The word on Metal with Josh Nixon

Happy New “In THIS Economy?!”

Yes, Happy New Year, Can-thrashers. The year is off to a flying start with over 1200 pre-sales hitting the UC Refectory for The Amity Affliction/Alpha Wolf/Terminal Sleep and Run and The Acacia Strain, not to mention OFF! and Witchskull all kicking 2024 off to good crowds in January.

I hope that Albo brings the caucus back for an early cost of living crisis meeting, considering how expensive it’s going to be to be a metal fan in Canberra in the following months. We will need support!

D.R.I 40th Anniversary Tour

After nearly four years of trying to get this show, D.R.I. returns for the first time since their old Transit Bar location show lured many out of mosh retirement
and enticed Generation X’s chalky hips to skank once more. Wednesday, 21 February is the date, and joining them this night will be Witchskull making a great concoction of styles with the OGs of crossover, making for a quality killer bill. You can get tickets on the Hardline Media website.

Angelus Apatrida Tour

Spain’s best thrash export also comes to Canberra in February, with the ACT leg of the national Angelus Apatrida tour landing on Thursday, 22 February. The Century Media thrashers are touting tunes from their latest opus, Aftermath, as well as the back catalogue.

And they are ably supported by South Aussie thrash lords Hidden Intent, who managed a hectic 2023 with tours supporting Sepultura, a spot on Wacken, and a place in the Bloodstock line-up in the UK. The Baso website for tickets.

Midnight Oz Tour

Early March sees an early kick-off for one of the metal tours of the year, and it’s worth taking note of this, as I likely would have arrived as the last notes rang out.

On Sunday, 3 March, the USA’s Midnight close out their 5-show tour of Oz at The Baso with doors at 3pm. Flesh kicks things off at 4pm, Blasfemancia at 4:50pm, New Zealand’s maniacs Stalker at 5:40pm, and Midnight themselves hitting the stage at a very reasonable 7pm.

So don’t rock up ready to party at 8pm, or you’ll be too late. It is a Sunday, but there you go. Get your tix here!

Orange Goblin, Gatecreeper and Kruelty

Really anticipating the long-awaited return to Australia of London stoner rockers Orange Goblin on Wednesday, 10 April.

This is a tad left of field for Soundworks, who typically operate in the blastier spectrum of metal, and they’re pulling out all the stops by putting on two of Australia’s best stoner rocking bands in Dr Colossus and Astrodeath as support for the entirety of the tour.

Get yourself a ticket at The Baso website if this is the sort of touring you’d like to see more of in Canberra.

As if that wasn’t enough drag on the wallet, the very same night in The Baso backroom, Gatecreeper from the USA and Kruelty from Japan are playing on a national co-headline tour. Tix here!

The madness doesn’t stop!

4/20 doesn’t get any heavier than The Baso on Saturday, 20 April. USA’s mighty death metal stalwarts Suffocation hit Canberra, promoting their new album Hymns From The Apocrypha.

And as if that wasn’t enough, Revocation is also on the bill, focusing on the material being their 2022 effort, Netherheaven.

Standard tickets cost about $70, and meet and greet VIP packages are available that include chinwag, a photo with the band, signed A3 tour poster, and early entry to the big show. Hit up The Baso here for tickets.

SUNBURN 5!!!

Sunburn has announced the line-up for this year’s stoner doom extravaganza to round out your fridge calendar planning, somehow compacting all of the following bands into a single day. It must start early on 27 April, so make sure you are tucked in for an early night on the 26th.

The line-up is : <takes a deep breath>

Astrodeath – Bongcleaner – Budd – Bifter – Clagg –Droid – Elephant Orgy –Ghostsmoker – Giant – Goat Shaman – Hekate – Isua – Lucifngus – Master Leonard – Motherslug – Mourners – Mountain Wizard Death Cult – Rocky’s Pride and Joy – Smoke Witch – Sundowner –Zombie Hunger !

Tickets are on sale through The Baso website now.