HEAVY Music Interviews

Interview by Angela Croudace Australian metalcore powerhouse Make Them Suffer are riding high in 2025 with a prestigious APRA Music Award nomination—an accolade that has vocalist and keyboardist Alex Reade feeling a well-earned sense of pride. “When we found out about the nomination, we weren’t sure what it meant at first,” Reade admits. “But once we did our research, we realized—this is something...

Interview by Kris Peters Brazilian thrash metal outfit Nervosa have been trailblazers for heavy metal for 15 years, playing at most of the major festivals and countries on the global touring circuit except one. Australia. But that blight has been rectified, with Nervosa currently in the country and playing the first of three shows in Sydney as we speak. Setting the world ablaze with their latest b...

Interview by Kris Peters Sydney based death metal outfit Anoxia are one of the rare breed of bands who are prepared to live and die by the sword they carry. By bringing a new sound to a bygone era of heavy metal, Anoxia embraces the legacy of death metal bands that have come before them such as Morbid Angel, Suffocation and Death, but sprinkle enough of their own - more modernized - DNA through th...

Interview by Kris Peters Rising Australian rock outfit Vermantics are a band with a purpose. But although they might still be finding out the intricate details of just what that is as they make their way through the trappings of the music industry, one thing they are already sure of, even in their formative year,s is the need for independence. The need to forge, then follow your own path. Vermanti...

Interview by Kris Peters The 2025 APRA MUSIC AWARDS are almost upon us, and after the overwhelming success of last year's debut category Most Performed Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Work, anticipation is once again high amongst Australia's fastest-growing music genre as five more Aussie acts are in the running to be recognized globally for their achievements. Not that winning awards are the be-all, end-al...

Interview by Kris Peters For more than three decades, the name Chocolate Starfish has been synonymous with Australian rock music, with singer Adam Thompson one of the most engaging and enigmatic frontmen to ever grace the stage in this country. Despite the success of Chocolate Starfish and the constant touring that comes with it, Thompson has also found time to branch into other areas of the artis...

Interview by Jack Harlen Sydney rock outfit Brooklyn Comic have built a steady name for themselves based on honest songwriting and powerful live performances. The band’s music blends emo, hardcore, indie and alternative rock, tackling themes such as loss, self-doubt, heartache and personal growth. As proud allies of the LGBTQIA+ community, Brooklyn Comic is also committed to fostering inclusivity...

Interview by Kris Peters Marketing plays a massive part in the world today, with the music industry no exception. A band can have all the chops in existence and originality dripping from their brow, but still reach next to no one without a clever marketing campaign or just plain luck. But when a band gets it right… As is the case with Australian hardcore outfit Lost Souls, who found the winning fo...

Interview by Kris Peters Acclaimed musical innovator and six-time Grammy nominee, Steven Wilson, will bring his highly anticipated The Overview Tour to Australia this November. His arrival will follow a massive run of UK, European and American dates and celebrates the release of his eighth solo album, The Overview, out now via Fiction Records. Australian fans can expect a captivating live experien...

Interview by Kris Peters It's been almost ten years since Finnish melodic death masters Insomnium last graced Australian shores, but that means nothing now with the band is set to bring their signature blend of haunting melodies and crushing riffs to fans Down Under this May. Founded in 1997 in the Karelian city of Joensuu, Insomnium first gained recognition in 2002 with their wintry debut In the...

Interview by Kris Peters Depressive black metal outfit GHOST BATH have emerged from beyond the veil with their new album, Rose Thorn Necklace, set to be released on May 9 via Nuclear Blast Records. The band, in their 12th year of existence, are not in the business of softening the edges. Rather, the frontman (Nameless aka Dennis Mikula) is leaning more toward his antisocial traits, serrated like a...

Interview by Kris Peters He may have been taken from us far too soon, but the legacy and memory of guitar great Randy Rhoads will live forever. Rhoads' name is revered in the music world, where, for a period from the late 1970s through to the early 1980s, his playing and presence left a shadow of brilliance that is as strong today as it was back then. The virtuoso guitarist, who co-founded Quiet R...

