# Sunk Loto > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Sunk_Loto > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Sunk_Loto.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunk_Loto > Source revision: 1353207238 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Australian metal band}} {{COI|date=May 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Use Australian English|date=September 2012}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Sunk Loto | image = | image_size = 200px | landscape = | alt = | caption = Sunk Loto at the video for "Starved" (2003) | background = group_or_band | alias = Messiah | origin = [Gold Coast, Queensland](/source/Gold_Coast%2C_Queensland), Australia | genre = {{hlist|[Nu metal](/source/Nu_metal)|[alternative metal](/source/alternative_metal)|[alternative rock](/source/alternative_rock)|[rap metal](/source/rap_metal)}} | years_active = {{start date|1997}}–{{end date|2007}}; 2022–present | label = [Sony](/source/Sony) | website = | current_members = * Jason Brown * Dane Brown * Sean Van Gennip * Rohan Stevenson | past_members = * Luke McDonald * Miles Matheson * Adam Cox * Rob Kaay }} '''Sunk Loto''' are an Australian [nu metal](/source/nu_metal) / [alternative metal](/source/alternative_metal) band formed in [Gold Coast, Queensland](/source/Gold_Coast%2C_Queensland) in 1997. The band's founding members are Dane Brown on drums, his brother Jason Brown on vocals, Luke McDonald on guitar and Sean Van Gennip on bass guitar. Sunk Loto signed a [recording contract](/source/recording_contract) with Sony Music Australia when the members' average age was 16 years. They released two studio albums, ''Big Picture Lies'' (13 October 2000) and ''[Between Birth and Death](/source/Between_Birth_and_Death)'' (17 November 2003); both reached the [ARIA Albums Chart](/source/ARIA_Charts) top 50. Sunk Loto toured internationally between 1997 and 2007 headlining their own shows, appearing at major festivals such as The [Big Day Out](/source/Big_Day_Out) and Livid, and playing alongside international bands such as [Sevendust](/source/Sevendust), Korn and [Deftones](/source/Deftones). The group disbanded in December 2007, and after a 15-year hiatus the original members re-formed the band in 2022 and have since performed around Australia with 2 sold out national tours, and released their first new song in 20 years “The Gallows Wait” with new guitarist Rohan Stevenson after announcing they had parted ways with Luke McDonald. The band have announced they intend to release new music and continue touring. == History == ===1997–1999: Formation and ''Society Anxiety''=== Sunk Loto formed as a [heavy metal](/source/Heavy_metal_music) band, '''Messiah''', in the [Gold Coast, Queensland](/source/Gold_Coast%2C_Queensland) in March 1997 by Dane Brown on drums, his brother Jason Brown on lead vocals, Luke McDonald on guitar and Miles Matheson on bass guitar.{{cite web | archiveurl = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20030128130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/14231/20030129-0000/www.howlspace.com.au/en3/sunkloto/sunkloto.htm | url = http://www.howlspace.com.au/en3/sunkloto/sunkloto.htm | title = Sunk Loto | publisher = Howlspace. White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd | last = Nimmervoll | first = Ed | authorlink = Ed Nimmervoll | archivedate = 28 January 2003 | accessdate = 27 September 2015 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Originally named Messiah, Jason Brown had met Luke McDonald at a local music store. Jason brought his younger brother Dane to practice sessions and McDonald's school mate, Sean Van Gennip joined the band when Miles decided to part ways, completing the new line-up. A year later they changed their name due to a London band of that name: Jason explained "we looked up Messiah in the dictionary and one of the meanings was 'liberators of the oppressed' so we took the first letter of each word to form LOTO and SUNK from the sinking of the first name."{{cite web | url = http://www.radioundercover.com/transcripts_sunk_loto.html | archive-url = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20010322130000/http://www.radioundercover.com/transcripts_sunk_loto.