Fresh from kicking off their Never Coming Home national tour in Hobart on the weekend, Australian music royalty, Hilltop Hoods have today announced they’ve been busy scouring their garages and personal archives for rare merchandise to host an online auction giving fans the opportunity to get their hands on bespoke and signed memorabilia. Teaming up with their favourite South Australian charity, Lion Hearts Learning, the auction will raise vital funds to support children and families affected by cancer and low immunity.
Digging deep into their personal archives, the band has pulled together a collection of highly sought-after, rare Hilltop Hoods merchandise including the band’s 2008 BDO Banner, DJ Debris’ signed Rane DJ mixer 2000-2018 (featured in the ‘Cosby Sweater’ film clip), Suffa’s The Great Expanseplatinum plaque, signed box sets, signed vinyl bundles, signed clothing and shoes collabs with DCs, Zoo York, G Shock and more.
These exclusive items and more will be auctioned online throughout the tour, live now and running through to Sunday 22 March at 8.30pm AEDT.
Fans attending the band’s sold out Adelaide hometown shows tonight and tomorrow will be able to view some of the merchandise in person, while supporters around the country can also take part online from lionheartslearning.com/hthauction
Every dollar raised will go directly to Lion Hearts Learning, helping create safe, supportive spaces where children undergoing cancer treatment and their families can play, connect, and heal.
“Lion Hearts Learning does incredible work in the community,” said Suffa. “Unfortunately, a lot of families have been impacted by childhood cancer, including Pressure’s, so we’re grateful to be able to help fundraise for a very worthy charity.”
For auction details and updates, keep an eye on Hilltop Hoods’ official channels and Lion Hearts Learning socials.
The Never Coming Home national tour is set to swing through Adelaide for two sold out shows this weekend, before moving around the rest of the country. There are limited tickets remaining to Qudos Bank Arena (Syd) on 28 Feb and Entertainment Centre (Bris) on 13 March, on sale now from https://hilltophoods.com/.
Fall From the Light is out now, via Island Records Australia.
HILLTOP HOODS – NEVER COMING HOME NATIONAL TOUR
Presented by TEG and Blue Max Music
SAT 14 FEB | MYSTATE BANK ARENA, HOBART | AA | SOLD OUT
FRI 20 FEB | ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, ADELAIDE | AA | SOLD OUT
SAT 21 FEB | ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, ADELAIDE | AA | SOLD OUT
FRI 27 FEB | QUDOS BANK ARENA, SYDNEY | AA | FINAL TICKETS
*AARADHNA APPEARING IN PLACE OF MAVERICK SABRE
SAT 28 FEB | QUDOS BANK ARENA, SYDNEY | AA | SOLD OUT
FRI 6 MAR | ROD LAVER ARENA, MELBOURNE | AA | SOLD OUT
SAT 7 MAR | ROD LAVER ARENA, MELBOURNE | AA | SOLD OUT
FRI 13 MAR | ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, BRISBANE | AA | FINAL TICKETS
SAT 14 MAR | ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, BRISBANE | AA | SOLD OUT
SAT 21 MAR | RAC ARENA, PERTH | AA | SOLD OUT
Los Angeles screamo upstarts, Knumears, recently announced their upcoming debut album, Directions, and today they’re back with another crushing new single, “My Name“. The band will also head to Australia for the very first time this March, touring nationally with US hardcore outfit Vs Self – marking their debut run down under. Tickets on sale now.
Arriving Friday 3rd April via Run For Cover Records/Civilians, Directions is a screamo tour de force that reinvigorates the genre through sheer passion. “My Name” follows lead single “Fade Away” (which drew attention from Stereogum, Alt Press, BrooklynVegan, Revolver, and more) and offers another showcase of Knumears’ blend of old school ’90s skramz and punchy modern hardcore. The track opens with a blown-out bass line before propelling itself full speed into a wall of shredded vocals and distortion-drenched guitars, then pivots between melody and mayhem on a dime.
