HEAVY Music Interviews

Interview by Angela Croudace Brisbane-based alternative rock trio Nonberk have made waves in the local scene since their formation in 2019. Led by frontman Zaac Thompson, the band's sound channels heavy 90s grunge influences like Soundgarden, Silverchair, and Alice In Chains. Their powerful riffs and raw lyrics have earned them a dedicated following, with each release bringing something fresh to t...

New Skeletal Faces, the genre-defying band led by Errol Fritz (vocals/guitar) and Don Void (drums), has once again pushed musical boundaries with their latest release, Until the Night. Following their debut, Celestial Disease, Until the Night showcases a bold evolution in their sound, blending elements of punk, gothic rock, metal, and more. In an insightful interview, Fritz and Void shared their t...

From Ashes To New have had a stellar 2024, with the release of Blackout Deluxe capitalising on the success of the original album and opening up the band to a wider fanbase who got to hear a different side of the band's musical psyche. It is already their best performing album, so much so that it has propelled them across the world for their first visit to Australia when they hit the stage as part...

As the renowned band Batushka prepare for their final performance under this name in Melbourne, HEAVY had the chance to sit down with Monk Boruta and Bartek Krysiuk to explore the reasons behind the name change. Embarking on a new chapter, Batushka will be rebranding as Patriarkh, celebrating a new era with a groundbreaking concept album in January. Here's a glimpse into our conversation about the...

New Jersey rock outfit The Gaslight Anthem are experiencing somewhat of a new lease on life. Grabbing the attention of a global audience with their 2007 debut Sink Or Swim, The Gaslight Anthem rammed the point home with their second album The '59 Sound the following year, becoming the first band in British music history to appear on the cover of Kerrang! magazine without the magazine having previo...

As they say, there's no rest for the wicked, which is precisely why As December Falls are in the thick of things heading into the tail end of 2024, their tenth year as a band. Following the breakout success of 2021's album Happier, As December Falls quickly capitalised on their growing momentum, releasing the follow-up Join The Club last year. That album has seen the band on a relentless touring s...

Summoning the most brutal elements of Floridian death metal and combining it with the coldest permafrost of Scandinavian black metal, emerging Canadian deathcore outfit Angelmaker are making huge waves on the international metal scene. By confronting listeners with furious, focused, and violent extremity, Angelmaker create deathcore of the highest order - injected with blackened thrash, a smatteri...

At the end of the day, music and the creative arts is all about expression and having fun. In the modern age of entertainment that sense of enjoyment has slowly eroded due to the complexities of the current global climate and the incessant wish to not offend anybody which has resulted in a terser, more rigid sprinkling of bands and musicians that seem void of life because of their over-complicated...

Sydney rock outfit RedHook have been making a nuisance of themselves all over the world in recent years, playing with The Smashing Pumpkins and Janes Addiction as part of The World Is A Vampire Tour and at Good Things Festival alongside Bring Me The Horizon, Gojira, Soulfly, Jinjer and more in their home country, as well as international festivals Rock AM Ring, Download and others. Their relentles...

While Crossbone Skully may be a new band to some, they are definitely not a fresh band when it comes to pedigree. Frontman Tommy Henriksen is an integral part of both Alice Cooper's band and the Hollywood Vampires, earning his stripes multiple times over through countless tours and live performances. But with Crossbone Skully the landscape has shifted considerably. This is Henriksen's own band. Hi...

Wardruna is a Norwegian music constellation dedicated to weaving together the ancient sounds and traditions of the North into a modern soundscape using a broad selection of both traditional and historical Nordic instruments. The band utilises non-traditional instruments and other sources of sound such as trees, stones, bones, water and fire to enhance the nature of the theme being ‘portrayed’ in e...

Guitarist Ronnie Simmons has spread his talents far and wide over the span of his playing career, travelling as far away as LA to play with Faster Pussycat and Richie Ramone before settling on a permanent gig with Australian rock royalty Angry Anderson and Rose Tattoo. While travelling the world doing the thing you love may seem like the pinnacle of musical achievement, Simmons had one more peak t...

