Sunk Loto
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Headquarters | Gold Coast, Queensland , Australia |
Key people | Jason Brown, Dane Brown, Sean Van Gennip, Rohan Stevenson |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
Sunk Loto is an Australian band known for their nu metal and alternative metal style, originating from Gold Coast, Queensland in 1997. The group was established by Dane Brown (drums), Jason Brown (vocals), Luke McDonald (guitar), and Sean Van Gennip (bass), who secured a contract with Sony Music Australia when their average age was just 16. They produced two studio albums: Big Picture Lies (2000) and Between Birth and Death (2003), both of which entered the top 50 on the ARIA Albums Chart. Between 1997 and 2007, Sunk Loto toured internationally, headlining various shows, performing at major festivals such as The Big Day Out and Livid, and supporting prominent acts including Sevendust, Korn, and Deftones. After disbanding in 2007, the original lineup reunited in 2022, embarking on two sold-out national tours and releasing “The Gallows Wait,” their first new track in two decades, featuring new guitarist Rohan Stevenson after Luke McDonald’s departure. They intend to continue producing music and touring.
1997–1999: Formation and Society Anxiety
Initially formed as a heavy metal outfit named Messiah in March 1997 on the Gold Coast, the band consisted of Dane Brown (drums), Jason Brown (vocals), Luke McDonald (guitar), and Miles Matheson (bass). Following Matheson’s exit, Sean Van Gennip joined the lineup. A year later, to avoid confusion with another band called Messiah, they adopted the name Sunk Loto. This new name combined "LOTO," an acronym for "liberators of the oppressed," with "SUNK," symbolizing the sinking of their previous identity.
In April 1999, they signed with Epic Records when Dane was only 13 and Van Gennip was 17 years old. By November that year, they released their five-track EP Society Anxiety, produced by Paul McKercher. The EP reached number 40 on the ARIA Singles Chart. Early critiques described their sound as emblematic of the nu-metal genre but also influenced by Rage Against the Machine’s Evil Empire and Deftones’ Around the Fur. The lead single "Vinegar Stroke" gained substantial radio airplay. To promote the EP, the band performed at festivals including Homebake before concentrating on their debut album.
2000–2007: From Big Picture Lies to Between Birth and Death
Between 2000 and 2002, Adam Cox joined Sunk Loto as DJ, sampler, and keyboardist. Their debut album, Big Picture Lies, was released in October 2000. Produced by McKercher in Sydney and mixed by Michael Barbiero in New York, it peaked at number 30 on the ARIA Albums Chart. Despite its commercial performance, the band felt the album was produced too hastily and described it as "competent but disappointing." Critics highlighted its fusion of hip-hop, rock, metal, and classical elements. The lead single "Make You Feel" reached number 33 on the ARIA Singles Chart; another single, "Sunken Eyes," also charted within the top 100. Sunk Loto extensively toured during this period, including an appearance at Big Day Out in 2001.
Under pressure from their label to emerge as Australia’s next Silverchair, the band concentrated on enhancing their songwriting for future releases. However, personal struggles such as addiction issues, bereavement, and theft delayed progress. After discarding numerous demos that did not meet their standards, they launched their second album Between Birth and Death in November 2003, produced by Phil McKellar. This album adopted a darker and heavier tone compared to its predecessor and reached number 48 on the ARIA Albums Chart while climbing to number four on the ARIA Heavy Rock & Metal chart. Its lead single "Everything Everyway" made it into the top 50. McKellar received an ARIA nomination for Engineer of the Year in 2004 for his work on this record.
By 2006, Sunk Loto experienced a decline in popularity alongside management difficulties intensified by the SonyBMG merger, which resulted in them being dropped from their label. Bassist Sean Van Gennip departed due to creative disagreements and was succeeded by Rob Kaay (formerly of Full Scale). Although plans were underway for a third album featuring a darker sound direction, internal creative differences led to their breakup in May 2007. Their final performance took place in December 2007 at Gold Coast’s Hard Rock Hotel.
Following the split, Jason Brown, Dane Brown, and Kaay formed Flood—a short-lived project. Subsequently, Jason and Dane Brown collaborated with members of Lump to create Electric Horse, releasing an EP titled Translations (2010) and an album called Venomous (2013). Meanwhile, Luke McDonald briefly joined Gold Coast band Miacarla before leaving the music industry altogether.
2022–present: Reunion and Changes
Following a 15-year break, original members Luke McDonald, Sean Van Gennip, Jason Brown, and Dane Brown reunited Sunk Loto in 2022. They revealed plans for three concerts across Southeast Queensland, which quickly sold out, and proceeded with further touring activities later that year.
On 22 August 2023, it was made public that guitarist and founding member Luke McDonald had left the band. Subsequently, on 4 September 2023, Rohan Stevenson from Melbourne-based instrumental group I Built The Sky was introduced as the new permanent lead guitarist. Then, on 3 October 2023, Sunk Loto unveiled The Gallows Wait, marking their first fresh release in almost two decades.
Band members
Current lineup
- 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)
Past members
- Luke McDonald – lead guitar, backing vocals (1997–2007, 2022–2023)
- Miles Matheson – bass guitar (1997)
- Adam Cox – turntables, samples, keyboards (2000–2002; touring musician)
- Rob Kaay – bass guitar (2006–2007)
Timeline
Studio albums
| Title | Album information | AUS |
|---|---|---|
| Big Picture Lies |
|
30 |
| Between Birth and Death |
|
48 |
Extended plays
| Title | EP details | AUS |
|---|---|---|
| Society Anxiety |
|
40 |
Singles
| Title | Year | AUS | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Make You Feel" | 2000 | 33 | Big Picture Lies |
| "Sunken Eyes" | 2000 | 76 | Big Picture Lies |
| "Everything Everyway" | 2003 | 46 | Between Birth and Death |