Blood Duster

Australia's Blood Duster specializes in good-naturedly offensive grindcore shaped by the group's crude humor and, on many occasions, a pronounced Southern rock or stoner rock influence. The members have displayed scant interest in performing beyond Australian borders yet have cultivated a solid domestic audience alongside modest notice in the United States through their connection to the respected underground imprint Relapse Records.

Established in 1991, the ensemble experienced repeated personnel shifts, with bassist/songwriter Jason P.C. and vocalist Tony Banks remaining the sole unchanging figures. Their initial official output, the 1993 EP Fisting the Dead issued on the Australian label Dr. Jim's, drew heavily from the late-'80s grindcore pioneered by Earache acts such as Carcass and Napalm Death. The follow-up EP Yeest arrived in 1995, featuring Matt Rizzo on drums and Fin Felini on guitar. Relapse Records later released Yeest stateside, appending the earlier Fisting the Dead as an added track.

In 1997 Blood Duster returned with drummer Euan and issued Str8 Outta Northcote. That album moved away from strict grindcore toward a groove-driven approach, which the band themselves labeled "100% Grinding Death Rock." Following a short break and additional membership adjustments, they completed the aptly titled Cunt, issued in Australia during 2000 and in the United States the next year. Matt Rizzo resumed drumming duties for the sessions while guitarist Matt Collins replaced Felini.