Led by their mesmerising frontwoman The Imperial Priestess – without doubt the most arresting frontperson in heavy music and possessor of a remarkable voice honed over her many lives and incarnations throughout human history – Neptune Power Federation are one of the most aurally and visually compelling bands in Australia. Combining all manner of classic ’70s melodic hard rock with punk energy and a psychedelic heavy metal attack, the band’s singular vision and stunning music has won them hordes of fans throughout Europe and beyond.
Formed in 2012 by guitarist Inverted CruciFox (aka Mike Foxtall ex-Nancy Vandal), drummer River Sticks (aka Dean Bakota, ex-Nancy Vandal), bassplayer Jaytanic Ritual (aka Jay Frenzal, ex-Triple J and Frenzal Rhomb) and guitarist Search And DesTroy (aka Troy Scerri, ex-Mortal Sin, Daredevil, Buffalo Revisted), the band was adopted by the eternal space witch The Imperial Priestess aka Screaming Loz Sutch after their second album. While 2019’s Memoirs of a Rat Queen featured a collection of stories told by the Priestess from her various lives throughout human history – from accusations of witchcraft during the depths of the black plague in Medieval Germany to taking a lover in a boogie van at a Maryland Judas Priest concert in 1986 – new album Le Demon De L’Amour takes a new lyrical approach; one that suits its projected release date of Valentines’ Day 2022.
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Heading into the creation of their fifth album, The Neptune Power Federation couldn’t let go of the fact that love songs had been commandeered, in their words, by “soft rockers, bedwetters and the introvert crowd.” While Rock in its glory period in the 1960’s, 70s and 80s, was not afraid of Love, the art of the Love Song has become lost to heavier music. Few heavy bands are now willing to venture into such territory — metal and rock have settled comfortably into typical, predictable lyrical tropes that fail to pull at the heartstrings the way they used to. On Le Demon De L’Amour, The Neptune Power Federation reclaims the art of the Love Song as their own.
he Neptune Power Federation utilized the unexpected downtime afforded by the COVID-19 pandemic to craft an album that takes more chances than its predecessors. While the band’s trademark rock swagger and prog tendencies still come into play, Le Demon De L’Amour ups the voltage and energy, and the album’s infectious choruses and leaden riffs easily re-imagine metal and rock’s glory eras without blatant thievery.
Of course, all roads to The Neptune Power Federation run through lead vocalist Screaming Loz Sutch aka The Imperial Priestess. The album’s eight cuts find the indomitable frontwoman in top form, belting out tales of love from a female perspective, weaving in stories of cult worship, murder and hypnotism. The album’s artwork (created by guitarist Inverted CruciFox) also introduces her new nemesis — The Wizzard Princess — and she duets with Chris Penney from Melbourne punk band Private Function on album closer “We Beasts of the Night” .
Recorded at bass player Jaytanic Ritual’s The Ped Food Factory in Marrickville, Sydney, and mixed by Clem Bennett, Le Demon De L’Amour leads The Neptune Power Federation into their tenth anniversary. Their journey has taken them from the sweaty clubs of Sydney to a global audience. Now armed with eight love songs sure to melt and captivate the most hardened metal hearts, The Neptune Power Federation boldly goes where few other bands dare.
The Neptune Power Federation:
Screamin’ Loz Sutch – Vocals
Search and DesTroy – Guitar
Inverted CruciFox – Guitar
Jaytanic Ritual – Bass
River Sticks – Drums
