26 May 2013

Wrust, a local heavy metal band that has been rocking out crowds for a little over a decade now, has been invited to play at SoloMacello, an independent heavy metal festival in Milan, Italy, on June 26.

Made up of Tumelo 'Stux Daemon' Matshameko, Mothukhumo 'Lawd Master' Baoki, Ompatile 'Oppy-gae' Gaerobale  and Benson Mophakedi, the group will be the first metal band from Botswana to play in a major European festival along with international acts, this year’s  main act being renowned American rock band Red Fang.

Though still struggling to source funds to cover the band's travel expenses to Italy, the group’s guitarist and vocalist, Stux Daemon said they were optimistic and hoped that supporters will come forth to help out as this will also help put Botswana on the international map.

“This will be such a great and rare opportunity for us as a group and a country, provided we get funding for the trip,” he said in an interview.

Wrust, a predominant band in the Botswana’s local metal scene, was formed in the winter of 2000.

Formerly called Rust, published reports state that the group went through rigorous line-up changes, with Stux being the only constant founding member.

The band reached stability when Master (drummer) was recruited early 2002. 

At that time it was a three piece band with Stux on guitar/vocals and Sbond on bass.

The band was later joined by BG, former guitarist of War-Tog (Metal band in the UK) towards the end of 2002.

It then played in numerous shows, small gigs alongside Metal Orison and major festivals including the Gaborone Beer Fest 2003, University of Botswana Freshers ball (2002 and 2005) and the annual event called Rock Against AIDS which raises funds for orphans who are victims of HIV/AIDS.

That notwithstanding, in 2003 the new Wrust recorded a demo dubbed Mirth of Sorrow which saw Wrust being involved in the battle of bands in Durban- South Africa, where they largely impressed the event organisers.

The band was so impressive that the organisers of the battle later asked Wrust to be the opening acts of Brazilian gozilas SEPULTURA on their first ever South African tour in Durban on 3rd September 2003, a show Stux said was the highlight for the group.

He said that later that year they were among the headliners of the WITCHFEST EXTREME metal festival in South Africa (Johannesburg) an annual metal festival organised by witchdoctorrecords.com.

Other highlights for the band were playing with international acts KONKHRA from Denmark in January 2004 and Entombed from Sweden on April 16th 2004. ENDS