High Tension was an Australian extreme metal band from Melbourne, Victoria, from 2012 until 2021.
History
Formed in 2012, the band's original line-up featured Karina Utomo and Ash Pegram from Young and Restless with Matt Weston from The Nation Blue and Damian Coward from Love Like...Electrocution. Only Utomo and Weston remained from the original line-up throughout; the final line-up of the band featured guitarist Mike Deslandes (also of YLVA), and drummer Lauren Hammel.
Their debut album, Death Beat, was released in October 2013 and was nominated for best hard rock / heavy metal album at the 2014 ARIA Awards.
Bully was released on 10 July 2015. The track "Guillotine" was used in Warwick Thornton's 2021/2 vampire TV series, Firebite.
The band split up in 2021.
Band members Final line-up Karina Utomo – lead vocals (2012–2021) Matt Weston – bass (2012–2021) Mike Deslandes – guitar, backing vocals (2015–2021) Lauren Hammel – drums (2015–2021)
Former members Ash Pegram – guitar (2012–2015) Damian Coward – drums (2012–2013, 2014–2015) Dan McKay – drums (2013–2014)
Former touring musicians Allan Stacey – bass (2018)
Timeline
Discography Albums + List of studio albums Title Details Death BeatReleased: October 2013 Label: High Tension, Cooking Vinyl Australia (CVLP005) Format: CD, LP, DD BullyReleased: 10 June 2015 Label: High Tension, Cooking Vinyl Australia (CVLP030) Format: CD, LP, DD PurgeReleased: 15 June 2018 Label: Cooking Vinyl Australia (CVLP075) Format: CD, LP, DD, streaming
Extended plays + List of EPs Title Details High TensionReleased: October 2012 Label: OSCL Records (OSCL007) Format: CD, DD
Awards and nominations AIR Awards The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.
| 2019 | Purge | Best Independent Hard Rock, Heavy or Punk Album
ARIA Music Awards The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony held by the Australian Recording Industry Association. They commenced in 1987.
| 2014 | Death Beat | Best Hard Rock or Heavy Metal Album
Music Victoria Awards The Music Victoria Awards are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2006.
! |- | 2018 | Purge | Best Heavy Album
National Live Music Awards The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) commenced in 2016 to recognise contributions to the live music industry in Australia.
| 2016 | Themselves | Live Hard Rock Act of the Year
| 2017 | Themselves | Live Hard Rock Act of the Year
| rowspan="2" | 2018 | Themselves | Live Act of the Year
| Karina Utomo (High Tension) | Live Voice of the Year
| 2019 | Lauren Hammel (High Tension) | Live Drummer of the Year
References