Interview by Angela Croudace As the iconic Dropkick Murphys gear up for their long-awaited tour in Australia, HEAVY had the pleasure of sitting down with Tim Brennan, the band's talented multi-instrumentalist. We discussed the upcoming shows, the band's musical journey, and the unique influences that shaped their sound. We kicked off the conversation about Dropkick Murphy's long-awaited return to...

British hard-rocking outfit Idles are the real deal. Not only do they staunchly oppose those who fall into their crosshairs, but they are also vocal and proud about such beliefs and stances, with scant regard given for how they are perceived by others. Using their music as a weapon, Idles are brutally honest about their stance on social issues such as racism, bigotry, and most importantly, toxic m...

Californian ska/punk outfit Voodoo Glow Skulls have been an integral part of the ska/punk scene since their inception in 1988. Born into a musical landscape that was only in the early stages of combining the two genres, the band quickly forged their own path based on a relentless touring ethic and uncompromising values that saw them play a large part in shaping what is now a modern-day institution...

Well known Brisbane musician Jordan 'Chalky' Hill is best known for his electrifying and dominant role behind the drum kit, but of late he has been expanding his skillset into pretty much every other facet of music. His most recent solo project, Nuclearsaurus Rex, has seen Chalky explore a more crossover thrash style, immersing himself in everything from writing and recording to playing every inst...

Interview by Angela Croudace Jaret Reddick, the charismatic frontman of Bowling for Soup, shared his excitement about returning to Australia after 15 years, the band's upcoming 30th anniversary, and his passion for mental health advocacy. As Bowling for Soup prepares to take the stage at the Good Things Festival, Jaret reflected on the band's journey and the importance of addressing mental health...

After spending their first couple of years refining their sound and learning their craft better, Gold Coast rock outfit Chavez Cartel are finally starting to bear the fruits of that labour, having also managed to conquer the UK and USA in recent years. With a classic rock sound embedded with elements of grunge, Chavez Cartel found pieces falling into place earlier this year with an appearance at B...

ALARUM have nothing to prove in sheer technical prowess on their instruments, or superlative proficiency in progressive metal songwriting. They've demonstrated for over 25 years that they are masters in complex time signatures, virtuoso guitar and bass chops, and layered sonic landscapes. Their music can be deliciously delicate and lovely, cheeky jazz fusion fun, or brutal death metal heavy. Their...

The only thing better as a band than hitting the road after releasing an album is hitting the road with your mates, so it was a no-brainer really when Melodic Death metal powerhouse ORPHEUS OMEGA (VIC) and Symphonic Gothic Metal masters CARMERIA (NSW) announced they would be touring together to promote recent albums. Dubbed the Embers Of Tragedy Australian Tour, the run of shows celebrates Orpheus...

Interview by Angela Croudace The music world is often dominated by Western narratives, but Botswana’s Skinflint is challenging those narratives by carving out a unique space for African metal. Founded in late 2006, the band emerged with a vision to blend heavy metal with the richness of African culture and mythology. HEAVY spoke to the band’s core members - Giuseppe Sbrana (guitar, vocals), Kebony...

Interview by Angela Croudace In the ever-evolving world of metal, League of Distortion is carving out its own niche, led by the dynamic Anna Brunner, also known as Ace. Fresh off the release of their new album Galvanize, Anna’s passion for music and empowering messages shines through in every note. We caught up with her to discuss the band’s journey, the inspiration behind their latest work, and t...

It is hard to believe that a band could have been around for over ten years and released two EPs, but are still to play their first live show. Especially in the modern age of music. But that's exactly the situation Gold Coast rock outfit Derail find themselves in as they prepare to make their live debut amongst esteemed company when they perform at the End Of Year Bash at Mo's Desert Clubhouse alo...

When Melbourne metal outfit Frankenbok played their first note in anger back in 1997 the musical landscape was a much different beast. For starters, it wasn't deemed necessary to label genres and subgenres of music to appeal to particular markets, meaning bands were more willing to mix a plethora of loves and influences without fear of alienating certain sections of their target audience. Which wa...

Misha Mansoor and Spencer Sotelo of Periphery spoke to HEAVY recently about their creative journey, the evolution of their music, and the unexpected fate that led to their latest release, 2 Song Acoustic Single. The discussion kicked off with an intriguing insight into the band's new acoustic single. Spencer shared how the project was born from a casual jam session during a U.S. tour with guitaris...