Vicious Circle (7)

Since the 1980s Vicious Circle have been leading the charge of the Melbourne hardcore movement. The band in its original incarnation, with Paul on vocals, Les on guitar, Alby on bass and Russell on drums, formed in Melbourne in 1983 and quickly established themselves with-in the city's scene. In 1984 the songs Blood Race and Police Brutality appeared on the Eat Your Head comp, Police Brutality appearing again on the P.E.A.C.E. compilation.

In the same year the first EP, Search for the Solution was released on the Reactor Label. Selling over a 1000 of these EP's prompted the band to record their first album, The Price of Progress (Reactor) which was released in 85. Later that year an English label Children of the Revolution licensed the album and distributed it through Europe.

In 86 they released a split with Californian band Youth Brigade and released their first single, Nightmare so quick / Viewing Time. David Ross replaced Russel on drums and Keith Chatham joined to play bass for a short time while Albi went to rhythm guitar. By the time the second album Reflections was recorded late in 86, Keith had left and the band were back to a four piece.

Reflections was released in the US on the Californian label Boner and the band toured the US in the same year, playing shows with the likes of Agnostic Front, G.B.H, Final Conflict, Life Sentence, Crucifux and Attitude Adjustment. In 1987 with new drummer James Lynch (Children of the Sorrow) the 12 EP Hope and Wait was released on Reactor and then later that year after a swap to the Sydney label Waterfront, the album Into the Void was released.

Vicious Circle continued up until 1990 when Paul and Les were joined by Pop on bass and Danny (Depression) on drums to start a new band, Rue Morgue. They played together until 95 when Paul, Les and Pop decided to revive Vicious Circle this time recruiting Pauly G (Force-fed) on drums. In 96 they released Fixated and 97 Internal Headstrength on Sydney label Spent.

1999 saw the release of Perfect World Disaster on Resist Records. The band went on with a few line up changes, including Danny (Staminech) on drums and Mano (Cane, Surfin Poobars) on bass while Pop went to 2nd guitar. During this time they toured with and supported many international bands including the Dayglow Abortions, Agnostic Front, Black Flag and Agent Orange.

2003 marked the bands 20th year and to commemorate the anniversary the band toured Australia and released a new album Switched On on the bands own label Circle Work. The band then decided once again to split. At the start of 2006, Paul, Pop and Mano, along with Squiz (Fridge, Dreadnaught, Surfin Poobars) and Heath (The Losers, Surfin Poobars) drumming,recorded 'Born Yesterday'(circlework).

This album saw a shift in style for the band,illustrating a fresh sound still strongly rooted in hardcore, but with a heavier and more aggressive approach. At the start of 2007, armed with the new CD, Vicious Circle embarked on a successful 6-week tour of Europe, predominantly playing shows through Germany,Czech Republic and Poland. On returning from the tour Paul,Pop and Mano wasted no time and got straight back to work on a new album. Pauly G has returned on drums and with the finishing touches being applied to the new material, the band will be returning to the studio late 2007 early 2008 to record a new CD. This full length album will mark the band's 25th year. Another European tour is also being organised for the summer of 2008 to commemorate the band's anniversary and to promote the new CD.