Interview by Kris Peters In just ten short years Melbourne musical powerhouse Valhalore have entrenched themselves as a vital cog in the growing Australian music industry, their unique blending of melodic death metal with power and symphonic elements - infused with folk influences - has resonated with audiences both domestically and abroad. Over the years they have toured with the likes of Alestor...

Interview by Kris Peters A band relentlessly poised on the cutting edge of heavy music, THE PLOT IN YOU have cultivated ongoing critical acclaim and fan adoration since first forming 15 years ago. Hailing from Ohio, the group announced themselves to the scene via their 2011 debut album, First Born, paving the way for their soon-to-be-signature balanced and innovative take on metalcore tropes. Whet...

Interview by Kris Peters It's that time of the year again where Australia's finest musical talents assemble to reward their achievements over the last 12 months and beyond. The APRA Music Awards celebrate excellence in contemporary music, honouring songwriters and publishers who have achieved artistic excellence and outstanding success in their fields. To be held in Melbourne on April 30 this year...

Interview by Kris Peters At the turn of the last century - around the same time the world was supposed to succumb to the flash in the pan that was the Y2K bug - a group of four Sydney punk reprobates called Frenzal Rhomb were plotting their own assault on the world. But instead of technology, this was a stealth attack by music. After previously making their name as carefree, wreckless, uncompromis...

Interview by Angela Croudace For fans of death metal, Benediction needs no introduction. With a history that spans decades, the band has continually pushed boundaries, proving that their music is not only timeless but still relevant today. As the band gears up for the release of their highly anticipated album Ravage of Empires, we sat down with Daz Brookes, one of the founding members, to chat abo...

Interview by Kris Peters In an age where people and their personalities are becoming increasingly sanitized it is refreshing to come across an artist still unafraid to say things as they are without self-censorship or undue thought to repercussions. A singer/songwriter who adheres to the old school ethos of respect and honesty rather than rainbows and butterflies, and who isn't afraid to get her h...

Interview by Kris Peters Grinding Eyes craft a uniquely dark sonic landscape, fusing psychedelic shoegaze, drone rock, and ambient garage punk. The Sydney band released their third studio album, Out of Focus, last Friday, further capitalizing on the momentum built through their 2018 self-titled album and 2021’s Taste the Monochrome. Known for their relentless touring, Grinding Eyes have shared sta...

Interview by Kris Peters Two decades into any career and you would be forgiven for starting to grow stale or formulaic. Be it an office job, labouring, or even in the music industry, the old saying familiarity breeds contempt holds firm. But try telling that to Scottish metal outfit Bleed From Within who, after 20 years in the music scene, have reached their peak - their Zenith, if you will. The G...

Interview by Angela Croudace As The Juliana Theory prepares to celebrate the anniversary of their seminal album Emotion is Dead with a special Australian tour, frontman Brett Detar shares his thoughts on the album's creation, its unexpected impact, and what fans can expect in the future. Looking back, Brett recalls the humble beginnings of the album, created when he was just 21. “We were five kids...

Interview by Kris Peters Bands of renown all boast a number of great albums to their name. But within that body of work, there is always that one album. That magnum opus. That genre-defining, gravity-defying masterpiece that sets a standard by which not only their peers, but the band themselves are measured by forever more. For ATREYU, THE CURSE is that album. With their legacy as one of the origi...

Interview by Kris Peters Sydney punk/rock outfit Crash & The Crapenters have become well known since their 2016 debut for their signature immature but experienced psychedelic rock that touches on themes of mental health, addiction, and burnout, and their latest EP Species Du Faeces is a showcase of their sound. This four-track journey - which is out now - is packed with homages to their musica...

Interview by Kris Peters It's been a long six years between drinks for Adelaide chaotic hardcore outfit Life Pilot, with their last new music coming in the form of a stand-alone single back in 2019. After giving fans a taste of their sonic force with a 2013 Compass split record with Statues (WA), their debut EP High Noon in 2014 and second EP Too Hot For Killing in 2017 Life Pilot would release ju...

Interview by Angela Croudace Collin Walsh from Grayscale sat down to chat about the band’s long-awaited Australian debut, musical evolution, and behind-the-scenes moments that have shaped their career. With their first-ever tour Down Under just around the corner, Grayscale is eager to experience the country’s culture and share their music with fans who’ve been waiting for years. Collin revealed, “...