“It's hard to write songs for Cryptopsy because it must be extreme! Cryptopsy songs and instrumentation has to be memorable. It has to be catchy with a melody. It must have groove. It must be heavy. There's a lot of boxes that need to be checked to fall underneath the Cryptopsy umbrella”.‍ ‍

Billie Joe Armstrong called Bad Nerves ‘the best new band in England right now’ and I would have to agree. Bad Nerves are one of the most talked about bands in modern punk. Cecilia caught up with Bobby Nerves before the chaos of the Crowbar headline gig in Sydney.

Dyssidia will be releasing their new album later this week and we had a chat with vocalist Mitch Brackman. “Impulsivity was a song that came together in a really visceral and organic way.” Their singles show the band’s emotive heaviness, bold arrangements and the sonic journey behind ‘Deeper Wells Of Meaning’.

Canadian band Danko Jones is about to release a straight up, tight, authentic rock ‘n’ roll album called ‘Leo Rising’. It will be their 12th record, and it proves the point that you just need to know what you are doing and have bass, drums, guitar and vocals to make a statement. “You must trust your ears”, stated vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Danko Jones.

The Bloody Beetroots have been a musical force since 2005, with Sir Bob Cornelius Rifo fusing electro, punk rock, classical and dance into a genre-defying experience. “Music is my self-expression,” he said. “I still believe in the real rebellion – music can bring revolution and it forces you to be honest.”

“Metal is in a good place right now in 2025,” stated Max Cavalera. “The next generation of metal fans are embracing change and Soulfly fans are adventurous and embrace those new sounds. I love that I can still push those buttons – metal is not one dimensional – it’s creative and got so much to say and offer”.

Melbourne alternative heavy rock group To Octavia have released their debut album ‘Melodrama’, a cohesive 12-song record exploring the daunting melodrama of life — the struggles and triumphs of being in a band. Written and recorded entirely by the band, ‘Melodrama’ captures their performance world, emotion, and passion for creating together.

Wednesday 13 returns with ‘Mid Death Crisis’, a wild blend of humour, darkness and truth. “Actually, that’s where the title for the album came from. I was complaining after a gig that I was getting old and my guitarist walked past me and said, ‘Oh…mid death crisis’.” Catch him touring Australia with Kim Dracula.

‘We are still so fortunate we can make music and tour,’ says Jodi Phillis of The Clouds. ‘It is strange to watch our fan base changing as more young people come to see our shows.’ ‘It’s really been 35 years of our little family of friends playing music together.’

“You could be the ‘heaviest band in the world’, but it gives you nowhere to go musically. You need that contrast – the pull and push of different sounds. We’re really proud of this album and how we made it together. It was a collective effort with the metal community.” – Brady Deeprose

Bruce Springsteen once said, “The Animals, not The Beatles or the Stones, were my favourite British Invasion band.” For John Steel, it always comes back to the songs. “They stand on their own,” he said. As The Animals tour Australia one last time, Steel’s steady rhythm still carries six decades of grit and truth.

“We can do whatever the hell we want,” said Eero Sipilä. ‘Steelbound’ dares to go into sounds outside the traditional heavy metal pantheon, blending classic metal with Broadway tunes, Latin melodies, and cinematic synths. It’s music that makes people happy, an escape from a world that feels like a horror movie.

Two years since their last visit, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES return with that same raw fire. “Life isn’t fair, but you can control how you approach it,” says Mike Muir. Between touring with Metallica, side shows, and his Cyco Miko project, Muir’s mission is simple: spread goodness and keep the spirit alive through music that never backs down.

Ahead of the release of Better Days, the latest album from Yellowcard, we spoke with William Ryan Key about change, growth and perspective. “The difference is just being able to manage it and not fixate on the negative shit,” he says. Better Days isn’t about looking back — it’s about letting go, moving forward and finding clarity in the noise.

JD Fortune returns to Australian stages this October. “My grandma brought me AC/DC’s Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap when I was a kid,” he recalls. “That music spoke to me.” Fans can look forward to INXS favourites, Fortune’s own hits, and brand new tracks.

Seven years away, ten rum and cokes, and Zebrahead are finally returning to Australia. The Orange County crew are bringing back their trademark genre-bending chaos. Bassist Ben Osmundson says, ‘The band is really excited to get to Australia… The flight is hell. I think it’s 10 rum and cokes before the flight and sleep all the way – right?

Boston’s Dead Poet Society make their first trip to Australia for Good Things 2025. Blending bluesy riffs with indie grit, the band describe their songwriting as ‘chaos’. ‘Writing rock music that’s not cheesy is hard,’ says frontman Jack Underkofler.

We had a chat to Richie Lewis about Celebrating Neil Young: From Harvest-to-Harvest Moon, where he joined Shane Nicholson and Jeff Martin to honour Neil’s timeless songs. “I had to learn how to sing Neil Young’s songs in my own voice,” Richie explained. “It was fantastic to feel that spirit.”

Cleopatrick are bringing their raw, high-energy shows to Australia for the first time. “We usually deliver live shows that are relentless, high energy with our grungy-garage sounds, and we like punching fans in the face with our sound,” says Luke Gruntz.

We spoke to Gregor Mackintosh about Ascension and its themes of religious disillusionment, human frailty and sonic escape. The result is a record both brutal and beautiful, a gothic metal sermon for those disillusioned by the world and seeking clarity in the chaos.