HEAVY Music Interviews

Australian filmmaker Chris Sun has spent over 15 years building a reputation in the horror world crafting brutal, unforgettable films like Daddy’s Little Girl, Charlie’s Farm and BOAR. Now, he’s turning that same cinematic intensity toward a new frontier: music videos. With the launch of Sun Entertainment, Chris is stepping into the global music scene with one clear mission — to give artists bold, high-impact visuals that cut through the noise.
What started as a small, passionate setup with his son Kyle has rapidly evolved into a full-scale production powerhouse. Today, Sun Entertainment is backed by a team of produ...

Interview by Angela Croudace
One can’t overstate the size of the FEAR FACTORY boot print on the neck of heavy metal. Unleashing influential albums with devastating anthems for 35 years now, they are widely recognized as both crucial and innovative in extreme metal circles. 
FEAR FACTORY manufactured, demanufactured, and remanufactured a sound that reverberates across several subgenres. They perfected an explosive blend of staccato paint-stripping riffs, industrial- tinged drums, electronic flourishes, and a scream/sing dichotomy, all of which became staples in heavy music, ever since the group first emerged in L.A.
Celebrating 35 Years Of Fear, FEA...

Interview by Kris Peters
Magic DOES happen!
Weary Wizards Federation are coming back after a brief slumber and have declared a welcome home party for one and all Mo’s Desert Clubhouse on May 16. While your attendance stops short of being compulsory, if you’re NOT there you will miss out on not only the Wizards’ first live performance in over 365 days, but also the debut show from the fresh assortment of Wizards who now call the stage their home as part of Weary Wizards Federation.
The Weary Wizards Federation have awoken from hibernation and are ready to onc...

Interview by Kris Peters
A band who transcend genre and have transfixed fans across the globe since emerging in 2003, ENTER SHIKARI weave an unforgettable blend of post hardcore rock and electronic wizardry, while also flying the flag for meaningful lyricism that spans politics, climate change and the very gamut of the human experience.
During their remarkable and celebrated career, Enter Shikari have received several accolades in the form of gongs from NME, Kerrang!, Rock Sound, Heavy Music Awards and more. They have played a whopping 3000+ live shows around the world including three headline arena tours in the UK...

Interview by Kris Peters
Hillbilly Vegas’ dynamic sound caught the ears of an independent label in Nashville in 2011, and their first album Ringo Manor was released and sold more than 10,000 copies – driven by the hit single Little Miss Rough and Tumble.
The band has gone onto chart five songs on Billboard’s Rock charts, including Let It Ride – which remained on the chart for 13 weeks and reached #10, Feels Good, High Time For A Good Time, Hell To Pay, Two GunTown, and fan favorite Shake It Like A Hillbilly. The band has earned a reputation for rousing live shows-bringing a loud...

Interview by Kris Peters
This Friday, May 8, California’s legendary iconic band Social Distortion release their eighth studio album, Born To Kill, via Epitaph Records.
Born To Kill is more than the conclusion to a 15-year wait between Social Distortion albums, it’s a revelation: 11 songs of pure, unadulterated rock ’n' roll fury, joy and catharsis, all imbued with the signature blend of defiance and world-weariness that has made founder Mike Ness a poet and sage to the dispossessed for more than 40 years.
The first Social Distortion album since Ness’ recovery from a bout with cancer, Born To Kill...

Wheezing new life and enjoyment into the current Australian heavy music climate, the arthritic riddled retirees known as GOPHER have released their astonishing, must hear debut album Tunnel Buddies.
Featuring the forever young looking and current world mahjong champion Ernie Bingo on vocals, and perpetually complimented by the effervescent ladies man Ned Smelly on guitars, they prove without a doubt that you are never too old to hail the horns and bang your head. Even if it is fused to your neck.
GOPHER’s infectious debut album Tunnel Buddies knits together a cohesive fusion of knee wobbling groovy gr...

Interview by Kris Peters
HZED is a powerhouse riff-driven rock band hailing from Melbourne, Australia, known for their high-octane energy and authentic, rock drenched sound. The band’s current lineup features vocalist Tenaye, guitarist Spruce, drummer Sam, and members Hannah and Piddo.
Musically, HZED is defined by raw, "in-your-face" rock anthems. Their songwriting process often begins with a riff or track idea from Spruce, which is then passed to Tenaye to develop lyrics and a  vibe. This collaborative approach has resulted in standout tracks like No Colour and the hard-hitting single Heartbreaker.
Following the release of Rising Up...