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 22 March 2001 | title = Transcripts: Sunk Loto | author = O'Gorman, Ros | author2 = Rachel | publisher = Undercover Media ([Paul Cashmere](/source/Paul_Cashmere), Ros O'Gorman) | date = 23 November 2000 | access-date = 27 September 2015 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} In April 1999, the group signed with [Epic Records](/source/Epic_Records) when Dane was 13 and the band's oldest member, Van Gennip, was 17. In November that year, they released a five-track extended play, ''[Society Anxiety](/source/Society_Anxiety)'', which was produced by [Paul McKercher](/source/Paul_McKercher) ([the Cruel Sea](/source/the_Cruel_Sea_(band)), [Spiderbait](/source/Spiderbait)).{{cite web | url=http://www.sonybmg.com.au/cd/releaseDetails.do?catalogueNo=668400.2 | title=Australia :: CD Releases :: Sunk Loto :: ''Society Anxiety'' | publisher=[Sony BMG Music Entertainment](/source/Sony_BMG) | via=National Library of Australia | archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20070906133234/http://www.sonybmg.com.au/cd/releaseDetails.do?catalogueNo=668400.2 | archive-date=6 September 2007 | access-date=12 January 2021 }} {{cbignore|bot=medic}}Note: this source has Paul McKercher as producer.{{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150507114026/http://www.beatdust.com/mixed-media-slang/mixed-media-slang-sunk-loto-between-birth-death-2003/ | url = http://www.beatdust.com/mixed-media-slang/mixed-media-slang-sunk-loto-between-birth-death-2003/ | title = Mixed Media Slang: Sunk Loto – ''Between Birth & Death'' (2003) | author = administrator | work = Beatdust | archive-date = 7 May 2015 | date = 17 March 2015 | access-date = 12 January 2021 | url-status = dead }} Note: this source has Phil McKeller {{sic}} as the producer. It peaked in the [ARIA Singles Chart](/source/ARIA_Charts) top 40 at number 40. Justin Donnelly of ''Blistering'' described their early sound "it was predictable. There wasn't much in the way of pushing the envelope song wise, and while the nu-metal angle is now a bit contrived, it was a sound that typified the time."{{cite journal | url = http://www.blistering.com/fastpage/fpengine.php/link/1/templateid/5606/tempidx/4/menuid/2 | title = Review: Sunk Loto – ''Between Birth and Death'' | author = Donnelly, Justin | journal = Blistering | access-date = 27 September 2015 }} The administrator of ''Beatdust'' felt it "pays homage to its inspirations – elements of both ''Evil Empire'' era RATM and Deftones ''Around the Fur'' are heavily evident both musically and sonically throughout." The lead track, "Vinegar Stroke", became a radio favourite.{{cite web | url=http://15min.org/articles/2000/october/18/rock_2.html | title=Sunk Loto – Musicians Inspired by Fakery | author=Bartlett, Sam | website=The Post – TE Archive |location=Newcastle, NSW | date=18 October 2000 | via=National Library of Australia | archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20120328024449/http://15min.org/articles/2000/october/18/rock_2.html | archive-date=28 March 2012 | access-date=12 January 2021 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The band performed at a range of festivals including [Homebake](/source/Homebake), Big Day Out and Offshore. They then scored their first national tour in mid 2000 which a 5 week touro of Australia supporting the Testeagles. They then commenced writing and recording their debut studio album Big Picture Lies. === 2000–2007: ''Big Picture Lies'' to ''Between Birth and Death'' === From 2000 to 2002 Adam Cox joined the band's live roster as their DJ, sampler and keyboardist. Sunk Loto issued their debut album, ''Big Picture Lies'' (October 2000), with McKercher again as producer, in Sydney.