King Parrot are an Australian grindcore band formed in Melbourne in 2010. They have released three studio albums: Bite Your Head Off (2012), Dead Set (2015) and Ugly Produce (2017).
History
King Parrot formed in Melbourne in 2010 with the original line-up of Matt Young (vocals), Ed Lacey and Ari White (guitar), Slatts Everday (bass) and drummer Matt Rizzo. White, Rizzo and Lacey had come directly from their previous band Watchdog Discipline, Slatts Everyday was a member of Warrnambool rock band Cockfight Shootout. Lacey had also been a member of The Berzerker for several years and Rizzo was formerly with Blood Duster.
After the release of The Stench of Hardcore Pub Trash EP in 2011, Lacey left King Parrot and was replaced by Andrew Livingstone-Squires, formerly of Dreadnaught and Cemetery Urn. The group recorded and independently released their debut full-length album Bite Your Head Off in 2012, which was picked up by UK based metal label Candlelight Records in 2013 for worldwide release. Shortly after the album's release Rizzo was replaced by Matt "Skitz" Sanders, formerly of Damaged but the band's heavy touring schedule meant he was replaced on overseas dates by Rob Brens of Alarum. King Parrot had by now established themselves as intense live act,[2][3][4] and their unsettling sense of humour, most notably in their music video "Shit on the Liver",[5] which was a finalist in the 2013 Australian Music Video Awards.
After extensive touring within Australia, supporting Obituary, Carcass and Thy Art Is Murder, King Parrot were invited to play a number of prominent music festivals including an appearance at the 2013 Hammersonic Jakarta International Metal Festival in Indonesia, Australia's Soundwave Festival and the 2014 SXSW in Austin, Texas, which was part of a 45-date North American tour. They later signed a management deal with Extreme Management Group in New York. Pantera and Down vocalist Phil Anselmo personally interviewed them on his Housecore Records YouTube channel.[6]
In June 2014, at the end of their Australian tour with Carcass, it was announced that Todd Hansen, formerly of The Berzerker and Headkase, would be taking over from Sanders.[7] In late 2014 King Parrot recorded their second album Dead Set at Anselmo's studio in Louisiana. It was released in May 2015 and peaked on the Australian albums chart at #21.[8]Dead Set was nominated for an ARIA Award for Best Hard Rock or Heavy Metal Album that year but lost to Northlane's Node.
King Parrot toured Australia with Psycroptic and Revocation in early 2017, following which the band recorded their third album in Melbourne. Ugly Produce was released on 22 September and reached #21 on the ARIA chart.[9] During October, the band toured the US with Superjoint and DevilDriver.
The singles "Banished, Flawed then Docile" and "Nor is Yours" - the second featuring Anselmo on vocals - were released in 2020 while the band was unable to tour due to COVID restrictions. The EP Holed Up in the Lair appeared in October of that year. A tour 10th anniversary Australian tour was postponed and rescheduled several times in 2021.
During 2023 King Parrot toured extensively throughout Australia and the US once again and in March 2024 they were the opening band at Knotfest Australia.
Members
Current
Matthew "Youngy" Young – lead vocals (2010–present)
