The Australian scene began in the "Dark Ages", of the year 1991 when 9600 baud modems were the best you could buy. There was an extremely prominent group that went by the name of DiE. At the time, the artwork released by the group was really something. A few of the members include Sudden Death, Flick, Randers, Cyco, Joystick, and many others. DiE pretty much kick-started the Australian scene; it also had a WHQ called Violent Crimes which had callers from all over the world, it was situated in Melbourne, Victoria. I was 12 years old at the time and was really inspired by their productions; they made it to 8 packs, and disbanded. The reason behind the disbandment was due to the mainstays - SD, Flick, and Randers parting the group. SD quit, Randers went to iCE and Flick followed. Flick released a revival pack #9 which was to unsuccessfully reform DiE as Dimension 7, there was also a music pack along the lines.

There was also another group called ADFA - Another Damn Fine ANSI; which lasted three packs. Due to PR inadequacies the members of the group either merged with DiE or left the scene altogether. Rising from DiE's ashes was Skag, formed by the minor ex-members of DiE. Skag never got anywhere and faded away.

I guess this must have been the way the Australian scene started as I have no recollection of any other groups at that period of time that would have been as instrumental as DiE.

Apocalyptic Visions

Melbourne was the hub of the artscene; after Skag disbanded there was a group headed by Blue Apache and Jesta called Flare which crumbled pretty quickly, and from the remains emerged the longest-living group Apocalyptic Visions. Apocalyptic Visions has survived up to its sixteenth pack over a period of three years. Another group in the area was Sick, which lasted five packs and disappeared into hibernation, then to be merged with Apocalyptic Visions. Flick, one of the original members of DiE now inhabits Apocalyptic Visions.

The group had an extremely varied memberlist which had ANSI, VGA and RiP artists, as well as the odd musician. The original VGA artists included Jesta, Goblin, The Rex, Mr. Krinkle. Additions to the list included myself, Vejita, Deathstroke, Nutbutter and others. The only person who did RiP was Mr. Krinkle, I tried but it didnÆt work for me. The ANSI artists include: Blue Apache, Ensanguined, Fluff, Harlequin, Mr. Krinkle, and many others.

At this moment to my knowledge, Apocalyptic Visions are planning a surprise, so watch out for this group in the near future folks.

Force

From the state next door South Australia, burst out a one-man effort called Force. Hailing from the city of Adelaide; the group created by Anubis became the largest ANSI group Australia ever had. Force was a solo effort for two packs until members started joining, they mainly came from Sydney. Later, groups merged with Force; those involved in the merger were: Grim, Gas and Pyro. Two desirables also had a short stint with Force Squidgalator ][ who continues to draw for Ice, and Maeve Wolf, AustraliaÆs only female ANSI artist who is now enjoying the rest of life. Anubis had a two pack stint with Acid as well, but when he was away, Force began falling apart and so he returned.

Force has progressed up to pack 18, but whether or not they are still active is yet to be seen. In pack 18 Anubis stepped down from being the head honcho, Dangermouse and Regurgitator quit; everything seemed to spell the end of a dynasty, until Krisis issued a statement that Force was still going. But there are more twists and turns to this spetactle, I was told Krisis had quit too, so what the hell is going on? Anyways, a BBS operated by Krisis and Kurrupt called Organised Kaos offered an ANSI help center which newbies could get help and advice as well as the usual tutorials and so on, the help center was probably the only such thing of itÆs kind in existence.

The memberlist has something that Apocalyptic Visions didnÆt have û geographical coverage. There were members from all over Australia and some from overseas whereas Apocalyptic Visions was somewhat concentrated within Victoria.

To date, it seems that Force is dead, or so some members say otherwise.

The Brisbane Scene

I hail from city of Brisbane in the state of Queensland. No local group has made it to something major like Apocalyptic Visions or Force, but nonetheless IÆll elaborate on whatÆs happened so far. Back in 1992-1993 there was a group called Peril, and it consisted of Maeve Wolf and the sister of ex-DiE member maddog who called herself Kelly McWilliam. It was big on lit and a bit of ANSI, but due to internal squabbles, Peril disbanded. After Peril came Prophet, again headed by Maeve Wolf; Prophet was mainly lit, but there were ANSI's and VGAÆs, this is the group Squidaglator ][ started off in. It died after members succumbed to apathy, which is endemic in the Australian scene anyway. A few years later came Pyro which lasted two packs before merging with force. Pyro was where Dangermouse and Regurgitator started off in. And things havenÆt progressed much since then, there is one group, called Uzi, which is run by warez pups. Uzi has currently released three packs, although with no circulation they are somewhat local. Nothing else is happening locally, probably due to the absence of "significant" artists to inspire the next generation of artists; so it seems the artscene is dead in this city.

The Unification

In the period of 1995 - 1996 was something I call the "Unification". It was the forming of two Australia-wide mailnets - Bloodnet and Madnessnet. It was with these two mailnets that the Australian artscene could converse together, and a spectacular result it was too. The bbs's that made it possible went offline permanently. And so that was the end of the most exciting era of the Australian artscene. Whether or not it can be reproduced is a question yet to be answered, but I guess the Internet has put an end to bbs mailnets unfortunately.

End bit

"The good old days" seem to be true from my viewpoint on the Australian artscene, maybe it's just a dry spell that's happening at the moment. Who knows; the scene is still alive and kicking, but perhaps in a different way then what it used to be.

This article was written by Blup of ACiD with help from Blue Apache of Apocalytpic Visions and Squidaglator ][ of iCE, without their help this article would not have been as historically correct as it is now.