Since their formation Knumears (guitarist/vocalist Matthew Cole, bassist/vocalist Dante GarciaII, and drummer Frankie Lopez) have been touring heavily and releasing a steady drip of heartrendingly compelling music. The band carries the torch for one of the most esoteric yet enduring corners of ’90s hardcore–whether you call it screamo, skramz, emoviolence, post-hardcore, or whatever else, Knumears offer a fresh take on the chaos and catharsis that define this sound.
Recorded by Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Gouge Away, Loma Prieta) at Atomic Garden, Directions is bursting with the undeniable passion that’s so intrinsic to this genre. “I think what draws us to this type of music, just like everyone else, is the absolute raw emotion,” Cole says. “We all grew up listening to hardcore, and I think that allows you to see the world in a completely different light—both more creatively and intellectually. Not being raised on music that had nothing real to say was the best thing that happened to us.”
Directions will be out Friday 3rd April via Run For Cover Records/Civilians. “My Name” is out now and streaming everywhere.
OUT FRIDAY 3 APRIL VIA RUN FOR COVER RECORDS/CIVILIANS
RELEASE DETAILS
Artist: Knumears Hometown: Los Angeles, USASingle Title: My Name Release Date: Thursday 19 February
Album Title: Directions Release Date: Friday 3 April
Genre: Post-Hardcore Label: Run For Cover/Civilians
TRACK LISTING
1. Introduction
2. One Light, Sunshine
3. My Name
4. Breaking Ground
5. Directions
6. Untitled
7. Bridged
8. Fade Away
9. Friendly Face
10. The North
VS SELF Australian Tour
with guests KNUMEARSTuesday 17 March | Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide, AU Wednesday 18 March | Crowbar, Brisbane, AU Thursday 19 March | Manning Bar, Sydney, AU Saturday 20 March | Prince Bandroom, Melbourne, AU Monday 22 March | Lynotts Lounge, Perth, AU
VS SELF Australian Tour
with guests KNUMEARSTuesday 17 March | Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide, AU Wednesday 18 March | Crowbar, Brisbane, AU Thursday 19 March | Manning Bar, Sydney, AU Saturday 20 March | Prince Bandroom, Melbourne, AU Monday 22 March | Lynotts Lounge, Perth, AU
ANNOUNCE ‘COLD WORLD’ ALBUM + SHARE VIDEO FOR FIRST SINGLE “GOOD, YOU?”
‘COLD WORLD’ OUT FRIDAY 8 MAY VIA EQUAL VISION/CIVILIANS
The Flatliners are excited to announce the Friday 8 May release of Cold World, the longstanding, Juno-nominated Canadian punk quartet’s brand new studio album (pre-order/pre-save-pre-add here) out via Equal Vision/Civilians. While 2022’s New Ruinwas preoccupied with the inherited damages of the last generation, Cold Worldsees that legacy for what it is — a ghost, a fading memory. If New Ruin was about the rage of realization, now we’re damned with the aftermath of clarity. Welcome to the future.
Leading the collection is the single “Good, You?“, a snotty, tongue-in-cheek offering that successfully skewers the topic of toxic masculinity and the irrational fear we all seem to share of talking about our feelings. Watch the music video for “Good, You?” directed by Jeff Powers on YouTube here, and stream the track on all platforms here. The band had the following to share about the video:
“We wanted to pay homage to the greatest era of music videos we have ever known — the one we grew up in. Our aim was to make a ‘90s-style video, portraying the album artwork in all its glory; to bring things back to a time where you could suspend disbelief and just let your eyes and ears devour those next three minutes. With the help of our amazing cast and crew, we achieved just that. A piece of nowstalgia that feels like it has a strong foot in the past, and another firmly planted in the present.”
Maybe the greatest resistance that any artist can offer today is the radical act of stability — the same four people, friends since they were kids, playing music together because they have been compelled to for nearly their entire lives, 24 years and counting.