{{cite web | url=http://www.sonybmg.com.au/cd/releaseDetails.do?catalogueNo=5006282000 | title= Australia :: CD Releases :: Sunk Loto :: ''Big Picture Lies'' | publisher=Sony BMG Music Entertainment | via=National Library of Australia | archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20070906133739/http://www.sonybmg.com.au/cd/releaseDetails.do?catalogueNo=5006282000 | archive-date=6 September 2007 | access-date=13 January 2021 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The band travelled to New York studio RPM to have it mixed by [Michael Barbiero](/source/Michael_Barbiero) (Guns n Roses). It peaked at No. 30 on the ARIA Albums Chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Sunk+Loto|title=Sunk Loto Discography|publisher=Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien|accessdate=27 September 2015}} According to Australian music journalist, [Ed Nimmervoll](/source/Ed_Nimmervoll), they were "never really happy with [the album]. They'd been rushed. They knew the songs could have been better if they'd had more time." It was dubbed, "competent but disappointing", by ''Beatdust''{{'}}s administrator. ''The Post''{{'}}s Sam Bartlett observed, "[it] is all over the shop, suggesting a promising future, while summing up the coagulation of influences from hip-hop, rock, metal and even classical." Tim Cashmere of ''radioundercover.com'' felt it was "good work" and that unlike many contemporaries, the lead singer, "Jason does have a fairly decent voice."{{cite web | url=http://www.radioundercover.com/ursunk.html | title=Sunk Loto – ''Big Picture Lies'' | author=Cashmere, Tim | website=radioundercover.com | via=National Library of Australia | archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20040916034836/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/11299/20010921-0000/www.radioundercover.com/ursunk.html | archive-date=16 September 2004 | access-date=13 January 2021 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} However Cashmere was disappointed by the limited edition's bonus [CD-ROM](/source/CD-ROM), which was "difficult to navigate, contentless, jerky horse poo." The album's lead single, "Make You Feel" (August 2000), peaked at No. 33 on the ARIA Singles Chart and was followed in December by "Sunken Eyes", which reached the top 100. Cashmere described the former as being reminiscent of Korn and praised Jason's vocals on the latter. Sunk Loto joined the Big Day Out tour in 2001, and also toured extensively for the following two years.{{cite web | url = http://whothehell.net/archives/220 | title = Sunk Loto | last = Alessio | first = Dom | work = Who the Hell | date = 6 December 2006 | access-date = 13 January 2021 }} Dom Alessio of ''Who the Hell'' noticed "They were being pushed by their label to be the next [Silverchair](/source/Silverchair)." The group decided to improve the standard of song writing for their next album.{{cite web | url=http://15min.org/articles/2003/november/26/ootm_1.html | title=Sunk Loto – Intense Sounds on the Second Break | author=Lazarevic, Jade | website=The Post – TE Archive | location = Newcastle, NSW |date=26 November 2003 | via=National Library of Australia | archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20120328180422/http://15min.org/articles/2003/november/26/ootm_1.html | archive-date=28 March 2012 | access-date=13 January 2021 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Besides taking time with their song writing they faced personal hardships including the death of a friend, drug addiction, divorce and their equipment being stolen. The group rejected a number of demos, Jason recalled, "We've just been writing music pretty much and it just took us a while. We kept coming up with demos and they weren't good enough. We just knew we could do better." On 17 November 2003 they issued their second album, ''[Between Birth and Death](/source/Between_Birth_and_Death)'', a significantly darker and heavier effort with [Phil McKellar](/source/Phil_McKellar) (Grinspoon, Silverchair, Spiderbait) producing.{{cite web | date = 24 November 2003 | archiveurl = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20031206130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20031207-0000/Issue718.pdf | title = The ARIA Report | publisher = Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) | issue = 718 | pages = 2, 5, 10–12 | url = http://www.aria.com.au/pages/documents/issue718.pdf | archivedate = 6 December 2003 | accessdate = 27 September 2015 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} It peaked at number 48 on the ARIA Albums Chart, No. 13 on the ARIA Australasian Artists and No. 4 on the ARIA Heavy Rock & Metal chart. Its lead single, "Everything Everyway", had appeared in October 2003, and reached the top 50 on the ARIA Singles Chart. At the [ARIA Music Awards of 2004](/source/ARIA_Music_Awards_of_2004), McKellar was nominated for [ARIA Award for Engineer of the Year](/source/ARIA_Award_for_Engineer_of_the_Year) for his work on ''Between Birth and Death''.