Ahead of Avatar's Australian tour, vocalist Johannes Eckerström spoke with No Barriers about Don't Go In The Forest, touring with Metallica and pushing the band's sound forward. “We don't want to keep writing the same album over and over.”

“We are a band that just love playing live,” explained bassist Horst Tessmann of the German heavy metal band StormHammer. “But we took the time to really get this new album right. We wanted to step back into our style with a bit more thrash metal to round out this album. We are very happy with it.”

“We are the meat and veg and Cradle are the dessert.” Dez Fafara discusses Strike And Kill, life on the road and DevilDriver’s return to Australia alongside Cradle Of Filth.

“We recorded ‘Sinner’ in the kitchen. It was an authentic process for us. We wrote music that came from our hearts.” CJ Pierce reflects on 25 years of Sinner, the album that helped define a generation of heavy music.

“We took the impact of the Dogma drama and to say our part – we turned it into a song – our song.” VindictA are turning a new chapter and bringing the Reckoning Australian Tour to Australia.

“What fans are going to see is four guys tanked up on 15 espresso drinks each, giving it hell!” Bill Stevenson discusses punk rock, touring and Descendents’ return to Australia.

“We are going to have sets packed with variety. We will play the hits as well.”‍ ‍Cecilia chatted with Robert Ortiz about Escape The Fate’s return to Australia and why the band are excited to bring fans‍ “an awesome mix”.

“The fans can expect a throwback set. A tight 45 minutes with our best songs.”‍ ‍Telle discusses new music, Australian fans and The Word Alive’s long-awaited return to Australia.

“It was a concept album built around the ultimate reality of death. There is also this mystery of what happens when we die.” Before Fallujah hit Shred Fest, Cecilia chatted with Kyle Schaefer about ‘Xenotaph’ and the band’s return to Australia.

We caught up with Yudai ‘YD’ Miyamoto from Cyrstal Lake ahead of their May tour with Of Mice & Men.

They Might Be Giants have always had a unique way of presenting their music and world view. They bring their idiosyncratic lyrics to melodic musical processes that drill deep into the contradictory thoughts and impulses of humans. “We should appreciate the world and find joy in it,” said John Linnell.

After 26 years, Skindred are louder, sharper and more driven than ever. You Got This captures their journey through grief, growth and live energy. “Every one of these songs has been inspired by a true event… I wanted to write a song for any of us who have lost friends and loved ones”.

Bryan Martin is a country singer songwriter from Louisiana whose songs relate gritty and authentic knowledge from his lived experience. From oil fields and rodeos to country stages, his stories resonate because they are lived. “Out of darkness came songs. I just tell it like it is.”

When Battle Beast announced the departure of long-standing vocalist Noora Louhimo, fans around the world braced for change. Now, with powerhouse vocalist Marina La Torraca stepping into the spotlight, the band begin a bold new chapter as they prepare for their debut Australian tour.

Ahead of Cradle of Filth’s co-headline Australian tour with DevilDriver this July, we spoke with the band’s infamous architect of darkness, Dani Filth. From new music on the horizon to the theatrical chaos fans can expect on stage, the conversation drifted through poetry, horror soundtracks and the strange fate of lost lyrics. As Filth himself promises, the upcoming tour will be “high octane, theatrical and loud”.

Memphis May Fire are returning to Australia in April following sold out shows across the country. “We didn’t want to wait to come back to Australia,” said Matty Mullins. “There were all these full venues with many fans getting in touch with us saying they missed out on seeing us. So we thought we had better get back quickly.”

Alien Weaponry return to Australia this March supporting thrash metal icons Anthrax. The New Zealand band have been touring Europe following the release of their latest album ‘Te Rā’ and are ready to bring their powerful Māori influenced metal to Australian crowds.

Blessthefall return on their own terms, rediscovering their joy for music after years away. With Gallows, the band reclaim control of their sound, their balance and their future. Frontman Beau Bokan reflects on perspective, growth and why stepping back was exactly what they needed to move forward again.

With new music on the horizon and her first tour of Australia and New Zealand approaching, Sylvaine is embracing the next stage of her artistic journey. For her, the goal is simple: “I want my new album to be authentic and follow my heart and soul.”

Looking ahead to 2026, Born of Osiris are already thinking beyond ‘Through Shadows’. “The latest album reflects what’s been happening in our personal lives,” said Nick Rossi. “We want to write and follow up with a new album with refreshed brains and a new vision of where we want to go. It’s all been a long time coming.”