Cold World, the brand new studio album from Canadian punk veterans The Flatliners, is the sound of a band free to make what they want with the people they want to make it with, to try to carve out some space to demonstrate a different way of doing things — a space where bands share credit equally, where friends grow and work together over decades, a space where stability is the reward for sticking to your vision.
That vision has evolved into a consistent confidence that gives The Flatliners the freedom to experiment with the edges of their sound while grounded by each other, locking out the decay of the world outside. The band fought through the fire of their last record only to find a landscape of debasement and erasure, and an increasingly cold world for all of us to live in.
The textures of Cold World itself are anything but comfortable and familiar. The band’s airtight foundation of bassist Jon Darbey and drummer Paul Ramirezcontinues to drive with a learned, casual urgency on rippers like “Inner Peace“ and “Burn,” while Chris Cresswell and Scott Brigham deploy the controlled chaos of their shredding two-guitar attack, enveloping the listener on songs like “Pulpit“ and “Whyte Light.” As the album ends, we may be drifting out into darkness. But if we’re lucky, we can choose who we drift with.
Their new album, Cold World will be available Friday 8 May via Equal Vision/Civilians. “Good, You?” is out now and streaming everywhere via Equal Visions/Civilians.
Chase The Zeitgeist With Single ‘Goldsmith’ Ahead of Tour
Single Out Friday, February 20
Coming back out of the haze, Melbourne’s Fur Blossom are fronting the evolution revolution with their latest single ‘Goldsmith’.
In 2025, Fur Blossom released their debut EP ‘The She Said Sun EP’, a kaleidoscopic exploration of psychedelic rock. Following up with a regional Victorian tour, the four-piece band have taken to the scene with an unrelenting ferocity. This year will see the band make their festival debut, first at Mordi Festival (Melbourne), then in Tasmania this March at Good Gumnuts Festival, before heading up the East Coast in support of their new single ‘Goldsmith’.
Combining classic elements from the pioneers of the 60s and 70s, and the sleek modernness of the 21st century, ‘Goldsmith’ is a zeitgeist in its own right. Musically, it evokes the time and spirit of an era from the past, but lyrically speaks to the ageless conundrum of changing yourself for someone else, or someone from your past.
An articulated and undulating guitar riff immediately sets the tone for the slow burn of the extended introduction. The subtle fade in of each instrument creates a false sense of security, and before you know it, you are sucked into a sonic vortex. The crisp and contemplative vocal performance from Craig Tees rises above the instrumentation, before fading back in the chorus, creating depth and dimension to allow every part of the arrangement to speak and demand attention.
Just when you think the track is coming to a close, a cleverly placed fade out opens the floor for a surprise harmonica break (Craig Tees), further propelling the track into the groovy stratosphere. The final chorus is stronger dynamically, with a wistful nostalgia in the final lyrical refrains, which capture the overarching narrative of ‘Goldsmith’.
Fur Blossom invites you to change and experience the zeitgeist of modern psychedelic rock with ‘Goldsmith’, out everywhere now. Then, catch them on tour throughout March – details below.
Upcoming Shows
Friday, February 27 – Melbourne, VIC – Nighthawks (single launch) Sunday, March 1– Mordiallic, VIC – Mordiallic Festival Saturday, March 7 – Burnie, TAS – Good Gumnuts Festival Sunday, March 8 – Burnie, TAS – Good Gumnuts Festival Friday, March 13 – Sydney, NSW – The Loft Saturday, March 14 – Wollongong, NSW – Dicey Riley’s Hotel
A raw and relatable soul-blues ode to being led on and let down, You Won’t Call is the sublime new single and video from Sydney’s Northern Beaches duo LamBros. Out today, the sleek and soul-tugging venture is set to truly come alive on stage, with the pair hitting the road next week for a five-date NSW tour, kicking off in Sydney on Saturday 28 February.
