Damien was born on June 18, 1975 in Tom Price, Western Australia. After moving to Perth in 1981 he played several instruments from the age of seven, including the clarinet, keyboards and some guitar. Damien's journey into the world of drumming would probably not have occurred if it weren't for his older brother, Philip.

"I started relatively late actually" recalls Damien. "When I was 15. I used to play clarinet and with all the training of the instrument I had at school, coupled with concert orchestra work and conducting, I became quite good at it! I put a good 8 years into the instrument, but I also blame school for my eventual hatred of the instrument. Unfortunately my school made me log my practise time each week, which my parents would have to sign. It took the fun right out of it.

One day when I was fourteen years old, my older brother came home with a drum kit. It was a white 5 piece PowerBeat kit. There was something very cool about seeing and hearing that thing! I realised pretty soon that hitting things with two bits of wood was infinitely more fun than playing clarinet. I also realised I was picking up ideas a lot quicker on drums than I ever did with the clarinet. The problem was, I actually wasnt allowed to play the kit, because it wasnt mine. The only way I could ever do it was to wait until my brother had gone out (usually to work) and then Id jump on! I used to cop a beating every time I thought I could get away with it. He'd somehow always come home early and catch me on them. As any brother knows, these can be violent years! Eventually, he got tired of the competition, and went on to play guitar. He put in some really long hours of practise, got himself into the Musicians Institute and now lives for guitar"

Damien continued on with drums and eventually got into his first band at age seventeen. At that point, the Powerbeat kit was sold off and Damien's first 'real' kit came along. It was a Pearl SPX (Session Series) eight-pice kit in cherry sunburst. It was with this kit that Damien established himself as a serious player in bands such as Syzygy and later, Black Steel.

Damien has been very active in the drumming community not only as a player, but also as a retailer of music gear and as a teacher. In 1998 Damien had 52 students per week under his guidance and Syzygy was playing regular shows around town.

In 2004, Damien commenced working for Kosmic Sound as their Drum Product Manager. Kosmic Sound is one of Perth's premium musical retail stores. It was through these avenues that Damien has conitnued to service the local scene of drummers and stay heavily involved with all aspects of the local music industry.

DAMIEN'S BANDS (PAST AND PRESENT)

SYZYGY (1995-2005)

SYZYGY had its origins back in August of 1995, when Damien and keyboardist Mili Separovic decided to start a band “to make the music as unique and interesting as possible. A short while later the pair was joined by guitarist Andro Mestrovich. At this point the name SYZYGY was decided upon and the band began honing its sound as a three-piece outfit for around ten months (where the groundwork was laid for some of the tracks that would eventually grace the debut album some years later). After some jam sessions with the three existing members, the fourth band member appeared in the form of a second guitarist, Jarred Scagliotta; the final piece of the original Syzygy jigsaw was put in place with the recruitment of the hard-rocking Paul Judge on bass in the May of 1996. Syzygy worked as a five-piece band, gigging and entering competitions while building up a loyal following in the Perth local music scene. In the middle of 1998 Judge parted ways with the band and Syzygy continued as a four-piece with Mili Separovic taking care of the bass sound via keyboards. Syzygy entered the recording studio in August 1998 to record its only album in a three-day stint, only to see production issues delay the release until 2000. Another bass player, Anthony Wong, was recruited in 2001once again making Syzygy a five-piece unit. Syzygy continued to work in Perth until the band played its last gig in June of 2005 and then disbanded, closing this chapter of the Australian progressive metal scene.

 

Since the disbanding of SYZYGY Damien Petrilli has continued to work with Jarred Scagliotta in the band EVOLUTION MACHINE.

 

SYZYGY’s one and only album is “Prominence”, an eight-track, all instrumental effort that the band released independently in 2000, some two years after the initial recording sessions. Being an independent release, the album does prove a little difficult to find.