THE WATERBOYS make their long-awaited return to Australia and New Zealand in May 2026 their first tour in over a decade.
Led by the incomparable Mike Scott and critically acclaimed as one of the best live bands on the planet, the 2025 band also features double keyboard players Brother Paul from Memphis and James Hallawell from Cornwall and is grounded by killer Irish rhythm section Aongus Ralston (bass) and Eamon Ferris (drums).
THE WATERBOYS will be performing tracks from their audacious new album, Life, Death and Dennis Hopper: a bold, cinematic tribute to the maverick American actor and cultural icon...

Interview by Kris Peters
Crispy Danger isn’t just another new band. Formed in Birmingham in 2025 at the Back to the Beginning Festival, and residing in Melbourne, Crispy Danger’s soul comes from a heavy metal heritage, yet their music combines riff driven rock with catchy pop sensibilities and hard hitting lyrics, carving out a genre unique to themselves.
Fronted by brother/sister duo of David Rex - vocals, guitars and Michelle Maxx - bass, Crispy Danger is completed by Frankie Demuru on drums. With all three sharing a love of different musical genres the resulting sonic impact is c...

Interview by Kris Peters
BLACK FLAG, the American band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California, has turned a new page and begun a bold new chapter with the addition of three new members: Max Zanelly (vocals), David Rodriguez (bass), and Bryce Weston (drums), joining founding guitarist Greg Ginn.
With a fresh lineup - and their first ever female vocalist - and renewed creative energy, BLACK FLAG is gearing up for exciting live shows and new music production. The group has already begun writing and rehearsing together, building on their signature sound while embracing new influences brought in by...

Interview by Kris Peters
Sydney's genre-defying rock titans, HELLIONS, are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their ARIA-nominated, career-defining album, Opera Oblivia, with a massive Australian tour in May 2026. Full details below.
Opera Oblivia is the album that smashed expectations, redefined the boundaries of Australian heavy music, and delivered a phenomenal #4 debut on the ARIA Charts. Declared a "genre great" by the wider music community for its sheer theatricality and ambition, Opera Oblivia cemented HELLIONS's reputation for innovation and audacious songwriting. From the explosive, anthemic hooks of 'Quality of Life' and 'Thresher' to the intricate, dramatic beauty of its...

Interview by Kris Peters
THE NARRATOR were founded in 2017 in Essen, Germany and have since established themselves in the German metalcore scene with energetic songwriting and electrifying live performances. After successful tours and festival appearances, THE NARRATOR released their highly anticipated debut album, Lore, in September 2024, which has now accumulated over 11 million streams, and led to a huge EU/UK support tour with Annisokay at the end of 2025.
And that was just the beginning: On May 8, 2026, their second studio album Phosphor will be released, once again mastered by Ted Jensen (Sterling Sound – Bring Me the Horizon, Green Day, Ko...

Interview by Kris Peters
REXORIA returns with their signature Royal Metal sound on the brand‑new album Fallen Dimension - out May 8 via Black Lodge - delivering towering choruses, vivid storytelling, emotional depth, and raw, commanding vocals.
Formed in 2016 in Småland, Sweden, REXORIA quickly evolved into something distinct within the metal landscape, embarking on their first European tour only months after releasing their first EP. Unbound by traditional genre definitions, the band blends heavy metal, power metal, symphonic, cinematic and electronic influences into a unified sound, driven by Frida Ohlin’s distinctive voice; powerful, raspy and deeply emoti...

One of Australia's newest music labels isn't so new any more, with Sydney based label XMusic this year celebrating their fifth year of providing support to Australian bands and musicians, with a venture into the overseas market last year increasing the reach of XMusic to a global scale.
Started in 2020 by by former Sony Music executive and current Australian representative for Better Noise Music, Tim McLean-Smith, XMusic was founded with a view dedicated to artist development, offering a traditional A&R development approach combined with modern rollout strategies. 
The label supports a diverse group of rock acts, including S...

