Founding members
Richard (bass) (1993 - 1999)
Tony 'Meatax' Matesa (guitar) (1994/95 - 1999)
Mark Deech (One of the original guitarists ... & Ian Moss lookalike)
Sean (vocals) (1993 - 1996)
Roger (drums)
Sulkus was a relatively early entry in the Sydney death metal stakes. The band came into
being around 1993 when Formed by Richard. After SULKUS had been playing various gigs
around town for a while Tony Matesa joined as hard rock band Pokket Foxx was disbanding, within a couple
of months the line up was changed to a one guitarist band with Tony doing all the guitar
work. Richard had recently filled in on a Pokket
Foxx recording & when the Foxxters
split up Tony set his sights on joining another metal outfit. Tony Matesa transitioned
across to SULKUS & the near final lineup was formed. Based in the Sutherland Shire,
the boys would gig all over Sydney, with highlights being a Shiad support spot at The
Metro.
A demo entitled 'Sensorium' was recorded in about 1995 & 'Promo 96' was recorded the
following year, about 600 copies of 'Promo 96' were given out to fans. 'Promo '96' was a
live to DAT recording with 3 tracks : 'Thorn',
'Embraced' & 'Anti-body'.
In 1996 Sean went overseas with an unspecified return date, and Darren Goulding (ex-Misery
and Manticore)
was recruited on vocals. Darren gave the band as stated by Tony "tonnes of spark with his superior frontman
abilities" and turned them into a
crushing live band featuring wildly flamboyant guitar acrobatics from Matesa, who had
briefly been a member of Mortal Sin in 1990.
Sulkus was gaining momentum & on the verge of signing a record contract. They guys
launched into an exhaustive round of recording sessions. Recording & re-recording the
songs over & over again in the pursuit of excellence. Frustratingly, problems with
distribution stalled the release of what would have been their 1999 self titled debut. The
CD was never released... until now...!
Following a drastic line-up change in late 1999 when Matesa and then Richard left and
which saw Jarrod Marchant (guitar) join the fold, their presence waned somewhat and
although the new line-up's sound leaned towards nu-metal Sulkus had all but split up by
the end of that year and by early 2000 Sulkus was no more.
~~~
Upon leaving Sulkus Tony drank a barbed wire smoothie & snorted a line of cement,
he then wrote a poem & went 2 meditate on a mountain in Tibet for ten years,
he has now come back to assume the Lotus position in Sydney Australia once again! Tony has
also submitted this poem, written in 2000
Quarterpipe Records would like to give special thanks to Tony 'Meatax' Matesa for his
invaluable input into what is undoubtedly the most complete account of Sulkus ever
compiled. And he has said "all the bands
I have been in were a pleasure to be a part of & regardless of any rumours or
disagreements I wish everyone well & Sulkus by far was the most full on band I've ever
hit the stage with!!"
Tony Matesa has retired his services
from the music industry as a guitarist, and no longer plays at all - instead opting to
move onto new areas and other things in life.
You can also check out his musical offerings prior to Sulkus, which include : Pokket Foxx, & Lazarus.
We would like to point out that the purpose of these pages is to highlight the music and
the achievements of the bands, whilst avoiding any rumours about issues between the band
members.
October 2010 : Richard & Tony unveill a comprehensive collection of Sulkus pix
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