The Word on Metal with Josh Nixon
As summer gives way to changing colours and cooler temps, black remains our palette and the shows, releases and news continues to bubble along for fans of the heavy in the ACT.
From the ashes of Na Maza rises new local heaviness in the form of Vitriarch. The lads have dropped the single Mithra on all your favourite streaming services. The track is from a
forthcoming EP, Mythos, which the guys spent a lot of time and effort on. Check out the track and a slick visualiser video on YouTube.
The hotly anticipated Left To Die Scream Bloody Leprosy tour kicked off our reporting period on Friday, 7 March at The Baso. It featured former Death alumni —bassist Terry Butler and guitarist Rick Rozz—and is rounded out with Exhumed’s Matt Harvey and former Malevolent Creation drummer Gus Rios. The tour celebrates the first seminal works of one of death metals true pioneers.
Melbourne’s Dern Rutlidge is one of Australia’s premier exponents of the stoner rock epidemic of the ‘90s, spearheaded by Christbait songwriter-in-chief Craig Westwood and Blood Duster bassist Jason PC. Their album Johnny No Stars was a landmark in the style that saw the band play Big Day Out a few times and tour Europe. They also supported the likes of Fu Manchu and Queens of the Stoneage on their first Australian tours.
The band played at the UC Hub on Saturday, 8 March with our own doom legends Witchskull, Sydney thrashers Blood Trails, and our own rising rocking legends Voodoo Acid Space Kings, who are fresh from the studio.
Also, 8 March at The Baso we had Questfest 2025 for a night of “fun, music and cosplay”. The 8-band bill was 25 bucks presale or 30 at the door on the night and featured sets from Antonmasia, Pyrefly, Defiant Dawn, Mirrorshield, Ethereal Realm, Shu Nagua, Visualis and Saralisse. The theme was Questpocalypse, so I hope you shaped your cosplay accordingly. I suggest fashioning armour from road signs and old tyres and preparing for battle. Check out the event photos by Pullen Focus
On Thursday, 13 March, the Pot Belly Bar brings the grind with the Czech Republic’s Onanizer.
Kicking off in 1996, the band has been on a 15-year hiatus but has returned with a vengeance. They’ve set themselves a hectic Australian and New Zealand tour schedule with 21 gigs booked. Their Eventbrite tickets clock in at a very reasonable and specific $17.19. You better get onto it, as they’re sure to sell quick. Touring with Rodenticide, Wilbur Wilde and Rage Trigger.
The 50%-Canberran Hekate perform the long-awaited album launch for their excellent full-length House of Solomon. Released through French label Blackfarm Records last year the long awaited launch tour hits Pot Belly Bar on 14 March with a KILLER 3 band bill that includes the superb Sydney stoner rockers Robot God and Timecult. The launch is a mere $20 bucks, available at Oztix or at the door. Robot God put out 2 very well received albums last year in the form of Portal Within & Subconscious Awakening. If you like your stoner doom, this a bill not to miss.
While on delayed stoner doom album launches, Pod People have just announced a special re-pressing of their newest work Oblivion. This domestic pressing on succulent translucent orange vinyl should be available through Bandcamp in early March. The Pot Belly will host the band’s launch on Easter Friday, 18 April, on a huge bill that includes Germany’s Earthbong and 2/5ths of Pod in Lucifungus ahead of a performance at Sunburn in Victoria on the 26th. Playing the record in full, don’t miss out! Tickets are $33.08 via Eventbrite.
Finland does melodic death about as well as anyone, and on 7 May, The Baso hosts a double dose. Insomnium hit town for the first time since 2017 and is slinging tracks from their Anno 1696 release along with some fan favourites. Countryfolk Omnium Gatherum are on board for the entire 5 date Australian run. Oztix will get you anywhere from through the doors to a meet-and-greet VIP package, so get along for that one.
14 May: The Baso brings you Japan black thrash rippers Abigail and the return of New Zealand speed metal maniacs Stalker. In a bill only recommended for the most thrash-fit metal types, it’s yet another international foray from Your Mate, who consistently brings shows to Canberra. Hit Oztix for your thrash fix!
Also announced fresh is the Alpha Wolf Terrible Days tour, landing at The Baso on 18 May with special guests Malevolence from the UK and Zuko. The band was Grammy nominated for their Half Living Things box set designed by Canberra’s own Patrick Galvin of Gold St. Press, so Paddy had better be on the door for the show.
Make Them Suffer has just announced a winter Canberra jaunt on 21 June, thanks to Destroy All Lines (who are also to thank for the aforementioned Alpha Wolf visit). Joined by special guests Justice for the Damned, The Gloom in the Corner and Harroway. Tickets are on sale through Oztix.
Metalise isn’t the only metal media in town, and someone who – with a break – has been covering metal in Canberra for even longer than me is Michael Kraaz, who returns to the airwaves of 2XXfm for their new metal show Acoustic Shock. Michael last did the show in 1989(!). Make sure you tune into 98.3FM for his show on Thursdays from 10:30pm to 12am.
Something for everyone coming up! See you next month for even more!!!
Send gigs and things to Josh Nixon on Instagram @bma.metalise | Facebook Metalise – BMA Metal Column | Email doomtildeath@hotmail.com