The word on metal with Josh Nixon
Sweet Dark Lord Satan! We’re almost halfway into 2025 already? This pace is as furious as the riffs, with shows and releases raining down.
Thursday, 5 June, is a big one for fans of classic Floridian metal when Atheist pop into The Baso, a long overdue first-ever tour from this storied act that has long cast its influence and name-checked by favourites and new bands alike.
It was cool to see this tour come up on the list, especially after revisiting their back catalogue that Nuclear Blast reissued a couple of years back.
Joined on this Australian run by Sydney’s Anoxia and Melbourne’s Vexation, it’s gonna be a special night for fans old and new. Tix are $63.25 via Oztix.
Something not coming to Canberra yet tempts a Sydney trek is Imperial Triumphant on Saturday, 7 June, doing a show off the back of their Dark Mofo appearance at The Metro Theatre.
Similarly, I was having FOMO seeing the full Necrosonic line-up announced which, in addition to the last issues update, has included Portal and Bolzer. You might also consider a quick Hume mission to Crowbar on 15 August for a special show with these notable additions.
For fans of a more contemporary take on the heavy spectrum, three shows are coming up over the winter period, so you should start gearing up and getting your tickets sorted pronto.
June sees the Canberra leg of a regional tour from Perth’s Make Them Suffer. The band has switched things up throughout their career, evolving into what they consider the prime form of their lives with last year’s self-titled record. They land at The Baso on Saturday, 21 June, with a cracking 4-band bill that includes touring partners-in-crime Justice for the Damned, The Gloom In The Corner and Sydney’s Harroway. Tix through Oztix.
Thy Art Is Murder also takes on the regional centres of the land ahead of joining Parkway Drive on their 20th anniversary European tour later in the year.
Taking on 16 dates from Queensland down to Tassie, the show blows into town at The Baso on Saturday, 12 July, with special guests Melancolia, Hate Complex, Melting, and Annihilist. Tix via Oztix.
And Northlane rounds out the metalcore triumvirate with a Sunday, 10 August date booked at The Baso.
After their ridiculously well-met EP last year, the band are out road-testing material to make up a full-length album with a studio sesh booked in after this run. Along for the trip are Ocean Grove, Mirrors, and Heists. Tix via Oztix.
Of course, you could also save your bickies up for , presented by Destroy All Lines and featuring 2/3 of the above-mentioned headliners.
Departing on 26 October, the first attempt at one of these metal cruises out of Australia features “14 decks of madness” for the 3-day cruise.
The line-up is headlined by Parkway Drive with sets from Polaris, Northlane, The Butterfly Effect, Make Them Suffer, In Hearts Wake, Belle Haven, Bloom, Chez, Diamond Construct, Future Static, Ocean Sleeper, Reliqa, The Beautiful Monument, The Gloom In The Corner, To The Grave and Windwaker.
Packages range from $1500 to $3500pp for a twin share suite, with payment plans available. Kinda mental! [In THIS economy??? – EDITOR AL] [Kinda mental that in THIS economy tickets are SOLD OUT- get thyselves on the waitlist stat – Editor Angel]
And finally, if you prefer your heavy metal more traditional, the much-seen viral meme of frontman Bobby Liebling has seemingly spurred Hardline Media to FINALLY bring out legends Pentagram to Australia in August.
The revitalised Pentagram line-up released Lightning In A Bottle at the start of the year before that meme blew up the internet for a while and introduced a new generation to doom metal. The band hits The Baso on Wednesday, 6 August, and tickets are on sale now.
And that’s it for this month. Catch your breath while you can; plenty more to come.
Send gigs and things to doomtildeath@hotmail.com
