PORTAL - AUSTRALIA

Seepia - 2003 - Blacktalon Media
Outre' - 2007 - Profound Lore
Swarth - 2009 - Profound Lore
Vexovoid - 2013 - Profound Lore
Ion - 2018 - Profound Lore
Avow - 2021 - Profound Lore
Hagbulbia - 2021 - Profound Lore

Portal image
  
 
Members
Vocals
Invocation>>THE CURATOR>>Invocation

Guitar
Invocation, Vomitor, Carbon, Mages Terror>>HORROR ILLOGIUM>>Invocation, Vomitor, Carbon, Mages Terror - APHOTIC MOTE

Bass
Carbon>>Werm [Dave Lohan] - Internecine Excoriation, Limb From Limb, Impetuous Ritual, Grave Upheaval>>OMENOUS FUGUE [BRAD LEE-LEONG]>>Impetuous Ritual, Grave Upheaval

Drum
Invocation>>Mephitic>>Invocation - Internecine Excoriation, Impetuous Ritual, Grave Upheaval, Solo>>IGNIS FATUUS [KEVIN KEVINSON]>>Impetuous Ritual, Grave Upheaval, Solo




History & Biography
The hooded, suited, occasionally Lovecraftian, experimental and progressive extreme metal band Portal was founded in Brisbane in 1994. The imagery explored Lovecraft, 1920s' fashion and the theme of the latest album. A self-titled demo arrived four years later in 1998. The Curator was on vocals and Horror Illogium was on guitar. The same duo, and drummer Invocation, was involved with the death metal band Invocation at this time, albeit The Curator played bass. The 2002 EP The End Mills was distributed by Blacktalon Media. Werm on bass and Mephitic on drums were added. The same imprint issued the band's Seepia debut in late 2003. The Sweyy was a 2004 demo and some of the material was used for a split release with Rites Of Thy Degringolade. Lurker At the Threshold was another EP and released in 2006. The original duo were accompanied by second guitarist Aphotic Mote here.

Profound Lore Records released a full-length, called Outre', in 2007. The trio made some noise in the underground with the album. Damon Good/Elsewhere was the guest bassist. Denny Blake/Monocular was the guest drummer. Both were from Cauldron Black Ram.

Swarth introduced drummer Ignis Fatuus. Profound Lore released the debut from Portal counterpart act Impetuous Ritual. The Connexus Conjuration Tour featured Absu, Portal and Ruins in Australia in 2012. Vexovoid arrived four years later, but was still on the same label. Omenous Fugue was on bass here. This album was supported through a European tour with stops at Metal Magic Festival and Hell's Pleasure in 2013. A thrash metal band called Vexovoid came into being in 2013 as well. Portal, Absu and Denouncement Pyre announced an Australian tour for 2014. 2021 witnessed the release of two near-simultaneous releases for Portal. Hagbulbia was described as more of the band's occasional noise emanations by some and "paranormal companion piece" to Avow by the band.

The band played locally with Bellum Iustum and Grotesque Bliss in 2025. Australia-based Portal had a mini-tour at home in August 2025. Support came from Switzerland-based Bølzer. Then there was a European tour with Impetuous Ritual, which itself featured two Portal members. This was Portal's first tour of Europe in ten years.


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