Korpiklaani kick off this publish cycle the day we hit the streets, Thursday 23 May, at The Basement in Belconnen bringing all the Finnish folk party anthems you can poke a kantele at. The band’s new album Kulkija is the cause for this celebration and along for the ride is a band Killyourstereo.com entitled an article “Yep, I Still Don’t Fucking Know What Genre Troldhaugen Are” about, Troldhaugen. The Wollongong band are along for the Finn’s whole Aussie jaunt and I reckon if you need a show to warm you up on a cold May night, this will do it for you.
The night after, May 24 at Building 1 at UC, She Cries Wolf are joined by Heists and Napalm Deathbeds. The Brisbane four-piece released their new record Liar back in February and now this show is a part of the Australian Liar tour.
12 June offers options for Canberra heavy punters. If something more modern and angry tickles your britches then the Make Them Suffer, After The Burial, Saviour and Gravemind bill at The Basement will suffice. Make Them Suffer are currently touring Europe throughout May so the June show should see them in fine form.
If you want something with a bit more rock ‘n’ roll, Adelaide’s stoner tinged rock act Hydromedusa play the Transit Bar with New Age Group and my boys Dickie Birds. Hydromedusa are launching a long awaited new album Long Live and are bringing the Long Live Tour to Canberra for the first of a big run of east coast shows. The six-piece are a terrific band and have grown throughout their eight years together, so plenty to choose from on the 12th.
20 June, alien deathcore Texans Rings Of Saturn hit The Basement courtesy of Destroy All Lines touring with special guests, Melbourne’s Hollow World and Brisbane’s Eternal Rest. With over 30 tours to their credit, it’s the first down under jaunt for the band who might be a tad overdue for a new record (Ultu Ulla came out back in 2017). These guys aren’t afraid to get weird in between brutal chug bursts. Get keen for that one.
The very next night, Metal Fiesta 14 is on at The Basement and this instalment is a special one as it kicks off Sydney’s Lord album launch tour for their new record Fallen Idols. Tim and Mark will doubtlessly be melting faces with guitar histrionics (cause they can) as Andy and Darryl keep the rhythm section in check. After 18 years, Tim said you know what you’re in for – ‘the best mix-tape ever’ – with unashamed heavy metal influences overseeing brutal thrash blasts giving way to more considered melodic rock parts.
The line-up for the rest of the fun is Rise of Avernus, DepriVation, Claret Ash, Clarity of Chaos, Taliesin, Black Mountain – Black Metal, Hidden Intent, CHUD and Mattersphere. Get your tickets through Moshtix for the show on June 21.
Speaking of face melting solos, Born of Osiris & Chelsea Grin are joined by Diamond Construct for a tour of Australia popping into The Basement on 25 June. Born of Osiris axe lord and mastermind Lee McKinney has well-earned attention in Guitar World magazine with his formidable chops and inventive writing and I think fans of sick guitar players should absolutely keep 25 June in mind for this show.
I Exist frontman Jake Willoughby has been announced as the new singer for Sydney doom rockers Sumeru following the amicable departure of Matt Power who leaves Australia for the USA and love. The band are embarking on a three-date mini tour to welcome Jake to the fold under the Embrace The Cold banner that kicks off at Transit Bar on 5 July with Mental Cavity, Lucifungus and Facecutter, then 6 July in Sydney at Crowbar with Golgothan Remains and Wreath, and finally the enormous Dead of Winter Festival in Brisbane. Go well, brother.
Beastwars of New Zealand are also on that festival, and also touring Australia and their native land with Canberra’s own Witchskull in late June (NZ shows) and early July (Oz shows). The band have just put out their new album IV (the Roman numeral, not the medical kind) following the recovery of member Matt Hyde and his brush with a potentially terminal illness. That sort of thing can give perspective, and the perspective it treats us to is a slew of really killer riffs throughout the new album. 11 July is their show at Crowbar in Sydney with Witchskull and the incredible Potion.
