Kingsley Smith and Matthew Shaw, from Hamilton, began writing material together in 1991 for what would become thrash metal band Alarum. By 1992 they had recruited Richard Russell on rhythm guitars and Jon Burnside on Drums and were gigging at venues such as 'The Club' on Ulster Street and for the series of concerts known as the 'Metal Nights'. They traveled with established Hamilton metal band Penetrator and opened for them in New Plymouth. An EP was recorded in April 1992 at Musicare Studios and released with 5 of their songs. Paul Martin (ex-Knightshade) picked up on the EP and played their songs, including Misanthropedic Nation, on his now famous radio show Axe Attack. Kingsley from Alarum worked hard to create the concert's know as the 'Metal Nights' which featured many other local metal bands including Valhalla, Undersiege, Azazel, Penetrator, amongst others. That same year Alarum performed alongside Stick Filth and The Nod at a local metal festival.
Although Alarum were largely underground due to the nature of thrash metal in the Waikato at the time, they managed to achieve a reputation that resonated around the growing Hamilton scene. The name Alarum is latin for "loud" and their live performances certainly earned this title. Their Misanthropedic Nation got plenty of attention both live and on the local airwaves. Together the thrash metal bands Valhalla, Undersiege and Alarum developed a thrash scene in Hamilton which helped contemporise the local metal alongside the legacy of older established heavy metal bands such as Knightshade, Fury, Blackjack, and Russia. Shihad was spearheading the NZ thrash metal scene down in Wellington at the time and was still very much underground like their Hamiltonian contemporaries before they (Shihad) broke through into the mainstream hard rock market and changed their sound. But right up until this point Valhalla, Undersiege, Alarum, and Aazel were part of the same underground thrash metal scene here in NZ.
Although Alarum were largely underground due to the nature of thrash metal in the Waikato at the time, they managed to achieve a reputation that resonated around the growing Hamilton scene. The name Alarum is latin for "loud" and their live performances certainly earned this title. Their Misanthropedic Nation got plenty of attention both live and on the local airwaves. Together the thrash metal bands Valhalla, Undersiege and Alarum developed a thrash scene in Hamilton which helped contemporise the local metal alongside the legacy of older established heavy metal bands such as Knightshade, Fury, Blackjack, and Russia. Shihad was spearheading the NZ thrash metal scene down in Wellington at the time and was still very much underground like their Hamiltonian contemporaries before they (Shihad) broke through into the mainstream hard rock market and changed their sound. But right up until this point Valhalla, Undersiege, Alarum, and Aazel were part of the same underground thrash metal scene here in NZ.
Kingsley Smith - Bass guitar & lead Vocals
Matt Shaw - Guitars & vocals
Richard Russell - Guitars & vocals
Jon Burnside - Drums
Matt Shaw - Guitars & vocals
Richard Russell - Guitars & vocals
Jon Burnside - Drums
DISCOGRAPHY
Alarum EP: 1992
Tracks featured:
Eternal Slave, Omen, Doomsday Clock, Misanthropedic Nation, Purgatory
Eternal Slave, Omen, Doomsday Clock, Misanthropedic Nation, Purgatory
ALARUM Audio file
VIDEO FOOTAGE
ALARUM
WHERE ARE THEY NOW !!
WHERE ARE THEY NOW !!
ADRENALIN ANIGMA ALARUM ASTAROTH BAD BLOOD BLACKJACK BLUE DEMOM
BLITZ CIRCUS CONFESSOR COVENANT DESPISER DIZZY BLONDE DVS FAT SALLY FURY GRAVEL MONSTERS HAMMERACK HEADBUTT HEAVYDUTY HARLOT KNIGHTSHADE LIONHEART MALEVOLENCE
NAKED BLADE NINE LIVEZ PUSH PUSH PHOBIA ROSE BAYONET SABBATH SACRAMENT SHIHAD STONEHENGE STORMBRINGER TEMPEST THE NOD TOKYO TYRANT STRIKEMASTER SUICIDE SUITE WHISKEY N LACE WORLD WAR FOUR
BLITZ CIRCUS CONFESSOR COVENANT DESPISER DIZZY BLONDE DVS FAT SALLY FURY GRAVEL MONSTERS HAMMERACK HEADBUTT HEAVYDUTY HARLOT KNIGHTSHADE LIONHEART MALEVOLENCE
NAKED BLADE NINE LIVEZ PUSH PUSH PHOBIA ROSE BAYONET SABBATH SACRAMENT SHIHAD STONEHENGE STORMBRINGER TEMPEST THE NOD TOKYO TYRANT STRIKEMASTER SUICIDE SUITE WHISKEY N LACE WORLD WAR FOUR