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Ben Rankin has been hard at work in 2025, and it seems he is not slowing down coming into 2026! With the craziness that is December, I’m taking a quick look back to his last single ‘SAVE YOUR TEARS’ which is the first off his upcoming album IN MEMORIAM (stay tuned for 27th of February)! This is a follow up to his June EP THIS IS MORE THAN ENOUGH - no sleep for the wicked, hey.

Who doesn’t love a concept album? VITRIARCH do too, their latest EP MYTHOS   bases itself in the divinity of gods, and cultural concepts, though they leave it all open enough for interpretation. Based out of Canberra and previously known as TSUNAMI PUNCHER , VITRIARCH define progressive metalcore, and have worked with the likes of Clint Boge ( THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT ) and 301 Studios to bring their debut to the table.  MYTHOS   is dynamic FROM TRACK TO TRACK, utilising stri

Let's start this one off like we are trying to find a recipe on the internet and you have to read your way through the unnecessary family samherbertmedia blog to find the ingredients. This year has been a crazy one for me, first with my husband recovering from extensive cancer treatment, sustaining a traumatic hand injury resulting in my being unable to use my dominant hand for six months and during that pause on my cheffing career finding Hot and Heavy and starting my music

From the moment we arrived, you could feel something electric in the air. Good Things Festival 2025 was a monster of a day. loud, warm, chaotic, heartfelt and ultimately unforgettable. With it's massive lineup spanning metal, hardcore, punk, emo and alt rock, this year’s iteration showed just how diverse and thriving the scene has become. Let me take you on a journey. thornhill - @scarletvisuals T Rex Autopsy We kicked off with T Rex Autopsy, who took home their spot by winni

A kid, barely 20, in a red Pantera shirt darts through the room, the first band has yet to play but he’s gripping the barricade with two hands, shaking out his full mullet. Two friends appeared beside him, drinks in hand, and passed him a golden, frothing beer. The lights sink, two men walk onstage, and Melbourne’s 15th Birthday Bird’s Robe celebration gig begins.  It’s a Friday night and The Sea Shall Not Have Them warms Max Watts' scattered 6:30pm crowd perfectly, providing

In a track that’s full of punchy, threatening, bass heavy breakdowns and complex, flowing, guitar parts, TIGERPRIZM provides both despair and hope in this over 6 minute epic, ‘Watch The World Fall’. TIGERPRIZM is the fresh solo project from Melbourne-based musician Frank Vadala beginning this year with the release of ‘Black Lotus’ in January. ‘Watch The World Fall’ released November 30 is the thrilling second single from this exciting new artist.  ‘Watch The World Fall’ is gr

Digging back through my playlists and my memories, that are increasingly becoming one in the same, Dead Poet Society (the band, obviously, this is a music blog) entered my life in 2021.  Specifically, I can remember listening to ‘American Blood’ on a death-defying repeat cycle, meaning, I listened to it until the words and sounds blended into a meaningless mush and I had to put it away for a little while. A little while ended up only being a few days, after which I added it t

the other week, i hit up Newcastle’s Hamilton Station Hotel and it was was buzzing! The room was small, loud and full of the kind of energy you only get when a free gig turns into something much bigger than it intends to be. This was one of those nights where the crowd and the bands fused into a single sweaty, beautiful mess. In a good way. Heads up, sadly no photos but enjoy the read! Atlas And The Attic Brisbane’s Atlas And The Attic kicked things off with a level of polish

Zheani’s newest album, LONG LIVE THE OLD DEAD GODS, is a testament to chaos, creation, divinity and femininity. Divulging into themes of life, death, love and rebirth, Zheani presents these ideas in a way that is uncliched and fully authentic. Released at the end of November, and coinciding with the birth of her first baby, LONG LIVE THE OLD DEAD GODS is Zheani’s first album drop since 2022. Combining elements of witch house, glitchy electronic, drum & bass, rap, dark amb

Newcastle Prog Rock band Kōdem have released their three-track debut ep "tattooed sin" with single "sorrow of down".

brisbane's gazey emo outfit, upsetter, have dropped their first single of 2025, 'best years of my life'. it is a short departure from their 2023 album, doomgaze and 2024 singles, which could be a good indication of the direction upsetter will continue to take!

