Going back through Cyberia’s history, it’s interesting to find that they actually started out as an all-female metal band. Admittedly, this was before it was even called Cyberia and the road to where the band is today only started rolling around March 1997, when guitarist Andrew Christie became that line-up’s only male member.

After a long break from the scene the band will be hitting the stage once again for the first public appearance with the new line-up, playing both well-known numbers and new material

Today, Cyberia is an all-male quartet, though not necessarily by design.

The band’s feminine factor gradually diminished to be replaced first by keyboardist Antoine Vella, then bassist Joe ‘Il-Pannol’ Pace, with vocalist AJ Burd and a drum-machine completing the line-up.

At some point Burd left and was replaced by one Noel Cuschieri, now better known as the colourful frontman with the notorious Xtruppaw, and it was with this line-up that Cyberia’s public profile gained ground within the local music scene.

Apart from changing line-ups, the band has also been through a number of musical stages, its early metal element becoming gradually dominated by a blend of processed beats, guitar riffage, prominent synths and industrial sounds; in short, bridging the worlds of Marilyn Manson and The Prodigy with a Cyberia perspective. After Cuschieri left in April 2010, the band spent a few years toying with the idea of writing instrumental tracks and occasionally experimenting with synthesised vocals.

Interesting as this may have been at the time, the arrival of new vocalist Gilbert Zahra in November 2010 provided a vital shot in the arm for the band. Zahra’s punk roots, honed during his time with Oi band Riotous Future, have brought a fresh, new element to Cyberia’s signature electro-rock hybrid, resulting in a handful of new songs that herald the dawning of a new era in the band’s history.

Now, after a long break from the scene, Cyberia will be hitting the stage once again for the band’s first public appearance with the new line-up, playing a mixture of their well-known numbers as well as new material.

Titled Black Friday, Cyberia’s comeback gig is being staged in association with Hades Events and will take place at V-Gen in Paceville this Friday. Doors open at 10 p.m. and entrance is €3 at the door. For more information visit www.facebook.com/virtualcyberia.