[GIG REVIEW] THE GHOST INSIDE, BLEED FROM WITHIN + DAY OF CONTEMPT@ THE FORUM MELBOURNE (AU), 23.10.25.
US metalcore titans The Ghost Inside appeared as a solid and welcome apparition to an elated Melbourne Audience, with solid supports from Bleed from Within and Day of Contempt.
[Podcast] Ep. 61: [Interview] with ERIC JARRIN of DESPISED ICON (CAN).
[Podcast]: Canada’s premiere melding of death metal and hardcore made manifest, Despised Icon are both influential spearheads and distinctly their own act. Here to chat with me on the podcast is guitarist Eric Jarrin. Tune in via the link for both video and audio-only/podcast versions plus Shadow Work (out Oct 31st via Nuclear Blast) pre-order links, latest single ‘The Apparition’ and more! Get your slam on.
[Podcast] Ep. 60: [Interview] with NOAH SEE of CONJURER (UK).
British progressive post-metal/doom heavyweights Conjurer are a few days from releasing third full-length LP Unself on Oct 24th, via Nuclear Blast Records. It’s an incredible record and one drummer Noah See and I discuss together alongside drumming, touring, collaboration and more. See within for video/audio podcast links, artist/album bio, preorder links and more. Get sludged!
[ALBUM REVIEW] ALL TIME LOW – ‘EVERYONE’S TALKING!’ LP.
All Time Low release their tenth album, titled Everyone’s Talking! And indeed we are, with a lot of positive things to say about this brilliant LP.
[Gallery] of Brewicide, VIII: HEADBORE + Supports @ Last Chance Melbourne, 11.10.25.
[Gallery of Brewicide] VIII: Headbore ‘Branded’ Album Launch Tour @ The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar, Melbourne. Featuring supports Armoured Earth, Malicy & Nothing. All images care of Richie Black Photography - shout-out to the venue and organisers Churches of Steel for putting on a fantastic night of local/SA metal!
[Podcast] Ep. 59: Interview with JEFF BECERRA of POSSESSED (US).
[Podcast, Ep. 59]: Bay Area metal-progenitors Possessed are nothing short of iconic, having been a primary influence in the formation of death and thrash metal. On Friday, I caught up with vocalist Jeff Becerra to discuss the bands' first ever Australian tour, celebrating 40 years of their landmark album Seven Churches and much more!
[Gig Review] STONED JESUS ‘XV Anniversary & Australian Debut Tour’ Richmond (Melb, AU) 04.10.25.
[Gig Review] Ukrainian stoner/psych rock legends Stoned Jesus surpassed all expectations with a brilliant performance at The Leadbeater Hotel in Richmond, Melbourne (AUS) alongside equally competent supports Emergency Rule (SA, AU) & Oceanlord (VIC, AU)! Check the link for full review with images care of Richie Black Photography.
[Heavy News 03.10.25] Weekend Releases: ENRAGEMENT (FIN), MODDER (BE) & BESTA (POR).
[Heavy News] Time to cap off the week and ring in the weekend with three smashing new releases out today/tomorrow - Finns Enraged and their brutal-death scorcher Extinguish All Existence, Belgique psych/doom/stoner outfit Modder’s Destroying Ourselves for a Place in the Sun & Portuguese grindcore horror-lovers Besta, with John Carpenter Redux. Happy listening, happy weekend!
[Heavy News] KREATOR Announce New Album KRUSHERS OF THE WORLD + Release Video For New Single 'Seven Serpents'.
[Heavy News] - You kan’t keep a good krusher down, ‘least of all veteran Teutonic thrash-titans Kreator! They’re back with latest single ‘Seven Serpents’ plus preorders, bio and details for 16th LP Krushers of The World. The album drops Jan 16th via Nuclear Blast Records - check the link for details and to secure a spot!
[Heavy News] SOULFLY Release Music Video For New Single 'Nihilist' Feat. Todd Jones OF NAILS
[Heavy News]: Cavalera and Co are back at it again! Max and crew demonstrate their unwillingness to rest on laurels, pushing Soulfly’s heavy-factor to new heights with Chama. Check out the link for details/video/stream link for latest single ‘Nihilist’ (feat. Todd Jones of Nails) plus all the relevant links for the upcoming LP, out October 24th via Nuclear Blast Records.