Melbourne based alternative-rock band Vermantics have created the perfect track for those angst-filled late summer nights this holiday period in ‘Mess’, released November 21st. Following their successful UK tour in May, Vermantics are showcasing what good Aussie alt-rock is all about. Crunchy guitars, anthemic, soaring riffs, and an unrelenting beat.  Vocalist Stefan Fedele’s vocals are aching in a sweet desperation and inner-turmoil. Clear, generous, and soaring, Stefan’s vo

If you're a fan of progressive metalcore, then you're sure to love this five-piece band from Canberra, Australia. Introducing vitriarch with their single ' R'lyeh '. R'lyeh is the fifth single off the bands debut EP, titled 'Mythos' . Released on May 16th, 2025, this track is packed to the brim with harsh vocals, softly sung contrasting harmonies and long, throaty growls. It's an epic track from start to finish. The lyrics in this track are haunting. The band don't let us do

Brisbane hardcore band Grizzlyshark are back with their new single " Brand New Tragedy ", after their successful release of " waiting for y2k " in September; you can read our review here . Brand New Tragedy " is 1 part infectious melody for every 2 parts chaotic fury ". I recommend you take the time to watch the video because it is honestly hilarious, featuring kidnappings, and a hot sauce challenge and outtakes at the end you are bound to find yourself laughing. BNT is es

FuzzTronica have just released their single ‘B.O.B Sticker’ from their new debut self-titled EP, which is an eclectic ode to the iconic Aussie yellow Baby On Board car sticker. The freshly-formed trio’s style is dynamic and electric, combining aspects of multiple genres such as hard rock, hip hop, punk and electronic to create a sound that is ass-shakingly infectious. With all three members being seasoned musicians, this experimental approach definitely feels like a love let

As soon as I read the quote " Our music is for fans of Alphawolf, Darko US & Make Them Suffer" I knew I wanted to jump on the review for Violent Conflict's latest release, titled 'venom' . Hailing from Brisbane, Australia, this metalcore band comprised of members Josh Guerin, Leigham Moyses, Connor Gawley and Robert Schilke is sure to become one of your new metalcore favourites. 'Venom' dropped November 13th and the accompanying music video is packed full of intense head ban

HEALTH have released the fourth brand new single from their upcoming album, a melancholic and mournful track that exposes the very vulnerability of what it means to be human. ‘YOU DIED’ takes a slightly different approach from the vibes of the previously released tracks from ‘CONFLICT DLC’ , with witch house, trap and industrial elements coming to the forefront. Atmospheric and heavy, delicate vocals deliver pained lyrics over soft glitchy beats. Getting its name from the ic

In a track that sounds like a prayer for the damned, Roronoah closes their early musical chapter with the punishingly tasty ‘Judgement’. Following the successful release of their debut EP ‘Accustomed to Hurt’ earlier this year, and off the back of a highly successful headline east-coast tour, this five-piece deathcore band from Brisbane are still racing ahead at full tilt.  Roronoah warms into the track slowly at first with big, chunky, rasping guitar riffs, before tumbling h

Adelaide’s latest hardcore/metalcore band Sørrøwstate has thundered onto the scene with a contrastingly sharp yet sludgy debut track, ‘Left in the Hollow’. Heavy, haunting, and full of anger and despair Sørrøwstate have delivered a filthy and ferocious first offering that has fans eager for more.  Less than a month after release the track has amassed over 4,500 streams and climbing, an incredible feat for this five-piece fledgling band from South Australia, and the track dese

Melbourne’s very own heavy metal synth-pop trio Nightlight knows we ‘want that drama//drama’ in their latest single, DRAMA//DRAMA. Released November 6th DRAMA//DRAMA is an astonishingly good follow up from their earlier highly successful debut into a heavier sound with HEAVEN//BELOW.  DRAMA//DRAMA contains that familiar intoxicating mixture of genres that nightlight has already been using to carve a path of their own in the Australian heavy music scene. They’re a melting pot