Nitocris (band)

Nitocris
Origin	Sydney, Australia
Genres	Heavy metal, punk rock
Years active	1992–2001
Labels	Phantom Records
Associated acts	Morgana and the Monstars
Members
Morgana - lead vocals Jess - lead guitar Kira - rhythm guitar Sara - bass Andi - drums

Nitocris was a band from Sydney, Australia playing a combination of speedy punk and heavy metal. The band was notable as being perhaps the country's first significant all-female touring band.

Band history

Nitocris was formed in 1992 by guitarists Kira and Jess, bass player Sara and drummer Andi, who were classmates at Hunters Hill High School. A newspaper advertisement located singer Morgana, the only member of the band over the age of 18. The girls' age proved no barrier and before long Nitocris was performing live across Sydney, developing such a reputation that they were invited to perform at the 1994 Big Day Out musical festival even before the release of their debut recording, an EP called "Ten Stories Down". The album Screaming Dolorous followed in November of that year and in April 1995 the band toured the east coast with the Alternative Nation Festival.

Nitocris developed a strong and devoted following in Australia, regularly selling out shows across the country and their releases were strong sellers for their label, local independent Phantom Records. Nitocris established a Strong fanbase throughout Australia touring with acts such as Sprung Monkey, The Cult, The Pursuit of Happiness, The Whitlams and The Screaming Jets, Deep Purple, Rancid, DEFX, Pennywise, Midnight Oil, Suicidal Tendencies among others. The "Hyperland" EP was a reasonable success for the band but their next release "Butter" fared less well and problems with a former manager stalled progress for some time. However, 1999 saw a reversal of fortunes when Nitocris toured nationally for the first time as part of a package called Turn Up Your Radio and the self-titled album of the following year displayed a mellower, poppier style that won high rotation radio airplay on jjj. Nitocris scored an ARIA Award nomination for Best Independent Release for their single 'Manic', and the band toured Australia-wide with the Big Day Out in 2001. Plans were made to record a third album and tour O/S, but instead decided to split up and played a final show at Sydney's Newtown Festival in November 2001.

Jess and Andi continued to perform together in a band called The Fyreflyes until the drummer left in 2004; that band recorded a number of EPs but appears to have been laid to rest as Jess announced a solo career in 2007. Her first single was released in May 2009.

Morgana Started Morgana and the Monstars (now in hiding) soon after Nitocris's demise. The Monstars has 2 releases to date and has incorporated up to 13 guests and musicians on the recordings. Morgana is currently writing and performing with "Boxing with Ghosts" and freelances as a web designer.

Sara Guest appeared on recordings and Performed live for The Monstars and Fyreflyes. Later teaming up with Simon day from RAT CAT on a number of projects, The prostitutes, the Substitutes and The Follow just to name a few... Sara has also performed with Iota, Tex Perkins and toured the Middle East with Doc Neeson's Angels (to entertain the Troops!). Currently Sara is working on Electro Pop Outfit DARK DISCO (with a track soon to be released in the states) and Playing with Mark Raparager. She also Designs and Manages her own fashion label '50 ft Queenie'.

Nitocris played a sold out reunion show at the Annandale Hotel on 26 September 2009.

The band's name was chosen by drummer Andi after the female pharaoh Nitocris, popularised by H. P. Lovecraft.

Discography

Albums:

Screaming Dolorous

• Released: 1994
• Format: CD
• Label: Phantom Records (Australia)
• Singles: "Haemorrhaging Souls", "Epic Voyage"

Nitocris

• Released: 2000
• Format: CD
• Label: Black Yak/Phantom (Australia)
• Singles: "Dark Side", "Spouse Killer"

Singles & EPs:

Ten Stories Down

• Released: 1994
• Format: CD
• Label: Phantom (Australia)
• Tracks: "Ten Stories Down", "The Race", "Seedy and Suspicious", "Hell Bitch"

"Haemorrhaging Souls" from the album Screaming Dolorous

• Released: 1995
• Format: CD
• Label: Phantom (Australia)
• Tracks: Haemorrhaging Souls

"Epic Voyage" from the album Screaming Dolorous

• Released: 1995
• Format: CD
• Label: Phantom (Australia)
• Tracks: "Epic Voyage", "Cringe" (live), "Seedy and Suspicious" (live), "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" (live), "Epic Voyage" (live)

Hyperland

• Released: 1996
• Format: CD
• Label: Phantom (Australia)
• Tracks: "Sycophant", "WAP Dogs", "Laugh (at You)", "Icarus"

Butter

• Released: 1997
• Format: CD
• Label: Phantom (Australia)
• Tracks: "Butter", "Antenna Girl", "Teddy's Song", "Black Socks", "Anxieties Smith"

"Dark Side" from the album Nitocris

• Released: 1998
• Format: CD
• Label: Shock (Australia)
• Tracks: "Dark Side", "Dirty & Delicious", "Thighs", "Feel

"Spouse Killer" from the album Nitocris

• Released: 2000
• Format: CD
• Label: Phantom (Australia)
• Tracks: Spouse Killer

External links

• Official website
• Nitocris MySpace page
• Interview with Kira
• Interview with Sara
• Song lyrics