The Word on Metal with Josh Nixon
Well, we’ve already blown through January, and what a month it was. We had visits from Sweden’s Enforcer and Melbourne legends Choof, Dreadnaught and The Eternal, and I’ve already been floored by how awesome the new Pentagram record is.
So 2025 is off and racing, with no sign of slowing down. There are a few round-the-corner shows and a coupla down-the-track tours to appease you, so get ready to start filling in your 2025 fridge calendar/phone app.
Xibalba
Xibalba is making a welcome return to town in support of their new EP Aztlan and will land at The Baso on 12 February. The LA hardcore legends are joined by Melbourne’s Outsiders Code for the whole East Coast of Oz run, so get yourself limber for that. Tix via Oztix
No news on the local support just yet, but keep an eye out for the Metalise Instagram for live updates (handle @bma.metalise).
That will be a good way to warm up for this year’s Belco Bowljam activities coming up on the weekend of that week.
Speaking of which, the Bowljam After Party is at The Baso on 15 February with VeeBees, Bifter and The King Hits. FREE ENTRY!
Greenleaf
February also sees another welcome return from overseas, this time in the form of Sweden’s most excellent stoner rockers, Greenleaf.
The band had a huge 2024, pumping out the very well-received new album The Head & The Habit, and to celebrate the Australian leg of their world tour in support, there’s a weighty bill in store at The Baso on 23 February. They are joined by tourmates Iron Blanket for the whole, with locals Voodoo Acid Space Kings, Smoke Witch and Slowbeard for a Sunday rocking riff feast. Tix please.
‘Space Kings
The ‘Space Kings have had a busy summer working on their debut record, and if you can’t make the Greenleaf show, they will join Melbourne’s Dern Rutildge on their first Canberra gig in about 20 years on Saturday, 8 March at UC Hub Bar, coheadlined with local doom lords Witchskull. Tix via Moshtix.
The bill also includes Sydney thrashers Blood Trails for a bit of tempo variety for the stoner-rocking goodness of the other acts. Dern returned at the Geelong River Rocks festival in November, which went tremendously well. There will be a few shows this year to celebrate their landmark album Johnny No Stars’ 24th anniversary. The Skull is gearing up for album 5, so this will be a great opportunity to listen to old and new tunes.
March Mayhem
The first week of March is jam-packed, with the long-awaited novelty metal fest Alestorm and Nekrogoblikon hitting The Baso on 2 March. The storm brings all the pirate metal one can muster. What pairs well with pirate ale? Apparently, the “kings of goblin metal” allegedly blend melodic rock with death metal with lashings of Gwar and Dethlok self-referential humour. It simply must be a good time. SOLD OUT-get thee on the waitlist!
For a decidedly less silly international cracker to R.I.P. into, there’s Left To Die, the classic period Death tribute featuring Death alumni Terry Butler, bassist on the Spiritual Healing record and Obituary member. Rick Rozz who played guitar on my favourite Death record, Leprosy, and rounded out with Gruesome (USA) members Matt Harvey (Guitar, vocals of Exhumed) and Gus Rios (ex-Malevolent Creation). This will celebrate the early Death cannon and hits The Baso on Friday, 7 March. Tix via the Oztix gods.
If you’re extra keen, Left To Die headline Melbourne Death Fest on Sunday, 9 March, with a killer line-up. Faceless Burial, Gutless, Pestilential Shadows, Werewolves, Pizza Death, Munitions, Vexations, Midnight Odyssey and Goat Shaman are on at the Corner, and any bill that big that opens with Goat Shaman shows the quality of the line-up. Could be a great excuse to get down to Melbourne.
New Tour Alerts
Freshly announced in the last couple of weeks is a tour from Finlandian’s Insomnium, who are doing an Australian tour with fellow Fins Omnium Gatherum set for 7 May at The Baso with some VIP package tickets on sale for those keen to cop a load of Fin-metal.
German stoner doomsters Earthbong announced an Australian tour with Canberran two-piece Lucifungus for April. The Bones Beneath tour is presented for your viewing and listening pleasure by Victoria’s Kink Effects Pedals and takes on 7 dates with the Canberra show landing at The Pot Belly on 18 April. Luci is very excited about the shows, having played with them several times on their European tour at the end of last year.
Further Afield
Interstate, international tours announced for 2025 already include legacy acts like Metallica and Testament and Knotfest in late Feb, with Slipknot headlining. Jinjer is also rolling through the country around that time, and the Pallbearer/Conan double header comes through in March, which will likely see me head up the Hume.
So we’re away! I will post a Spotify playlist throughout the year of new stuff I’m hearing each month, starting next issue. So tune into the Metalise socials for the link, and see you up the front! [doomtildeath@hotmail.com]