Top albums for 2024
Well, 2024 has ticked over to 2025, and that means it’s time to look back and assess what made my list for the top albums of the year.
__________
Australian Content
THOSE LEFT BEHIND single
Check out the latest track by Adelaide-based Metalcore band THOSE LEFT BEHIND. The track is 'Ouroboros', and it is a punishing 3 minutes. This is chunky and riffy and guaranteed to leave you breathless. Click to read more.
__________
DEADSPACE interview. New album OUT NOW.
I had a cool, long and involved chat with Chris from DEADSPACE. We discussed so many things but it was all related to the release of the latest very dark and very heavy album, 'The Dark Enlightenment'. Check it out.
__________
THE ETERNAL interview. New album, ‘Skinwalker’.
I sat down with Mark Kelson from THE ETERNAL for a casual and quite lengthy chat about the new album, 'Skinwalker', new record deals, guest musos from all over, cold Finnish winters and what happens next.
__________
ROTTING CHRIST photos
ROTTING CHRIST, laid waste to Lion Arts Factory in spectacular fashion, with the best in-your-face set of Black Metal I've seen. Adelaide's FREEDOM OF FEAR and DIABOLIC RITES provided perfect support.
__________
METAL UNITED DOWN UNDER – Adelaide 2024 photos
Some photos from METAL UNITED DOWN UNDER at the London Tavern in Adelaide.
__________
FLAMING WREKAGE interview. New album out April 26th.
I had a cool chat with Dave Lupton from FLAMING WREKAGE about the band's history, local festivals, performing in tin sheds, rural shows, 'different' video clips and the soon to be released album, 'Terra Inferna'. Cool stuff. Check it out.
__________
HEAVY SA photos
HEAVY SA was held January 27th, featuring 24 bands from South Australia (plus a bonus 'jam' band with assorted members). It was another huge event, well organised and well run, held at Lion Arts Factory over 2 stages.
__________
20231226 LEMMY FOREVER photos
A healthy crowd rocked up at the Crown & Anchor for LEMMY FOREVER.
__________
20231209 Dimefest photos
December 9th saw the 2023 edition of Dimefest, featuring a number of bands, culminating in the Pantera tribute of 'BY DEMONS BE DRIVEN'.
__________
Froth and Fury 3 photos
The recent Froth & Fury 3 will go down in history as the pinnacle in locally organised Heavy Music events, held again at Pirate Life Brewing at Port Adelaide. The lineup was fully stacked with local, interstate and overseas bands. 4,000 people packed in for plenty of bands, plenty of drink, plenty of food, plenty of good times. Can't wait for next year.
__________
FIRESTORM / SHADOW MONARCHY photos
Broken Hill's FIRESTORM blasted into Adelaide over the weekend and sold out Brewboys. DIRTY PAGANS, SHADOW MONARCHY and DENAZEN were on the bill also and made for an interesting night. I managed to sleaze side-stage access (all half metre square of it) for FIRESTORM and SHADOW MONARCHY and you can see the results below.
__________
NAKATOMI PLAZA interview. Debut single, ‘Bloodlines’, out now.
I had a cool chat with the guys from Adelaide's NAKATOMI PLAZA about the formation of the band and the debut single, 'Bloodlines', and what is in store for the band.
__________
HIDDEN INTENT Wacken send-off photos
Photos of a wild night at The Gov, for HIDDEN INTENT's last show before venturing to Europe for a tour, including a slot at the massive Wacken Festival. TROOPS OF DOOM, HEADBORE, and BROKEN LOOSE provided able support.
__________
TEMTRIS album launch photos
__________
THE NEW DEAD METALFEST 12 photos
__________
TEMTRIS interview. New album, ‘Khaos Divine’, out now.
__________
CHURCHES OF STEEL 6 photos
CHURCHES OF STEEL 6 was a blast. We were treated to a fantastic exhibition of Australian Metal. Mat Maurer and HIDDEN INTENT did a fantastic set of MORTAL SIN classics, local legends, ALMOST HUMAN,
did their first show in over 10 years and a great day was had by all.
Weather was fantastic, a great day to be outdoors in Adelaide. Can’t
wait for next year’s event.
__________
MORTAL SIN interview – HUGE
I had an awesome and very long chat with Mat Maurer about his time in pioneering Australian thrash band, MORTAL SIN.
There’s not much we didn’t chat about..recording the first album, major
label signing, the Metallica tour, leaving the band, reformations,
Wacken, and of course the upcoming performance at the 6th instalment of Churches Of Steel Festival, January 21st here in Adelaide. Check it out.
__________
VICTORIA K interview. New album out now.
__________
BE’LAKOR ‘Coherence’ Tour – Adelaide gig review.
Photos and review of the BE’LAKOR ‘Coherance’ tour gig, with ORPHEUS OMEGA, ANDY GILLION and DYSSIDIA in support.
__________
DANGEROUS CURVES / CLOVER / FEED THE FIRE photos.