{{cite web |url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/year/2004 |title=ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 2004: 18th Annual ARIA Awards |publisher=[Australian Recording Industry Association](/source/Australian_Recording_Industry_Association) (ARIA) |access-date=13 January 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080304123324/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-year.php?year=2004 |archive-date=4 March 2008}} Alessio observed, "the band were struggling with a falling popularity, as well as dealing with managers who were ripping them off. Then the SonyBMG merger resulted in Sunk being dropped from the label." In 2006 Sean Van Gennip departed the band due to creative differences and was replaced on bass guitar by Rob Kaay (ex-[Full Scale](/source/Full_Scale_(band))). The band finished a short Australian tour at the end of that year and planned to record their third studio album. McDonald wanted to "take their sound down an even darker path." Dane, Jason and Kaay decided in May 2007 to work on a new project without McDonald, due to irreparable creative and personal reasons. Sunk Loto played their final show at the Hard Rock Hotel, Gold Coast on 14 December 2007. The Brown brothers and Kaay formed a new band, the Flood, which was short-lived. Some of their tracks appeared on Kaay's Soundcloud page. Jason and Dane Brown later created Electric Horse with ex-members of fellow Gold Coast band, Lump. Electric Horse issued an EP, ''Translations'' (2010), and a studio album, ''Venomous'' (2013). McDonald was briefly a member of another Gold Coast group, Miacarla, before leaving the music industry. === 2022–present: Reformation === After 15 years of being on hiatus, the band's founding members, Luke Mcdonald, Sean Van Gennip, Jason Brown & Dane Brown decided to reform Sunk Loto in 2022.{{cite web |last1=Billy |first1=August |title=Sunk Loto Announce First Live Shows In 15 Years |url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/sunk-loto-announce-first-live-shows-in-15-years/ |website=Musicfeeds.com.au |date=19 May 2022 |access-date=14 June 2022}} The band announced three shows in SE Queensland that immediately sold out and further touring was announced for later in 2022.{{cite web |title=SUNK LOTO // Announce 2nd Brisbane Show & Sydney and Melbourne Shows |url=https://www.hysteriamag.com/sunk-loto-announce-2nd-brisbane-show-sydney-melbourne-shows/ |website=Hysteria Mag |date=30 May 2022 |access-date=14 June 2022 }} The band announced on 22 August 2023 that guitarist and co-founder Luke McDonald was no longer in the band.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/SunkLotoOfficial/posts/pfbid0ZUKMqwN8SPyf8WsbU2GijoDV7htvTGkQhJWyo3PizdnL92TFJnq1GYsEPnnhis4il|title=Facebook|website=[Facebook](/source/Facebook) }} On September 4, 2023, Rohan Stevenson of Melbourne instrumental band 'I Built The Sky' was announced as McDonald's replacement, taking up lead guitar duties as a fulltime member of the band. On 3 October 2023, the band officially released the track ''The Gallows Wait'',{{cite web | url=https://sunkloto.bandcamp.com/track/the-gallows-wait | title=The Gallows Wait, by Sunk Loto }} their first new music in almost 20 years. == Band members == '''Current members''' * Jason Brown – lead vocals (1997–2007, 2022–present); rhythm guitar (2003–2007, 2022–present); bass guitar (1997–1998) * Dane Brown – drums (1997–2007, 2022–present) * Sean Van Gennip – bass guitar (1998–2006, 2022–present) * Rohan Stevenson - Lead Guitar (2023–present) '''Former members''' * Luke McDonald- Lead Guitar, backing vocals (1997 -2007, 2022-2023) * Miles Matheson – bass guitar (1997) * Adam Cox – turntables, samples, keyboards (2000–2002; touring) * Rob Kaay – bass guitar (2006–2007) '''Timeline''' {{#tag:timeline| ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:18 PlotArea = left:100 bottom:100 top:10 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/03/1997 till:{{#time:d/m/Y}} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4 ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1998 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1998 Colors = id:Vocals value:red legend:Lead_vocals