Critical Mass (heavy metal band)

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Critical Mass was a hard rock/heavy metal band formed in Sydney, Australia in 1988. The original members were Paul Huntley (drums), Julian Conway (guitar), Michele Cecere (guitar), Mark Shaw (bass) and Mark Owen (vocals).

Critical Mass evolved from Sydney based rock cover band Foreign Order. Foreign Order was formed by fellow Canon Australia employees Paul Huntley, Julian Conway and Peter Mitchell (bass) to play rock covers at parties. Julian Conway was jamming and living in share accommodation with Mark Owen, so Mark was bought on board as vocalist. After several shows at Sydney's Five Dock Hotel, and the Canobolas Hotel in Orange, New South Wales, Foreign Order members Paul, Julian and Mark joined with Mark Shaw and Michele Cecere to adopt a more professional approach to the competitive Sydney pub scene. The band was renamed Critical Mass at the suggestion of guitarist Michele Cecere.

During the first 12 months, the band progressively developed a heavier style, both in rehearsal and during shows. This style somewhat alienated the lead vocalist Mark Owen, who preferred a more gritty blues style. After several pub shows playing a range of original songs and top 40 rock covers, Mark Owen was replaced with Greg Moore. Greg's falsetto vocal style was more suited to the heavier approach the band was taking.

The band's first self produced demo tape with Greg Moore was recorded on analogue 8 track in the lounge room of Julian and Mark Shaw's home in Enfield, New South Wales. The band later released a nine track studio album on CD in 1992 to a generally poor critical response.

Critical Mass played shows at many pub venues in Sydney, including the Lewisham Hotel, the Cobra Club in Parramatta, the Sutherland Hotel, the Pine Inn Burwood, the Revesby Roundhouse, the Cat & Fiddle in Balmain, the Vulcan Hotel in Ultimo, the Tom Tom Club Kings Cross and the Hampton Court Hotel Kings Cross. Their final show was at the Wentworthville Hotel in Sydney's west in 1993.