HEAVY Music Interviews

Interview by Kris Peters With the countdown to Necrosonic Festival at The Mansfield Tavern in Brisbane on August 31 now on, HEAVY thought it appropriate to introduce you to some of the bands playing on the day. Conjured by one of the dark architects behind the legendary Overcranked, Inferno and Dead of Winter Festivals, Necrosonic heralds a day filled with unrelenting brutality and the heaviest, m...

Interview by Kris Peters To steal a line from their bio, "ZEAL & ARDOR isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity." Since announcing their arrival with 2017's album Devil Is Fine, Zeal & Ardor have transgressed almost every musical parameter known to man, exploring sonic realms through their music that have no right being disturbed, yet somehow always combine through a submissiv...

Interview by Simon Russell-White It's appropriate to skip the fluff on this one, for goodness’ sake it's Steve Harris (Bass/ Keyboards) we're talking to here and the importance of his "other band" (insert laughter here) Iron Maiden needs no explanation and/or justification. The focus tonight? The band he helped put back together piece by piece... Yes, I'm talking about the one and only British Lio...

Interview by Kris Peters The Australian music scene was undeniably strong in the 1990s, with bands like Blood Duster, Dreamkillers, Armoured Angel and Damaged just to name a few carving a name for themselves in that era. It was a time before the internet, where bands had to promote themselves in a vastly different way, pasting posters onto telegraph poles and spruiking their upcoming shows at othe...

Interview by Kris Peters Wellington thrash metal outfit Bulletbelt have made massive inroads over their 15 year existence, supporting bands of the calibre of Municipal Waste, Napalm Death, Carcass, Dragonforce, Venom Inc and Arch Enemy to name just a few. Their brand of metal is fast, brutal and uncompromising, a welcome relief in a musical landscape that is becoming more predictable by the day. D...

Interview by Kris Peters Given the frenetic nature of the modern music industry and the avalanche of new songs and music bombarding consumers from every direction, it is of little surprise that new and emerging bands get drawn into the common misconception that more is better. More music means more opportunities means more new fans. Or so many believe. But - and perhaps because of this - it can of...

LA-based rock outfit All Good Things have been quiet since the breakthrough success of their 2021 album A Hope In Hell, which featured the global phenomenon For The Glory. After spending years honing their craft musically, the success of that album propelled the band into being an almost household name, setting them up for seemingly limitless possibilities and advancements in their career. But, ra...

Interview by Kris Peters Canberra metal outfit St. Sinner are amongst the emerging breed of acts who are increasingly shunning expectation in favour of growth and expression. With a sound that is constantly morphing into a hybrid of styles and genres, St. Sinner recently showcased their intentions with the EP Identity Crisis, containing eight songs that exemplify the band's refusal to paint within...

Interview by Kris Peters Queensland hard hitters Goatzilla have managed to strike that elusive chord that blends thrash metal and punk together in an almost cohesive summoning of the forces of music that is almost irresistible when done right. It is hard to believe the band are approaching their ten-year anniversary of life on this planet, with their infectious and witty brand of music infecting t...

Interview by Sam Spade from The Midnight Devils US rockers Buckcherry return to Australia this September for a run of shows hot on the heels of their massively successful new album Vol. 10 which came out earlier this year. Almost a quarter of a century after their debut self-titled album, Buckcherry are still the benchmark for good time party rock, with an always energetic live performance to comp...

Melbourne grindcore/death metal outfit Remains are making their way to Queensland in the near future, nailing down one of thirty spots at the inaugural Necrosonic Festival to be held at Brisbane's Mansfield Tavern on August 31. Despite forming only five years ago, Remains have quickly built a formidable reputation on the live circuit, with the vast experience of members - who have previously been...

Todd Hansen is one of those rare breed of musicians that is just plain nice. Almost too nice. Known, loved and respected for bashing the skins with bands like Headkase, The Berzerker, F.U.C and King Parrot, it is his contributions to things outside of and closely related to music that makes him not only a great skinsman but also a champion bloke. In his spare time Todd also teaches drums, lends hi...

