`Taco' Metal With Chilli And Cheese

IF the sound of Marshall amps and grinding guitar gets your head banging and blood pumping, make sure you don't miss out when Metal Bloody Metal is unleashed this weekend.

Now in its fourth year, the annual metal fest returns to the Marquis O'Lorne on Saturday, bringing one of the country's biggest acts, together with acts from Newcastle. Melbourne metal band Frankenbok will headline the event alongside Akuma, Mischling, Schlauncher, Alkhemika, Osmium Grid, Jinn, Daylight Robbery and A Silent Fiction. It has been a year since Frankenbok last performed in Newcastle.

Since then they have toured in New Zealand and played Metal For The Brain, supporting bands likes Slayer, System of a Down and Machine Head along the way.

Since forming in 1997 from the ashes of countless Melbourne bands dating back to the late '80s, Frankenbok has proudly carried the torch for Aussie metal.

A diverse range of influences has resulted in Frankenbok describing its music style with the term ``taco metal''.

``It's a lot of meat with a little bit of cheese,'' bassist Tim Miedecke said.

``If you can have a sense of humour and make people laugh or just want to shake their s--it, then you're heading in the right direction.'' One song that has remained a firm live favourite with fans over the years is the band's riff-heavy version of dance hit Don't Call Me Baby. Having released their last album Blood Oath in 2003, fans can look forward to the release of a follow-up album later in the year.

Kicking off at noon and continuing until midnight, entry to Metal Bloody Metal costs $18 at the door.