 

Discography:

 

Album: Prominence

Year: 2000

 

Track Listing:

 

1. Reversal (3:31)

2. Sunrise (5:24)

3. Infinite Odds (2:07)

4. Cry Of The Wolf (5:10)

5. Atmosphere (7:03)

6. Flight 5-3-7 (2:43)

7. Mercury’s Tears (5:34)

8. Mistaken Identity (7:32)

BLACK STEEL (2001-2007)

Black Steel was formed in early 2000. Comprising members from a pedigree of some of WA's most respected bands - Dave Harrison (ex-Allegiance), Jamie Page (ex-Trilogy/Black Alice). Black Steel were purveyors of traditional/power heavy metal music with an emphasis on high calibre musicianship, strong melody, double kick drumming, soaring vocals, big choruses and dual guitar soloing. Members of Black Steel have toured & played with many of the genres biggest names in previous outfits in their home country. Dave has toured with the likes of Pantera, Slayer, Rob Halford, Machine Head, Anthrax, Sepultura etc. Jamie's background includes recording with musicians such as the late Cozy Powell (Black Sabbath, Whitesnake, Rainbow, Malmsteen etc.) & writing credits for Queen guitarist Brian May, movie soundtracks & gigs with '80s NWOBHM era musicians Dennis Wilcox (Iron Maiden original vocalist) & members of '80s cult metal act Angel Witch & gigs with Motorhead, Deep Purple etc.

Black Steel's first recorded effort was the 'Battle Call' EP. The four tracks on the disc are the first written songs by Black Steel. Recorded in just over 2 days at Survival Studios in Western Australia. The first pressing sold out in just a few short weeks. Positive reviews followed in many metal 'zines, websites & major magazines including biggies like Heavy Order Was & Kerrang! The EP created a positive buzz throughout the metal underground, topped a number of independent charts and received airplay on Metal shows throughout the country. In late 2000 Black Steel recorded a rendition of the AC/DC classic "Dirty Deeds" for the AC/DC Hometown tribute CD released thru Oracle records.


 

Album: Battle Call (EP)

Year: 2000

 

Track Listing:

 

1. Battle Call

2. We Are One

3. The Power

4. Heart of a Lion


Some big breaks were offered to the band in 2001 with the band opening for Deep Purple & also Judas Priest on their respective Australian tours. The full length debut Black Steel album 'Destructor' was released in late 2001. The album showcases a continuation of the melodic metal style developed on their Battle Call EP. Featuring a range of diversity encompassing big chorus anthemic metal songs, mid paced rockers to fast double kick screaming heavy metal in the classic tradition of prime era Judas Priest, Iron Maiden & Accept with cutting edge metal production. Drawing from a wide range of influences & a wealth of experience, attention to detail was the upmost priority in the production & song writing process. The release of the 'Destructor' album ignited a great deal of interest in the band from around the world with positive reviews in many major metal magazines and websites. Tracks from the album have been selected for inclusion in Germanys Heavy Oder Was Magazine Metal Crusade Vol 4 with a distribution of 40 000 copies. Black Steel are also featured on Left Of Centre 2 compilation and Australian National Radio JJJ compilation Full Metal racket Vol 2.
 

Album: Destructor

Year: 2001

 

Track Listing:

1. Breaking The Chains
2. Time Marches On
3. Destructor
4. Hell's Gates
5. Bonded By Steel
6. Rise Up
7. Vengeance Of The Damned
8. Hail Of Fire
9. Too Wild To Tame
10. Forever (The Sands Of Time)


In Oct 2002 Black Steel signed a licensing agreement with Adrenaline Records Steel Heart subsiduary for release across Europe & also CD-Maximum for release in Russian territories.

2003 saw the band trimming back to a 4 piece with Jamie Page handling all guitar duties & the band playing on the prestigious Big Day Out Festival headlined by Metallica. A 3 track EP 'Relentless Force' was released in 2004 featuring bonus tribute songs Saxon 'Power & The Glory' (which also features on the Tribute To The Glory Of '80s Metal CD released through Adrenaline Records) & Thin Lizzy ? 'Emerald' and a a track from the next full length CD. Black Steel's final album "Hellhammer" was released November 2005 and distributed worldwide through Adrenaline/Steelheart records.

 

Album: Hellhammer

Year: 2004

 

Track Listing:

 

1. Annihilate
2. That Was Then, This Is Now
3. Hellhammer
4. Grind To Metal
5. Up Against The World
6. Going Down
7. Relentless Force
8. Live For The Fight
9. Slaughterhouse
10. The Holy Devil
11. Death Or Glory

Black Steel disbanded in May of 2007.

EVOLUTION MACHINE (2007- PRESENT )

Evolution Machine is the brainchild of Emmanuel Rudnicki, (ex-Voyager) Guy Lillico, (ex-Modus Vivendi/Shadowplay) and Damien. Jarred Scagliotta (ex-Syzygy) joined the band after a month of songwriting. Evolution Machine continue in the tradition of Syzygy with an aim for creating progressive music with a harder edge.