Interview by Kris Peters
“Each Armored Saint record, to me, is like a new skin for the band, a different chapter. I don't think we've ever repeated ourselves,” stated bassist Joey Vera. “Every album has been pretty different from the previous one, a snapshot in time. In 2026, Emotion Factory Reset is where our heads are at.”
Emotion Factory Reset, Armored Saint's ninth full-length studio album since 1984’s March of the Saint, bears out his words, the LP a resurrection of sorts, a tearing down and a rebuilding in 11 songs of diverse musicality and lyrical themes. Produced, as were the previo...

Words and interview by: Kyra Jade
Coming up very soon in May, Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls will be joining long time buddies Bowling For Soup on their Bowl Your Bones Australian Tour. Frank Turner graciously jumped on to chat with HEAVY MAG before making the long journey to our shores!
Luckily this isn’t Frank’s first time visiting us, he's played some great shows and festivals in Australia over the years. We spoke about playing the iconic Byron Bay Bluesfest in particular taking a moment to reminisce on what it was like and being a part of t...

Interview by Ali Williams
HOKKA are not easing their way into their new release. They are kicking the door off the hinges, draping the room in red capes and dark mythology, then having the nerve to make it all look effortless. 
Speaking with HEAVY, Joel Hokka comes across as the kind of frontman who has already lived enough band life to know exactly what matters and exactly what doesn’t. There is no wide-eyed “we just got lucky” routine here. HOKKA might be new on paper, but this is not a band fumbling around in the dark hoping to stri...

Interview by Ali Williams
Clawfinger's Bård Torstensen stopped in for a chat with HEAVY Magzine's Ali Williams to fill in the gaps after their long standing hiatus on new releases. After nineteen years between albums, Clawfinger could have returned with something painfully self-important, full of mythology and creative suffering. Instead, Bård talks about it with the kind of dry honesty that makes the whole thing far more endearing. Before We All Die arrives not as some grand rock resurrection, but as the product of a band that simply figured out how to make it work in a wo...

Interview by Angela Croudace
Photo credit Diana Seifert
For George Marios, influence isn’t something he carefully maps out, it happens instinctively. Drawing from artists like Alter Bridge and Dream Theater, he describes his sound as a kind of “musical osmosis,” where ideas naturally collide and evolve. Even unexpected touchpoints, like the atmospheric pull of Jeff Buckley, can surface in his work before giving way to massive, anthemic choruses.
That same ambition extends visually. His Crash Burn music video embraces a cinematic scale inspired by The Karate Kid and the modern grit of Monkey Man. Taking on multip...

Interview by Kris Peters
Waiting for something you truly desire can be pure agony and loyal fans of Norwegian extreme metal royalty Dimmu Borgir know that feeling better than most. Ever since guitarist Sven “Silenoz” Kopperud and vocalist Stian “Shagrath” Thoresen formed the band amid Norway’s shadowed forestlands in 1993 - at the height of second-wave black metal’s triumphant aeons - rushing the creative process has never been part of the equation. 
Especially since Abrahadabra (2010), Dimmu Borgir’s latter-day opuses have arrived only when every last detail has been carved into place, never when trends, algorithms, or schedules deman...

Words and interview by: Kyra Jade
Even if you chose the hermit crab life, you’ve still most likely heard the name Sepultura. They aren’t strangers around here and have been showing us how it’s done for over 40 years. Their fanbase are notoriously passionate and loyal to the band often stating they are not only pioneers, they are one of the most influential metal bands in history. You'll only need to scratch the surface of Sepultura’s lore to see the influence they’ve had on metal music over the years, never afraid to bend genres and play from...

Interview by Kris Peters
After triumphantly casting off the shackles of claustrophobic dissonance on 2020's lauded Stare Into Death and Be Still, New Zealand unorthodox death metal legends ULCERATE up the ante even further with mind-bending 7th album Cutting the Throat of God. 
An acknowledgement that the band's most powerful and affecting material leans to the melodic side, this refined and hook-laden new record is a self-sufficient universe unto itself, a conflagration of inventively visceral death/black metal where dizzying experimentation meets head-nodding abandon - obscenely twisted and addictive, heart-stopping in its depth of feeling.
To complete t...

Interview by Kris Peters
Wacken Open Air is one of the most recognisable names in heavy music anywhere on the planet. Now in its 35th year, the legendary German festival has become a global meeting point for metal fans, bands and industry alike. A place where the underground and the established stand shoulder to shoulder.
On April 18, the spirit of Wacken lands in Sydney.
As part of a worldwide celebration marking 35 years of Wacken, 35 official Warm Up shows will take place across the globe on the same day, stretching from Europe and the UK through Asia, the...