[Podcast] Ep. 58: [Interview] with CHUCK BILLY of TESTAMENT (US).
Check out our interview from yesterday on Music Monday with Chuck Billy, the powerful veteran frontman/vocalist of iconic Bay Area thrash metal heroes Testament. With Para Bellum due for release on Oct 10th via Nuclear Blast Records, we discussed the upcoming LP, touring, musicianship and much more. Also included are recent singles, album preorder details, artist statement/links and more!
[Gig Review] MY DYING BRIDE with MAMMON'S THRONE @ Northcote Theatre, Melb (AU) 17.09.25
UK death-doom progenitors My Dying Bride made the epic sojourn to Australian shores, delivering mournful heaviness alongside Melbourne doomsters Mammon's Throne. Check the link for our gig review for the Melbourne leg of the tour, courtesy of Dean Underhill and Richie Black.
[Gig Review] EARTHLESS w/ STEPMOTHER & GRIM RHYTHM, Melbourne (AU) 13.09.25
Prepare for a psychedelic heavy journey into another realm, care of writer Hamza Siddiqi and Richie Black Photography and their coverage of Earthless’ headliner set last night with Stepmother and Grim Rhythm.
[Heavy News] PERTURBATOR Shares Menacing New Single 'Mors Ultima Ratio' From New Album ‘Age of Aquarius’.
Critically acclaimed for both his live show, electronic and other multi-instrumental material, Paris-based James Kent aka Perturbator has teased yet another track off the upcoming LP Age of Aquarius in latest single ‘Mors Ultima Ratio’! Peep this slice of heavy doof, get the scoop on both album and artist details, preorder links, single music videos and more within.
[GIG REVIEW] letlive. + STEPSON@ MAX WATTS (MELB, AU), 7.09.25
letlive. unleashed their brand of soul-punk onto a packed Melbourne crowd Sunday night. Jason Butler and band showed that letlive. were back with the same passion and prowess they always possessed.
[ALBUM REVIEW] THE BAND CAMINO - ‘NEVERALWAYS’ LP.
The Band Camino’s 2025 album 'Neveralways' is a compelling blend of introspective lyricism and vibrant indie rock energy.
[Heavy News] SOULFLY Announce New Album CHAMA + Release Lyric Video For New Single 'Storm The Gates'.
[Heavy News, Tue 2nd Sept]: SOULFLY Announce New Album CHAMA + Release Lyric Video For New Single 'Storm The Gates'! Brazil’s most metal família keep it tribal with a crushing new single and accompanying kaleidoscopic music vid. You can check out both here, with more details/bio on Chama, artist statement/links, merch/LP preorders and more! Groove on.
[Review] CONDITION CRITICAL (US) - ‘Degeneration Chamber’ LP.
[Album Review: Condition Critical - Degeneration Chamber]. Nope, not even inclement weather, power outages or a dead first draft can keep this thrasher down! See here for latest review from ISC host Brady, exploring a ripping, technical affair via these independent New Jersey modern-thrash upstarts. One for the thrashers and mosh-fiends, Degeneration Chamber drops Sept 5th, 2025.
[Heavy News] On The Motion Tracker - Recent/Upcoming Release Info + Mini-Reviews.
[Heavy News, 29.08.25]: Having admittedly been lacking in energy for doing full album reviews of late, I’ve nonetheless been scoping out what’s pinging the motion-tracker on the endless xeno-hunt that is new and upcoming releases. See within for press releases and some mini-review synopses for No Apologies (Aus hardcore), Hexrot (US experimental black/death), The Mansters (Norwegian fast-punk) & Now I’ve Done It (US… WTF-metal)!
[Podcast] Ep. 57: [Interview] with NICK HOLMES of PARADISE LOST (UK).
[ISC Podcast] Far from the stereotypes you might associate with a nickname like, well, Old Nick, our latest vocalist-interviewee Nick Holmes was candid, mirthful and excited in our midnight chat (very goth-coded, I know) ahead of Paradise Lost's 17th (!) studio opus Ascension. Due for release on September 19th via Nuclear Blast Records, we caught up with Nick to discuss said album, but also branch out into directions ranging from the practical (touring, songwriting, etc) all the way through to the existential.