History
Brisbane-based, tattooed heavyweights Dream-killers grew out of the ashes of a number of infamous underground punk/thrash bands of the 1980s. Hardcore/skate-thrash outfit Insane Hombres occupied Terry McDougall and Sid Roberts between 1988 and 1990. As well as McDougall and Roberts, Insane Hombres included John Bryant (vocals) and Ian Cranfield (drums; ex-Reality Damage, Psycho Circus) and the band issued one mini-album, To the Core (June 1989), on its own Non-Regulation imprint.

Jobson's band Mystery of Sixes issued two rare punk EPs `Mystery of Sixes'/`Totally Me', `Black Magic' (1982) and Mystery of Sixes (1983). Mystery of Sixes came to the attention of the Dead Kennedys' Jello Biafra when that American hardcore band toured Australia. Biafra reportedly re-engineered and reissued the Mystery of Sixes EP on the Alternative Tentacles label.

The name Dreamkillers was taken from an old Insane Hombres song. Dreamkillers' sound mixed heavy metal riffs and hardcore punk attitude in equal measure (akin to US bands like Black Flag and Suicidal Tendancies). In 1993, Dreamkillers issued the CD EPs Poison in the Soup and Carnival of Skin on the Velvet Urge label (through Siren). Roberts and McCallum left the band mid-1993. Roberts was not replaced, but Lindsay Tsdmanin came in as McCallum's replacement. The new line-up issued the CD EP Fairgrounds for Insanity (August 1994), which included live favourites `Homophobia' and `Latent Karma'.

It was not until March 1995, however, that the band followed those releases with the single `Sarah'/`Unbearable Light' and the full-length album Scorched Earth Policy. By the time the album came out, stalwart member McDougall had moved on to be replaced by Dave Smith (ex-A.I.M.). Dreamkillers supported US visitors L7 on an Australian tour, but slipped from view until mid-1997 when they signed to Roadrunner Australia. Roadrunner issued the CD single `Dry Reach' in August, followed by the album Character Building Hell-Trip in October.

In November 1999, Roadrunner Records issued the new Dreamkillers album, Poison Carnival. It comprised re-recordings (done while completing the album Character Building Hell-Trip) of the band’s first two EPs, Poison in the Soup and Carnival of Skin, with better production values, better equipment and a stronger line-up.