Instantly hitting you right in the feels, You Won’t Call blends raw, pent-up lyricism with soulful blues textures, fusing crunchy guitars and commanding vocals over a pendulous 6/8 groove that propels the track’s mounting urgency. Nodding to influences like James Brown, Teddy Swims and Chris Stapleton, LamBros, aka brothers Connor (vocalist, guitarist, lyricist) and Harry Lambrou (drums, percussion, backing vocals), capture grooves with grit on their latest track, whilst channelling real-life experiences, as Connor, elaborates, “You Won’t Call stemmed from our own experiences being led on and let down by someone important in your life. It comes from that sinking feeling that something is not right with your relationship, be it romantic or friendship. It comes from the internal conflict of loving someone, while knowing deep down that they don’t feel the same way.”
Connor continues, “Despite years of dedication, love and patience, You Won’t Call. Despite giving everything to keep this together, You Won’t Call. Despite everything we’ve been through, You Won’t Call. This is the essence of the song.”
Once again an entirely independent affair, You Won’t Call was written, recorded, produced, mixed and mastered by LamBros, with the brothers playing all instruments themselves at their home studio. Bringing the single’s cover art to life with the help of Sasha McCarthy, LamBros also strongly enhance their sound visually via the accompanying music video, as Connor elaborates, “This video was shot at some of our favourite places in the northern beaches. At its core, it’s a performance of the song, but it also develops its own story as the track progresses. The ‘transporting’ effect across different locations is representative of that “banging your head against the wall” kind of feeling when you’re being let down by someone. It serves to play into that narrative that despite everything you’ve been through with someone – “You Won’t Call”. I came up with the idea a while back and we directed and shot the video ourselves with help from Sasha McCarthy and my sister Savanah Lambrou.”
Born and raised on the Northern Beaches, Connor and Harry Lambrou grew up in a strong music-loving and multi-cultural family, with familial ties to Cyprus and Greece blending with their early music introductions via their parents that spanned everything from AC/DC, through to Michael Jackson, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sonny Terry and traditional Greek Zeibekiko; often all in the same car ride. Picking up instruments at an early age, both Connor and Harry were classically trained musicians as kids, ultimately deciding to start their journey as LamBros after busking in Manly’s bustling Corso; and the pair have never looked back.
Swiftly cultivating a reputation as one of Australia’s unmissable rising acts, LamBros have ticked off a number one single via their 2017 track Do Something, supports alongside the likes of Tones and I, The Choirboys, Mental as Anything and Thirsty Merc, performances at Bluesfest Byron Bay, Bendigo Bluesfest, Airlie Beach Music Festival, and an insatiable live show that displays both virtuosic dexterity and an infectious energy that has to be seen to be believed. True craftsman in every sense of the word, Connor and Harry weld their creativity, genre-fluidity and culture into their music in their own unique and engaging way. And whether making their own instruments, paying homage to their Greek and Cypriot heritage or rigging up their own shows, thanks to their extensive electrical background,LamBros also abide by one key mission statement: to make music for music-lovers. “You don’t have to play music,” shares Connor, “but if you love listening to music, or love watching live music, then you will love LamBros.”
Kicking off 2026 with the release of You Won’t Call, LamBros will also hit the road this February and March, starting with a hometown show on the Northern Beaches on Saturday 28 Feb before heading to Sydney, Towradgi and Merimbula next month.
“Expect pure, unadulterated live music, and entertainment,” shares Connor of the upcoming shows. “Our shows are an expression of ourselves in the purest way. We give everything on stage, and travel through genres and styles, telling stories and expressing ourselves through our own, and other artist’s music.
“LamBros shows are completely unique and are constantly evolving. We often have guest performers come up on stage, we sometimes play traditional Greek music with Greek dancing, songs will change and adapt as the show unfolds, and sometimes we even play songs that are completely improvised!”
“It will be a performance they’ll never forget,” adds Harry. “We are at our best when performing live. We are high-energy and produce a huge sound that you won’t believe is only coming from two people.”
LamBros have delivered solid gold via You Won’t Call; a must-listen for any blues fan, the broken-hearted or just people who adore music that gets under your skin in the best possible way.