__________
CANINE INSERTION photos.
(Hidden Intent playing a party covers set) played at the Crown &
Anchor on Friday night and had a few guests up to help them.
__________
THE AUSTRALIAN ALICE COOPER SHOW photos.
__________
BY DEMONS BE DRIVEN / KILLED BY DEATH photos
__________
ORPHEUS OMEGA interview. Touring soon with BE’LAKOR.
__________
VANISHING POINT / SHADOW REALM / SKYHAMMER photos
Photos of VANISHING POINT, finally getting to play in Adelaide to promote their album, ‘Dead Elysium’, supported by Adelaide bands, SHADOW REALM and SKYHAMMER.
__________
VANISHING POINT interview. Touring at last.
I spoke with Chris
from Melbourne’s VANISHING POINT about
finally getting out on the road again.
__________
NEW DEAD METALFEST XI Photos
__________
DEVIL ELECTRIC interview. New album, ‘Godless’, out now.
about the latest album, ‘Godless’, and how it was affected by lockdown
after lockdown after lockdown. Also hear about the dangers of Canberra
wildlife and much more.
__________
FROTH AND FURY FEST photos.
__________
Review – DANGEROUS CURVES – ‘Summertime Highs’.
THOSE LEFT BEHIND release new video.
Adelaide band, THOSE LEFT BEHIND,
have released a ball-tearing new single, ‘2020‘
(featuring KidCrusher) and have released a video to accompany it.
________
THE NEW DEAD XI announced. Check for details.
TEMTRIS / SHADOW REALM / LUCIFER’S FALL gig photos.
TEMTRIS / SHADOW REALM / LUCIFER’S FALL gig photos from Enigma Bar, Adelaide – 29/05/21.
__________
Review – TEMTRIS – ‘Ritual Warfare’
The 6th album from Australia’s TEMTRIS sees them release a solid cohesive album of Aussie METAL.
CARMERIA interview. Album out Friday 14th May, 2021.
I spoke with Jordan
from CARMERIA about the path
to the release of their album, which is due out this Friday, May
14th.
Check it out below.
__________
FROTH & FURY FEST – Massive Adelaide gig announcement.
FROTH & FURY FEST
gig announcement –
THIS IS HUGE.
July 31st, down at Port Adelaide.
Check all the info within.
__________
CALIGULA’S HORSE announce livestream for June 20th.
CALIGULA’S HORSE: LIVE AFTER LOCKDOWN
LIVE SHOW | WORLDWIDE LIVESTREAM EVENT | 20.00 AEST
SUNDAY JUNE 20 – THE TRIFFID, BRISBANE
Click for more details.
__________
TEMTRIS interview. New album, ‘Ritual Warfare’, out April 30th.
I spoke to GEN
and FOX from
TEMTRIS about
the line-up change, the recording of the new album, ‘Ritual Warfare,
due for release April 30, and the tour to promote the album. Always
great to chat to them.
__________
SOUTH COAST RAW gig photos.
A gig 2 weekends in a row? Hang on, what? This time it was SOUTH COAST RAW at the Port
Noarlunga Football Club.
__________
SHATTERED HOURGLASS interview online. Debut album out December 8th.
I spoke with RAIDEN and CRAIG MACINTYRE from South Australian band, SHATTERED HOURGLASS about the band’s debut album, ‘Timekeeper’, due out December 8th. This band will surprise you, they surprised me when I saw them earlier this year. It’s not often you go to a gig, and the lead guitarist in a heavy band is 12 years old. Yeah, you read that right. To top it off, RAIDEN had a guitar sound like TONY IOMMI. Check it all out below, where you’ll find the interview, press release and the link to the new single on YouTube.
Steve Hughes interview online. Eturnum album out now.
I spoke to STEVE HUGHES about many, many things. His start in the Metal scene in Sydney in the early 80s, his time in SLAUGHTER LORD, later joining MORTAL SIN, his transition to stand-up comedy and his new STEVE HUGHES ETERNUM album, ‘Alone But For The Breath Of Beasts’.
Check it all out below.
Metal United Down Under – Adelaide gig photos.
Actually had a Metal gig to go to last night. What ? A gig? I know, right? Anyway a smattering of photos can be found by clicking here.
AC/DC to release new album, ‘Power Up’, on November 13th.
BIG NEWS. AC/DC are back. They’re set to release a new album, ‘Power Up’ on November 13th, 2020.
Unleash New Single ‘Shot In The Dark’ Out Now
Reveal Limited-edition Deluxe Of ‘Power Up’
The full story, with links to new music, follows below. Click the covers to pre-order.
VANISHING POINT interview online. New album out August 28th.
I spoke with CHRIS PORCIANKO from Melbourne’s VANISHING POINT about many things, lockdown, new members, CD and merch sales, illness, and the new album, ‘Dead Elysium’, which is due out August 28th.
The interview is a big one, check it and various other info below.