Be'lakor

Melbourne forms the home base for Be'lakor, an Australian melodic death metal ensemble whose sweeping, desolate eruptions of intensity align more closely with Gothenburg's muted skies than with the broad, sunlit horizons of their own country. The group assembled in 2004 around vocalist and guitarist George Kosmas, guitarist Shaun Sykes, drummer Jimmy Vanden Broeck, keyboardist Steven Merry, and bassist John Richardson. Live shows began the following year, and the independent debut album The Frail Tide appeared in 2007. After signing with Prime Cuts Music, the band issued its second studio album, Stone's Reach, in 2009; the record claimed Metal Storm's top position in the Best Melodeath/Gothenburg Metal Album category for that year. Growing visibility brought expanded touring, including support runs with Turisas and Alestorm plus a prominent appearance at Germany's Summer Breeze Open Air festival. The well-regarded third album, Of Breath and Bone, arrived in 2012 on Kolony Records and led to additional high-profile dates with At the Gates and Apocalyptica. Vessels, the fourth studio album, followed in 2016 under the Napalm Records imprint. It proved to be drummer Vanden Broeck's final release with the group, as he exited shortly afterward to focus on other musical work; Elliott Samson assumed the drum chair later the same year.