Elias Soriano talks about slowing the pace after years on the road. “We are concentrating on playing high-energy shows and not being so rushed on the recording side,” he says, describing a band taking more care with how ideas are developed and when they are released.

Behemoth’s live shows aren’t built for comfort. “It is heavy metal on steroids,” Nergal says, describing performances that push body and mind to the limit. As the band return to Australia in 2026, the frontman reflects on survival, endurance and why these shows still demand everything from him.

What makes the music of Lou Reed, The Velvet Underground and Nico still sound so dynamic and important? It was music written when rock ’n’ roll was still fresh, new and bubbling with creative innovation. The music, the lyricism and the style were products of the youth cultural revolution. Dave Graney joined us to discuss Celebrating Lou Reed, The Velvet Underground & Nico.

California punk legends Lagwagon will be in Australia in January and February for their own headline tour, celebrating the 31st anniversary of the album ‘Hoss’. “It’s downtime before we gear up for the tour,” said Joey Cape. “The heat’s going to be a thing. I only do shorts now, if everyone else does. I don’t want to feel dumb in them.”

It’s time to celebrate the landmark writing and recording of ‘Broke’. “People have been asking us to play ‘Broke’ live – like forever,” said Jahred Gomes. “We will play the whole album – all 12 songs – but it will be mixed in with some surprises.”

CKY will return to Australia for the first time in over a decade in January 2026. “We really do need to apologise to our fans in Australia and make it up to them,” said Jess Margera. “We need to get back and play some rockin’ shows”.

“Well, we were better than a turd in a bowl,” stated John. “We have lit the match. We are keeping the flame of SNOT alive. And it has been so much better than we or anyone else could have expected.” We caught up with SNOT bassist John “Tumour” Fahnestock to talk about how the band’s been going, what’s changed, and coming back to Australia with Soulfly.

“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.