festival for the first time, to a crowd of 10,000 people.
March ’92 – Allegiance release their second demo, ‘Torn Between Two Worlds’. Recorded in a 24-track studio, with improved production and tighter songwriting, the demo showcases the band’s considerable development and goes on to sell over 3,500 copies. The demo wins the 1992 local industry award for most popular WA cassette and gains very positive reviews from many major magazines, fanzines and radio shows from Europe and Asia, as well as North and South America.
July ’92 – Allegiance win the state final of the ‘Yamaha Rock’ competition and fly to Melbourne to represent WA in the MTV-broadcast Australian final, competing against seven of the country’s top unsigned acts, taking out the Juke Magazine award (won the previous year by Def FX).
Aug ’92 – The band head to the ABC studios to demo some new songs, with 5 recorded live in the studio in one take with very few overdubs following. These songs are released as a demo in October aptly titled ‘Studio Live’ – limited to 500 copies, they sold out in one day and have become a sought-after collectors item.
Sept ’92 – At the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, Allegiance perform at the Australian Metalfest with the track ‘Twisted Minds’, featured on the Metalfest CD sampler. Many reviews tout Allegiance to be the most impressive band on the bill, helping to establish a national profile and reputation as a formidable live act outside their home state.
To close off a very productive year, some tracks were selected for inclusion on the Def Records’ ‘Australia Metal’ and local talent showcase ‘The Western Front’ compilation CDs. Allegiance’s national profile continued to grow with the band being voted 9th Best Australian Band and 5th Best New Band in the annual Hot Metal magazine readers poll – the band once again ended the year by taking out the most popular band award at the ‘ 92 WAMI awards.
1993 – Allegiance play some exciting live shows with a second appearance at the annual ‘Bindoon Rock’ festival, and perform in front of 15,000 people at each of the first national Big Day Out festivals. National tours with Kreator and Fear Factory further help to establish their reputation as one of Australia’s leading heavy metal outfits.
Allegiance also had tracks included on the Roadrunner records Australasian compilation, ‘Red Rum’, and Studio 52’s ‘While My Guitar Gently Kills Your Mother’, along with a Polygram heavy metal promotional cassette. Legendary Judas Priest front man Rob Halford also took a keen interest in the band, praising Allegiance in the international metal press.
March ’94 – The band tours nationally with Rob Halford’s Fight, and also places in 10 different categories in the Hot Metal magazine readers’ poll, including 3rd best Australian band, 6th best band of ’93 and 10th best band of all time.
April ‘94 – Allegiance secure an Australasian deal with the ID Phonogram label for the debut album, ‘D.e.s.t.i.t.u.t.i.o.n.’, recorded in Australia by American producer Dave Pinsky. They met Pinsky while sharing a bill with the Beastie Boys, whom he was working for at the time with the album being mastered in the Netherlands by Attie Bauw, who had worked with artists such as Fight and Judas Priest.
May ‘94 – ‘D.e.s.t.i.t.u.t.i.o.n.’ is released and, without mainstream radio or video exposure, goes straight into the WA mainstream ARIA chart at the #1 position – remaining in the top 5 for 3 weeks. The band continue their relentless live exposure by embarking on the ‘D.e.s.t.i.t.u.t.i.o.n.’ headline tour, taking in all capital cities – they back it up with another national run alongside hard rock band The Poor. The ‘D.e.s.t.i.t.u.t.i.o.n.’ album tops the metal charts in nearly every state, becoming one of the best selling homegrown hard music releases in recent years.
July ’94 – Allegiance appear on the cover of Hot Metal magazine, ‘D.e.s.t.i.t.u.t.i.o.n.’ also starts to receive excellent reviews in the overseas metal press, including a stunning KKKK review in world-renowned metal bible, Kerrang! (UK).
November ‘94 – ‘Time To React – Live!’, a special CD for fans, is recorded at the ABC’s JJJ studios to an audience of Allegiance diehards. With no overdubs, the recording demonstrates the raw power of the band in a live environment.
1995 – A busy year for the band with the release of ‘Time to React – Live’ and several national tours, including ones with Slayer, Biohazard, Machine Head, Channel Zero and the touring Big Day Out concert festival, both in Australia and New Zealand.
1996 – The band commence work on their next album, with the title inspired by the tragic suicide of a member of the Allegiance road crew whose nickname was ‘Skinman’. Recorded at Planet Sound Studios in Western Australia on 48-track digital, the production duties were again handled by John Villani. The album showed a more mature and diverse approach from the band, while still retaining the uncompromising heavy approach of their debut, with several slower tempo tracks and a downtuned guitar sound. Released in November through the Mercury label, the album debuted in the state ARIA charts at the #11 position.
1997 – While still touring heavily, tension between band members began to arise and came to a head during a video shoot for the track ‘Give Yourself’ from the ‘Skinman’ album. Dave Harrison left the group late ‘97, with Allegiance disbanding soon after.
2000 – In November, Allegiance reform for a massive one-off reunion concert in Perth, drawing a huge crowd and an over-the-top reaction from their dedicated fan base.
2003 – In December, Allegiance return for the NYE Kickstart concert and are also inducted into the Western Australian Music Hall of Fame.
2004 – Allegiance play with American rock band Kiss at the WACA stadium.
2014 – Interviews with Allegiance members Dave Harrison and Tony Campo feature in the documentary Metal Down Under.
Order CD/DVD & Vinyl at Nerve Gas:
http://www.nervegas.com.au/allegiance
Or Heavy Metal Merchant
www.HeavyMetalMerchant.com/products/Allegiance
Digital at iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/destitution-remastered/id1123031088
PLEASE NOTE – Only 500 avail CD/DVD, Ltd 200 VINYL. Once there gone, they are GONE forever.
** all details from official press release **
Join in the conversation about this band and check out some great footage, photos and music over at the Facebook fan page – Bring Back Allegiance