“It feels exciting, and nerve-wracking to be releasing You Won’t Call,” says Connor. “We have really poured ourselves into this song and are really keen for everyone to hear it. This release is particularly exciting for us because there is such a demand for this style in Australia and across the world right now.
“Blues is life,” Connor concludes. “It’s hard, it hits you in the chest, but it fills you with this kind of charged energy that makes your hair stand up, and makes your thoughts melt away. We wanted to try and capture that soul of the genre in our own modern way with this tune, and we can’t wait to hear what people think of it.”
You Won’t Call is out today.
LAMBROS – UPCOMING SHOWS:
SAT 28 FEB | FRESHWATER BREWING CO. SYDNEY NSW | ALL AGES
BORN OF OSIRIS AND SIGNS OF THE SWARM ANNOUNCE AUSTRALIAN TOUR
Born of Osiris took the stage, delivering a performance that was nothing short of electrifying. The band’s ability to seamlessly blend technicality, emotion, and sheer heaviness is what sets them apart’’ – South Florida Insider
It has been 6 long years since Prog/Metalcore pioneers BORN OF OSIRIS graced us with their signature blend of crushing riffs, intricate synth layers, and unrelenting technical prowess. Renowned for their mind-bending live performances, the band are inbound hot off the release of their most critically acclaimed album, Through Shadows.
Joining them are Pittsburgh Deathcore legends and breakdown merchants,SIGNS OF THE SWARM, who are celebrating their decade of dominance with a completely sold-out US tour and a well-earned reputation for being Deathcore’s most ferocious live band.
The energy Signs Of The Swarm gave only made the crowd more chaotic! The performance and sound were amazing.’’– Rock DNA Mag
‘’ The pit was a sea of flailing limbs. This wasn’t a passive crowd—this was a war zone, and Signs Of The Swarm thrived in it. 9/10” – The Metalverse
Get yourself Moshpit ready Australia. This will be EPIC.
BORN OF OSIRIS and SIGNS OF THE SWARM 2026 Australian Tour Dates
Wednesday 18th March ADELAIDE, Lion Arts Factory
Thursday 19th March MELBOURNE, Max Watts
Friday 20th March BRISBANE, Brightside Outdoors
Saturday 21st March SYDNEY, Manning Bar
Pre-sale: Monday 17th November – 9:00am LOCAL
General Public On Sale: Thursday 20th November – 9:00am Local
Live Nation has announced that thrash metal titans ANTHRAX will return to Australia for four huge nights in March 2026. Bold and uncompromising, ANTHRAX stands as one of the legendary “Big Four” of thrash, a band whose breakneck riffs and mosh-pit anthems have shaped heavy music for over four decades.
On their 2026 Australian tour, ANTHRAX will ignite stages in Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, performing a career-spanning arsenal of classics. Fans can expect a high-octane set packed with fan favourites, deep cuts and new-era highlights as Anthrax once again prove why they remain one of metal’s most vital live forces.
The tour will commence on Monday 23 March 23 at Brisbane’s at Fortitude Music Hall, followed by Wednesday 25 March 25 at Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide, continuing on to Melbourne’s Festival Hall on Thursday 26 March, before concluding at Enmore Theatre, Sydney on Saturday 28 March.
Tickets for all shows go on sale at 11am on Friday 28 November.
Mastercard cardholders have special access to presale tickets from Wednesday 26 November, 11am to Friday 28 November at 10am. Preferred ticket access to some of the best tickets is available Friday November 28 at 11am. Check out priceless.com/music for details.
My Live Nation members may also secure tickets first during the presale beginning Thursday, November 27, 11am until Friday November 28, 10am. Register atlivenation.com.au/register.
Hailing from New York, ANTHRAXhas sold over 10 million albums in a highly distinguished career, and things don’t seem to be slowing down. The story of Anthrax is one of gritty determination in the face of outrageous odds, proof positive that you can’t keep a good band down. Don’t miss this opportunity to see ANTHRAX live in Australia for the first time since 2019.