id:BVocals value:pink legend:Backing_vocals id:Lguitar value:teal legend:Lead_guitar id:Rguitar value:brightgreen legend:Rhythm_guitar id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass id:Keys value:purple legend:Turntables,_samples,_keyboards id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums id:Album value:black legend:Studio_album id:EP value:gray(0.6) legend:Other_releases LineData = layer:back color:EP at:23/11/1999 color:Album at:13/10/2000 at:17/11/2003 BarData = bar:Jason text:"Jason Brown" bar:Luke text:"Luke McDonald" bar:Miles text:"Miles Matheson" bar:Sean text:"Sean Van Gennip" bar:Rob text:"Rob Kaay" bar:Adam text:"Adam Cox" bar:Dane text:"Dane Brown" PlotData= width:11 bar:Jason from:start till:14/12/2007 color:Vocals bar:Jason from:11/05/2022 till:end color:Vocals bar:Luke from:start till:14/12/2007 color:Lguitar bar:Luke from:11/05/2022 till:end color:Lguitar bar:Miles from:start till:12/12/1997 color:Bass bar:Sean from:01/01/1998 till:06/09/2006 color:Bass bar:Adam from:23/01/2000 till:07/04/2002 color:Keys bar:Rob from:06/09/2006 till:14/12/2007 color:Bass bar:Sean from:11/05/2022 till:end color:Bass bar:Dane from:start till:14/12/2007 color:Drums bar:Dane from:11/05/2022 till:end color:Drums width:3 bar:Luke from:start till:01/01/2003 color:Rguitar bar:Luke from:01/01/2003 till:14/12/2007 color:BVocals bar:Luke from:11/05/2022 till:end color:BVocals bar:Jason from:01/01/2003 till:14/12/2007 color:Rguitar bar:Jason from:11/05/2022 till:end color:Rguitar }} ==Discography== ===Albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+List of studio albums, with release date and chart position shown ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album details ! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | [AUS](/source/ARIA_Charts)
|- ! scope="row"| ''Big Picture Lies'' | * Released: 13 October 2000 * Label: Epic/Sony Music (5006289000) * Format: [CD](/source/Compact_disc) | 30 |- ! scope="row"| ''[Between Birth and Death](/source/Between_Birth_and_Death)'' | * Released: 17 November 2003 * Label: Sony Music (5139052000) * Format: CD | 48 |} ===Extended plays=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+List of EPs, with release date and chart position shown ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | EP details ! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | [AUS](/source/ARIA_Charts)
|- ! scope="row"| ''[Society Anxiety](/source/Society_Anxiety)'' | * Released: 29 November 1999 * Label: Epic (668400 2) * Format: CD | 40 |} ===Singles=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+List of singles, with year released and selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:19em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:11em;"| Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | [AUS](/source/ARIA_Charts)
|- ! scope="row"| "Make You Feel" | rowspan="2"| 2000 | 33 | rowspan="2"| ''Big Picture Lies'' |- ! scope="row"| "Sunken Eyes" | 76{{cite web | date = 1 January 2001 | archiveurl = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020220130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020221-0000/www.aria.com.au/issue566.PDF | title = The ARIA Report | publisher = [Australian Recording Industry Association](/source/Australian_Recording_Industry_Association) (ARIA) | issue = 566 | pages = 4, 8, 14, 20, 27 | url = http://www.aria.com.au/pages/documents/issue566.pdf | archivedate = 20 February 2002 | accessdate = 27 September 2015 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} |- ! scope="row"| "Everything Everyway" | 2003 | 46 | ''Between Birth and Death'' |} ==References== {{Reflist}} {{Authority control}} Category:Australian musical quartets Category:Australian nu metal musical groups Category:Australian alternative metal musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 1997 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2007 Category:Musicians from the Gold Coast, Queensland Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2022 Category:Australian rap metal musical groups --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sunk Loto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunk_Loto) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunk_Loto?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.