Interview by Angela Croudace
From Ashes to New are entering a new era with Reflections, a record shaped by honesty, pressure, and a refusal to settle. Speaking on the band’s latest single Die For You, frontman Danny Case explained how the track grew from deeply personal experiences, capturing the exhaustion of giving everything in a relationship and finally drawing a line.
That emotional weight drove every creative decision. Rather than overbuilding the song, the band chose to cut straight to the core, letting the vulnerability hit immediately. It’s a mindset that carried across the album, with the...

Interview by Kris Peters
Australia, get set to be bowled over in 2026, with beloved UK folk punk act FRANK TURNER & THE SLEEPING SOULS joining forces with Texan pop punk mainstays BOWLING FOR SOUP for a monumental co-headline Australian tour next month.
When a band can make it feel like a summer party anywhere they go, you know you're in for a good time. And with over three decades in their wake as a band, BOWLING FOR SOUP, aka the self-proclaimed "9th greatest pop punk band in history", have left an indelible mark on their genre and pop culture...

Interview by Kris Peters
Phoenix Arizona legends BLESSTHEFALL are headed our way with Memphis May Fire later this month, for their first Australian shows in over a decade.
Following a hiatus after their 2018 album Hard Feelings, BLESSTHEFALL returned, teasing new music in 2025 and embracing their "mallcore" roots. Formed in the early 2000s, they are considered veterans of the post-hardcore/metalcore scene, having gone through various lineup changes while keeping key members like vocalist Beau Bokan and bassist/vocalist Jared Warth and have hit the ground running since their return.
The pairing of Memphis May Fire is a...

Interview by Angela Croudace
Returning to Australia after a three-year absence, nothing, nowhere. is set to reconnect with a fanbase he clearly holds close. Speaking ahead of the tour, the man behind nothing, nowhere, Joe Mulherin reflects on the long gap between visits, admitting it feels like he “just” played here, only to realise how much time has passed. That distance has only heightened his anticipation, especially when it comes to Australian crowds, which he describes as among the most passionate in the world.
There’s a genuine affection in the way he talks about the country, not just t...

Interview by Kris Peters
Australia, prepare to set your fazers to stun this September, with Welsh ragga metal legends SKINDRED primed to return to our shores for their biggest ever Australian headline tour! Opening proceedings on Tuesday 1 September in Perth, SKINDRED will head through Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, and close out on Sunday 6 September in Brisbane.
Wielding a formidable (and deserved) reputation as one of the best live bands on the planet, SKINDRED have been stupefying audiences with their heart-thumping blend of reggae, punk, hip hop, nu metal, rock and electronica since forming in the late 90s. Hailing...

If there's one topic sure to divide opinion in the world of music it's tribute bands and the rapid growth of such bands around the globe. Those who support tribute bands argue points such as providing accessible, affordable entertainment, keeping classical music alive and preserving musical history while those opposed argue tribute bands impact artist authenticity by oversaturating venues and reducing opportunities for original bands who play their own music.
That debate has recently spread to social media platforms like Facebook, whose new META algorythm has censored tribute bands and their videos, to the extent of closing down pages...

Interview by Ali Williams
Hot Mulligan’s latest chat with HEAVY finds the band exactly where good bands tend to be after years of grinding away: confident, funny, slightly unhinged in the best way, and still refreshingly free of self-important rubbish. Speaking with Ali Williams ahead of their April return to Australia, the group as a band, have earned its growing reputation. These guys roll on in with the kind of dry humour and sideways banter that suggests Hot Mulligan are far more interested in taking the piss out of themselves than posing like tortured visionaries. Just like their mu...

Interview by Ali Williams

H.E.A.T are not exactly sitting around polishing old trophies and talking about the glory days. When HEAVY's Ali Williams caught up with Jimmy Jay, the Swedish melodic rock machine was holed up in rehearsal mode, fresh off the Spanish leg of their Welcome To The Future 2026 run and already gearing up for the next round of work. 
In classic H.E.A.T fashion, there is no neat little pause between touring and recording. The band is heading into Hamburg to start work on the next album, with more than t...

