Ne Obliviscaris recognised with overseas award

Melbourne metallers Ne Obliviscaris have received international recognition, with US music website Metal Insider recently awarding the band's two guitarists.

The respected local band, currently in the middle of an ongoing visa battle regarding French born guitarist Benjamin Baret, received the award for 'Best Unsigned International Guitarist(s) of 2010-11' by the music site earlier this month.

"We hereby grant Benjamin Baret and fellow (guitarist) Matt Klavins with the first annual Metal Insider Best Unsigned International Guitarist(s) Award. This award recognizes (sic) the work the two have done together from the past year as a guitar duo in an unsigned international metal group," Metal Insider writes.

Baret, currently back overseas had his Visa application rejected by the Immigration Department late last year.

As Ultimate Guitar reported at the time, Baret's application was rejected on the grounds that, "A metal guitarist with internationally recognized (sic) records could be expected to have collaborated with renowned metal bands such as Metallica, Iron Maiden or Disturbed. There is no evidence in the application that it is the case."

The musician commented on these requirements to Metal Insider, believing the application failure is a result of the Immigration Department's naive understanding of the metal genre.

"Do they really think Metallica became that big in 2 years? I am afraid it made me realize (sic) they don’t know anything about metal music. But they are the ones who decide. So we have to convince them," Baret said.

Ne Obliviscaris are set to support Nevermore on the Melbourne leg of their forthcoming Australian tour.

Fans can sign the ongoing petition supporting Baret's application for an Australian Visa here.