Midnight Juggernauts

Midnight Juggernauts
Sydney, 4 October 2007. MTV's The Lair Left to right: Szekeres, Stricker and Vendetta
Background information
Origin	Melbourne, Australia
Genres	Alternative dance, synthpop, electronica
Years active	2004–present
Labels	Siberia Records Capitol Virgin Charisma Astralwerks EMI Inertia
Website	www.midnightjuggernauts.com
Members	Vincent Vendetta Andrew Szekeres Daniel Stricker

Midnight Juggernauts are an Australian band from Melbourne, composed of Andrew Szekeres, Vincent Vendetta (Vincent Heimann), and Daniel Stricker. The band has been described as anything from 'prog dance meets cosmic film scores', to 'slasher-flick disco' to 'deadpan landscape'. It is hard to define the band's sound as all the instruments are played live through a range of samplers, pads and various acoustic instruments. Following the release of numerous 7" and 12" singles, and limited edition EPs, the band released their debut album, Dystopia. After playing festivals and headlining tours worldwide during late 2007-2008, the band finished working on their follow up album The Crystal Axis, touring around its release mid-2010 at festivals and headline shows around the globe. After a few years break the band released a third album Uncanny Valley in mid-2013. Members have also collaborated with various artists including Kirin J Callinan, Justice, Solange and Sebastian Tellier. The group also runs the label Siberia Records, through which they release their own music and others including Kirin J Callinan and Forces.

The band was formed in 2004 by Vincent Vendetta and Andrew Szekeres who met in school. They were later joined by Daniel Stricker in late 2006 who had met the two whilst playing in various groups over the years. In early shows the band had many different names and the lyrical content changed from show to show – one time when playing above a Chinese restaurant using the name of items from the menu in the lyrics of a few songs. The band have been noted for their more eccentric approach having come from established creative arts backgrounds, and remain heavily active in various experimental audio-visual projects.

Following a self-titled EP featuring "Raised By Wolves" in 2005, and the EP Secrets of the Universe in 2006, the band started to quickly gain a following in and out of Australia with the song "Shadows" becoming a hit in clubs and on the Internet. It was originally released as a 12" on friends label Cutters and re-released on Institubes in 2008 along with a host of limited edition vinyl. It and other songs were also featured on many compilations including Modular's Leave Them All Behind, FBI’s Kill Your Idols CD, Kitsune Maison, !K7's DJ-Kicks, Cut Copy's FabricLive.29 and a Christmas compilation with Institubes. It was on this Christmas compilation that then French up and coming act Justice (who were also on the compilation) heard the band and declared them their new favourite act, later inviting them to tour with them around the world.