SE BON KI RA [seh-bon-kih-ruh] is an old Haitian proverb that means “good is rare”, traditionally used as a reminder of the precious nature of our experiences and interactions and as a warning against complacency.

“It doesn’t take much of a look to find the good in SE BON KI RA.”
- Rip It Up Mag

Bringing something fresh and honest to the Australian music scene with their proud ‘old school meets new school’ version of groove-thrash, the interpretation of the metal genre that SE BON KI RA demonstrates offers a tasty morsel for a wide range of consumers of the hard and the heavy.

“Chances are you’ve heard of and perhaps also seen SE BON KI RA by now, something of an Adelaide metal supergroup…” - dB Mag

SE BON KI RA live shows are fun, proving that heavy metal doesn’t have to be a purely serious affair full of negative stereotypes. Although choosing to produce intense sounding music, SE BON KI RA refuses to be pigeon-holed into clichéd choices of imagery and lyrical content. Their use of anger is controlled and deliberate, and their love of life and fun times is infectiously evident. A depth of maturity is added to the band’s song writing efforts by the members’ previous involvement in many and varied musical projects. Members of SE BON KI RA have been involved in other bands influential in the local scene, including Truth Corroded, Sector III, Obdurate Seduction, Chakkra and Hammad. Listening to a wide range of metal and exercising this in various projects has landed the boys in a good position to carve a fresh sound and style with plenty of influences to respectfully call on for inspiration.

“SE BON KI RA play an easily accessible style of heavy metal, simply described with a comparison with US band Lamb of God. Hard guitars and tough guy vocals laid over an infectious groove and downbeat” - Faster Louder

In mid 2009 the band proudly launched their debut EP “One Thousand Ways To Be” to 350 people at a killer show in Adelaide. With support from heavyweight mates Double Dragon, SE BON KI RA made a strong entry into the metal marketplace with their first recorded product. The band achieved national air play of the EP title track on the Triple J metal show, The Racket, when host Andrew Haug lifted it from their Unearthed website as his track of the week.

“…experience shines through on ‘One Thousand Ways To Be', as this is a mature and very cohesive release… a really impressive debut.” - dB Mag

“…by far the best Adelaide metal release I have heard in quite some time” - Music SA.

During their brief but eventful history SE BON KI RA has had the privilege of sharing stages with Aussie thrash and metal legends such as Mortal Sin, Alchemist, Dreadnaught, Blood Duster, Psycroptic, The Amenta, Dyscord, Double Dragon, Truth Corroded and Universum. Another highlight of 2009 for SE BON KI RA was picking up the main support spot for USA industrial metal merchants Static X at the Adelaide show of their Australian tour. 2010 started strongly too with their inclusion on the line up for the Big Day Out in Adelaide. Playing at 6.15pm on the Hot Produce stage, the band enjoyed an enthusiastic response at what was a predominantly non-metal event. Local punters have been very supportive of SE BON KI RA to date, with the band playing regularly to good sized, energetic crowds.

“SE BON KI RA already has a well established fan base in their home town, clearly visible from the large (S) logo on the shirts of a dozen or so attendees” - Faster Louder of Against The Grain IV

SE BON KI RA places pride in the integrity of their music. The lyrics of the debut EP title track One thousand ways to be invite the listener to think about the choices with which we are faced every day and the myriad of opportunities that open and close in an instant. Sometimes this luxury of choice can be overwhelming. We lack the strong guidance for being that is often present in more ancient cultures, and we turn inward for direction and meaning. On the battle to stay afloat on this sea of seemingly endless possibilities, SE BON KI RA’s formidable front man Chad passionately suggests “Just suck it in, set your demons free. This is the pain of one thousand ways to be.”

“It’s rare to find a band - let alone a local independent band - with the same sense of spirituality.” - Rip It Up Mag