Interview by Kris Peters Mortality changed the landscape of Australian heavy metal when they burst onto the local scene back in 1992. Powered by an aggressive blending of thrash, death and groove metal, the band quickly established themselves as not just a musical force, but also a devastating and brutal live act that bludgeoned every aural sense possible. The world was theirs for the taking, with...

Interview by Kyra-Jade Coombs Sydney trio Yours Truly stamped themselves on the Australian music landscape with their impressive 2020 album Self Care, which was nominated for an ARIA for Best Hard Rock or Heavy album. Rather than rest on their laurels, the band attacked their craft with even more intent, spending 2023 touring Europe alongside You Me At Six, ticking off their first-ever UK headline...

Interview by Kyra-Jade Coombs In my opinion, The Living End are a staple in the Australian music scene. They have graciously given us 8 albums and if you break them down over the years, you find hit after hit. Their debut album (self-titled) is one of those albums you can play start to finish and happily immerse yourself right into their music and feel nothing but pure joy. HEAVY took the chance t...

Interview by Kyra-Jade Coombs While She Sleeps are absolutely killing it lately. They’ve just gone on a huge run of summer festivals in the UK & EU to some of the biggest crowds they’ve ever played in front of. If you check out the videos on their socials or YouTube, they are HUGE.  HEAVY had the chance to have a chat with their lead singer Loz about how it’s been to experience something like...

Interview by Kris Peters Twentieth-anniversary milestones are generally accepted as being more a celebration of the past leading into a future of unknowns than a stepping stone on the path to greater success. The old adage that you have paid your dues after two decades, coupled with the sense of personal achievement in staving off Father Time - albeit temporarily - can be enough to subconsciously...

Interview by Kris Peters Australian melodic death outfit Immorium have laid the groundwork and put in the hard yards since forming in 2011. The very fact they are from one of this country's most isolated music playgrounds almost puts them behind the eightball from the start, but as the saying goes, build it and they will come. And come they have. Over two previous albums and one EP, Immorium have...

Interview by Kris Peters UK metal outfit Orange Goblin are a band who has had to work hard for everything they have. Bloody hard. Formed in 1995 and born into a musical landscape already dominated by bands such as Black Sabbath, Trouble, Saint Vitus, The Obsessed, Pentagram, Cathedral, Danzig, Monster Magnet and Kyuss, Orange Goblin spent many of their formative years deflecting criticism of their...

Interview by Kris Peters Three songs into their career, and Melbourne post-hardcore outfit This Point Forward are already making an impression. Generally newer bands aim to stick to one market and/or specification in the early stages, wanting to serve up enough quality - yet safe - material to establish a fan base then build from there. Following their more catchy, pop driven debut single Unstill,...

Interview by Kris Peters While the term family is often bandied about in the world of music, it is generally used as more of an affectionate term when used to describe the bond that develops between band members. Not often is it used in the literal term. But when it is, you can be sure that you are in for something special. Think Angus and Malcolm Young from AC/DC, Andrew Farriss, Jon Farriss, and...

After selling out their own headlining tour of Australia just last year, British metalcore giants Bury Tomorrow have wasted little time in delivering on their promise to return. They will arrive back to these shores in August and September, playing alongside Spite, Bloom and Make Them Suffer as part of the Suffer Forever Australian Tour. Their last tour was to promote then new album The Seventh Su...

Whiteford deliver raw, passionate rock songs with a narrative of the ups and downs of love, celebration, loss and life, weaving elements of modern and classic rock with blues, layered with energy, emotion and delivered with soul. Having many years of on stage and in studio experience, they are ready to break out of the local scene and onto the festival circuit and larger stages. Their energetic an...

Interview by Kris Peters Mr. Big have been captivating music lovers since their inception in 1988 with an irresistible blending of rock and blues music that is as infectious as it is beautiful to hear. After releasing their self-titled debut album in 1989, Mr. Big - (vocalist Eric Martin, guitarist Paul Gilbert and bassist Billy Sheehan) achieved universal breakthrough success with the follow-up L...

Interview by Kris Peters If you used only the sheer brutality of their music as a guide, it would be easy and highly probable to imagine Werewolves to be a serious metal band. Their music is soul-destroying and intense, pummelling your senses from every angle before regrouping to smash you in places you didn't even know existed. No shit. But when you listen to or read an interview with any of the...