ANTHRAX
AUSTRALIA 2026
Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane Monday 23 March
Hindley St. Music Hall, Adelaide Wednesday 25 March
GENESIS OWUSU
UNLEASHES NEW ANTHEM “STAMPEDE” LISTEN HERE | WATCH HERE
OUT NOW VIA OURNESS
“Left side to the right side, front side to the back. We’re all in the shit together, my loves. Docile and languid for what? Shake the fucking ground. Be heeded and not herded. Scream to make the world a better place.” – Genesis Owusu
(Friday 20 February) – Ghanaian-Australian artist Genesis Owusu today unveils new single and video, “STAMPEDE”, out via OURNESS.
An aural stampede in itself, Owusu expands the resolute sentiments laid bare on predecessors “PIRATE RADIO” and “DEATH CULT ZOMBIE”. On “STAMPEDE”, he recognises the power of community and using one’s voice as the ultimate form of rebellion in a world where humanity is ripping at the seams. Echoing synth clangs are abrasive enough to stir us awake, while an unrelenting drumming stomp sends the feet and mind marching into action. The track’s sonic urgency unravels in a melodic chorus, fusing its rousing pace with a synth-punk direction. Befitting the weight of Owusu’s frustrated words throughout are the vocals that carry them, strident and formidable in their rally cry against this worldwide scourge.
Directed by Isaac Brown and filmed in the streets and surrounds of Accra in Ghana. Owusu’s words come to life as his army of rebels mobilise on motorcycles and horseback around him, the visual energy equally the track’s fervour.
“This whole project is about humanity and community, not just in Australia, where I live, but globally. It felt nourishing to go back to my home country (Ghana) for the first time in 11 years and showcase a bit of the culture there; the youth and the deep subcultures, far beyond the perceptions a lot of people may have of Africa”, says Owusu.
Genesis Owusu returned last year with single “PIRATE RADIO”, which topped triple j’s Most Played for multiple consecutive days and saw international love from BBC Radio 1, KCRW, KEXP, SiriusXMU and more, before dropping “DEATH CULT ZOMBIE” with a Zane Lowe Global Premiere, support from BBC 6 Music and nods from Anthony Fantano (The Needle Drop) citing: “Genesis Owusu is killing it…This one goes hard as hell”.
As “STAMPEDE” prophets, prioritising community has never been more powerful, or more necessary, something Owusu is actively spurning into practice. “Left side to the right side, front side to the back,” he says in his latest offering, “we’re all in this together. And there’s a real problem. There are people who have expansive amounts of money, who are intentionally acting to separate us so they can keep getting richer at the expense of general human wellbeing. We’re all under that same thumb and we need to realise that”. From sharing unreleased work in the space of fans’ homes to connecting with the faces on the other side of the streams over a game of UNO, Owusu creates space for people to come together, around common ground rather than division.
A string of wildly lauded live residencies in Sydney and Melbourne previewed his new music within an intimate, 360-degree stage set up, where the crowd were part of the performance. Rolling Stone Australia wrote “the charismatic Owusu tells us we’re part of his community and “active participants” in tonight’s performance, he already has the fully locked-in crowd in the palm of his hand”, while Sydney Morning Herald hailed the show with five stars, proclaiming: “He owns and masters every step of the musical journey, unifying styles with his commanding voice, mesmeric movement and superstar presence …one of the year’s great live shows”.
Owusu’s resolute 2021 debut Smiling With No Teeth, was a cultural reset, a fearless exploration of identity, experimenting with funk, punk and rap that earned acclaim from TheGuardian, RollingStone, NME and more. 2023 saw the release of his sophomore album STRUGGLER, a bold concept record that continued to see his artistry evolve and push the boundaries of style and genre, debuting at #4 on the ARIA Album Chart and receiving praise from Paste, NPR, Billboard and AlternativePress. Both commercial and critical successes in their own rights, these bodies of work secured a combined 7xARIAAwards – including two Album of the Yeartitles – while come 2024, acclaimed standalone singles “Good Times” and “WUTD” also earned two gold plaques in Australia.