Interview by Angela Croudace
Dr. Mike Trubetskov isn’t just a metal producer—he’s a guide into one of the genre’s most misunderstood elements: synths. Based in Melbourne, he works with heavy bands to shape what he calls their “cinematic sound,” and a huge part of that comes from what sits beneath the obvious.
For Mike, synths aren’t always meant to be heard, they’re meant to be felt. Whether it’s a subtle, slow-moving pad or an industrial, distorted layer cutting through dense guitars, these sounds define the emotional weight of a track. Remove them, and somethin...

Interview by Angela Croudace
Los Angeles duo sace6 are carving out a striking space in modern heavy music, blending R&B melodies with emotionally charged metal textures. In conversation with HEAVY, Sace and Noah reveal the deeply personal roots behind their name, with 6 honouring Sace’s father as a baseball player and serving as a symbol of inspiration.
Their latest project, Brutalist, reflects both sonic intensity and immersive world-building, pairing pop-forward vocals with what the band describes as “brutal” emotional weight. The duo emphasised a unique creative process built on trust, often working separately to fully realise ideas before...

Interview by Kris Peters
In any serious conversation about death metal, Vomitory’s name is a must-mention. Formed in 1989, the Swedish band unleashed eight blistering albums between 1996 and 2011, cementing their status as genre titans before parting ways in 2013. However, their retirement was short-lived, as they returned to the stage in 2019 to mark their 30th anniversary. Now, three years after the release of their critically acclaimed comeback album All Heads Are Gonna Roll in 2023, Vomitory are back with their latest beast, In Death Throes, due out on April 10.
According to drummer Tobias Gustafsson, while the unmistakable Vomitory sound remains, th...

Interview by Kris Peters
Patient Sixty-Seven have become one of the most compelling and community‑driven voices in modern metalcore - a band built not on hype or industry shortcuts, but on heart, resilience, and the belief that heavy music can be a lifeline. Emerging from the isolated but fiercely creative city of Perth, Australia, P67 have spent the past decade turning personal struggle into connection, and connection into a movement that now has reached metalcore fans across the globe.
From their earliest releases, Patient Sixty-Seven stood out for their emotional honesty - songs that didn’t shy away...

Interview by Kris Peters
Australia and New Zealand, big things are coming! In just a matter of days, two musical heavyweights will begin a colossal arena run, with Florida hybrid heavies A DAY TO REMEMBER and California mainstays PAPA ROACH joining forces for the BIG ROCK TOUR, joined by special guests LANDMVRKS.
Set to commence on Saturday, April 4 in Perth, A DAY TO REMEMBER and PAPA ROACH will journey the BIG ROCK TOUR through Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane arenas, before closing out in Auckland on Wednesday 15 April.
Two-time GRAMMY-nominated and Platinum-selling rockers PAPA ROACH have perfected...

Interview by Kris Peters
Perth based melodic death metal outfit VANTA returned with their debut full length album Perpetual Selection on March 13, a cinematic andconcept driven record that explores humanity’s darker instincts through the lens of cosmic horror, mythology and dystopian sci-fi.
Perpetual Selection is a sonic and visual journey inspired by Indonesian dark folklore and survival horror games to the brutal sci-fi landscapes of Dune and Warhammer 40K, transforming real world anxieties into symbolic narratives of monsters, collapse and rebirth. At its core, the album honours melodeath roots by fusing the aggression and heaviness of modern am...

Interview by Kris Peters
Gothenburg's finest musical expert Evergrey are returning with their fifteenth studio album Architects Of A New Weave, set for release on June 5, 2026 via Napalm Records. 
Whether it launches EVERGREY’s boldest era yet, stands as a fierce standalone declaration, or serves as the pivotal bridge chapter that redefines their path, Architects Of A New Weave is pure cinematic motivation—ready to charge your playlist and propel your momentum forward. 
It’s as though EVERGREY don’t merely survive adversity—they rise and expand because of it. Every challenge, every setback, every wound seems to become th...

Interview by Kris Peters
Known for their fiery fusion of anthemic modern metal and powerful melodic rock, Sweden's SELF DECEPTION have shared stages with the likes of Electric Callboy, Danko Jones, and Adept since their 2009 debut, while racking up millions of streams and video views – including their viral 2022 hit, Fight Fire With Gasoline, with tens of millions of streams. 
Written on the road during the heaviest touring of SELF DECEPTION’s career so far, their upcoming album One Of Us is a cohesive record full of character, made for the stage – and the pit!
From massive pit churner...