Having shared stages with TameImpala, Paramore, IDLES and BlocParty to name a few, plus appearing at some of the world’s most iconic festivals and venues, including Lollapalooza, PrimaveraSound, Austin City Limits, MadCool and BostonCalling, Owusu’s international impact only continues to strengthen. Between US and European headline runs, he has dominated the Australian festival scene playing some of the biggest stages at Splendour in the Grass, Meredith Music Festival, FieldDay, VIVID Sydney, Groovin The Moo, SpiltMilk and HarvestRock, as well as national headline runs and sold-out performances at Sydney Opera House’s Concert Hall with Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
Owusu continues to craft a bold, unwavering state-of-the-day message through the lens of an artist wading through the darkness and finding his place in it all. Listen to his fiercest call to action yet, “STAMPEDE” today.
Fresh off the release of their critically acclaimed 2025 album More, Pulp are set to make their long-awaited return to Australian and New Zealand stages — marking their first visit in 13 years. The UK band have announced headline dates across Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, alongside an appearance at Adelaide Festival. Tickets and further tour details below.
Now joining as support to Pulp! Bleak Squad will be playing the Riverstage, Brisbane on Feb 24th and the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne on March 3rd.
Sat 21 February — Auckland, Spark Arena
Tue 24 February — Brisbane, Riverstage
Fri 27 February — Adelaide, Adelaide Festival
Tue 3 March — Melbourne, Sidney Myer Music Bowl
Fri 6 March — Sydney, Sydney Opera House Forecourt
Sat 7 March — Sydney, Sydney Opera House Forecourt
Perth based melodic death metallers VANTA are set to release their debut full-length album, ‘Perpetual Selection’ on March 13th. The album is an emotional journey that offers catchy, melodic passages and ferocious moments with an engaging, atmospheric approach. With a wide spectrum of influences and modern production, ‘Perpetual Selection’ pushes the genre forward while honouring its roots.
Following recently released singles ‘Empty Shells, Sandstalker and Kuyang’, the latest single and lyric video, ‘Transmorcide’ marks another step in the band’s sci-fi horror journey. For this, VANTA wanted a song that was unapologetically them – blackened, aggressive, melodic, and designed to hit hard. ‘Transmorcide’ blends modern melodic death metal with groove-driven rhythms, blistering melodic riffs and oppressive ambience. It’s a song that will leave your face bruised and your head spinning, all while feeling unmistakably VANTA. Lyrically, the track pulls from classic survival horror themes, conspiracies, human experimentation, and society turning on itself. The title itself evokes transformation weaponised into destruction, and the song’s atmosphere mirrors a world devouring itself from within.
Guitarist Thien comments: “We wrote ‘Transmorcide’ more or less around the same time as ‘Kuyang’ and we were pushing each other constantly and wanted to take our writing up a notch by blending in more of that modern American death metal sound over our European melodeath blueprint. As a result, you get these blackened nuances with the swede sway and more technical riffs over faster drums and bouncy grooves. Here’s a fun fact! The catalyst for ‘Transmorcide’ is the intro riff inspired by a trance track I was obsessed with at the time, which is probably the last place most people would expect for a band like us. I won’t say which one, but if you know Armin, you might hear it. Everything else came together naturally after a big night, we were just writing, gas-lighting each other about who can play better and faster. But most importantly having fun with what made us feel the most alive.”
VANTA is FFO: The Black Dahlia Murder, Inferi, Mors Principium Est, Shadow of Intent, Carrion Vael, At The Gates
VANTA celebrate their debut album release with a launch show in their hometown of Perth
Hornography Metal Club present
Vanta Album Launch!!! Friday March 27th – Milk Bar
Vanta, Allocer, King Zog, Crailbone
