It’s that time of year. Camden Town is to be invaded once again by a horde of extreme metal fans as Incineration Festival has conjured up one of the finest festival lineups of the year! With many still talking about the majestic Blood Incantation “Absolute Elsewhere” set from the year prior in the nation’s capital, what can we expect from the 2026 edition? With everything from modern black metal through to seminal death metal acts and everything in between spread across five venues, here are just a few reasons why you should get your tickets now before it’s too late!
Electrifying Ballroom Lineup
All heads are gonna roll as Swedish death metal heavyweights storm the Electric Ballroom, riding the momentum of their rather punishing new album “In Death Throes”. They won’t be the only band on that stage who have recently released new music as Norwegian sognametal standouts Vreid demonstrated their expansive approach to black metal in the shape of “The Skies Turn Black”. Black metal with a progressive twist seems to be the theme here with Der Weg Einer Freiheit and Afsky also gracing the second largest venue for the day, with the stage to be headlined by Swedish melodic death metal masters Hypocrisy!
Dragged Into Sunlight
A riddle wrapped in an enigma. Dragged Into Sunlight don’t play often. They emerged from five years of hibernation as they tore Damnation Festival apart in November 2024 in a set that’s gone as one of the greatest in the festival’s history! Those of you who were unfortunate enough to miss their visceral and gripping intense live show that day have a chance at redemption at Incineration. If you don’t, you may have to wait a while as they rarely play live!
Photo Credit: Tim Finch Photography
Old School and Brutal Death Metal
Lovers of blast beats, guttural vocals, and heavy as hell riffs will be more than satiated this year. One of the bands who started the whole slam metal movement Internal Bleeding take over as they headline the Underworld stage in what’s to be one of the wildest sets of the weekend. A rare UK appearance for Grave takes place at the Roundhouse, a special ‘set with their original lineup whilst Tomb Mold and Grave Miasma ensure the riffs come fast and heavy on that stage too.
Gleaming Local Talent
Despite the influx of international heavyweights, the likes of Vacuous, Beyond Extinction, and Yersin will ensure that the best of the British underground extreme metal scene will be represented. Their sets and many more can be found on the smaller Dev and Black Heart stages.
Blood Fire Death
Over 20 years ago, the world of extreme metal lost one of its true pioneers, Thomas ‘Quorthorn’ Forsberg. The creative force behind the reason why many musicians picked up their instruments for the first time, Incineration Festival will host a rare and monumental headline set as Blood Fire Death play tribute to the music of Quorthorn and Bathory. The lineup features a who’s who of black metal royalty, a star studded supergroup with members from Enslaved, Waitain, Djevel, and Trelldom, as well as ex-members of Gorgoroth, Mayhem and Bathory itself! Performing the songs of Bathory with full arena production, this supergroup have wowed audiences across Europe as they bring to life the original creative vision of Quorthorn. A rare set that simply cannot be missed.
Logistics
Let’s address the elephant in the room; there were issues with overcrowding in the early hours of 2025’s festival. Though the festival has learned from their mistakes and have assured fans that the Roundhouse – the largest of the five venues – will open much earlier and there will be no venue specific tickets on sale this year. All of which aim to provide a much more positive experience for the fans.
The term unmissable is thrown around too much. But with rare performance that may never be replicated and extreme metal heavyweights that seldom play in the UK, Incineration Festival 2026 is just that.
Cryptworm’s third LP, Infectious Pathological Waste, quite charmingly arrives at the perfect time for yours truly; the deeper, choppier musical waters I’ve been swimming in the past few weeks have made for an often rewarding but exhaustingly challenging adventure. Conversely, this Infectious Pathologic Waste, though hardly stupid, is that specifically filthy brand of brutal and disturbed OSDM that is just a smidge catchier than it probably has any right to be. Suffice to say, it has left me feeling “Maimed and Gutted” in the best way.
Admittedly, Infectious Pathological Waste may be third Cryptworm LP but it’s the second Cryptworm LP I’ve heard. A brief journey on the wayback machine to the year 2022 would likely reveal me reclining ever so slightly in my rocking chair—earbuds on, iced coffee in hand, a tired but genuine smile on my face, listening to Cryptworm’s debut, Spewing Mephitic Putridity at approximately 7:15 am, another episode of Daniel Tiger blaring in the background. I can picture that brown and yellow cover vividly enough. What a fun little sojourn that record was. Yet I don’t recall ever having heard the follow-up, Oozing Radioactive Vomition. Not sure why, aside from sheer ignorance, because this new one may just end up my favorite OSDM of the year.
It’s a weird, almost embarrassingly contradictory exercise, what I am doing now, in attempting to carefully describe a record titled Infectious Pathological Waste. But it deserves that careful description. What we have here is a grimy death metal record that exists in a world free from apology, free from irony, free from revivalism, and in some sense free from the trappings of criticism and consumption. If you should understand anything about this record, it’s that there’s a free-spirited, jackassery level of fun happening here. Imbecilic fun. Nay, inherently critic-proof imbecilic fun. Almost.
Tibor Hanyi’s top class gurgling is all the announcement a listener needs to know Infectious Pathological Waste rules. But if you need to know what the album actually sounds like, a wiser colleague once described Cryptworm’s sound as Demilich but played like Autopsy. And that seemed entirely accurate and fair to me; that specific and pulverizing mix of distortion and technicality, double dipped in filth, grime, and pus. That Cryptworm executes it so flawlessly is what makes it so impressive. In its raw form, it’s delightful enough; as performed by Cryptworm, it’s art.
Highlighting or even discussing specific songs is kind of pointless when an entire album delivers like this one does. If pushed, the impossibly catchy title track, the also impossibly catchy and frenetic “Drowning in Purulent Excrementia,” and the punishing and extra gurgly “Embedded with Parasitic Larvae” are among the standouts. Those infrequent but not totally uncommon moments of doomier respite are where the Autopsy creeps in. And it’s where Cryptworm play with that dynamic the most—the freneticism, the filth, and the fun—that they sound best.
Shockingly impressive, this one. I am probably not recommending it to family or anything. Certainly not my wife. But if you have any interest at all in death metal of any variety, you owe it yourself to give Cryptworm’s Infectious Pathological Waste a listen.
Joe Stump’s Tower of Babel, the hard rock quintet who bring the finest European ingredients to their no-nonsense rock ‘n’ roll, have unveiled the video for their Ritchie Blackmore-inspired track ‘Alone In The Desert’ in tribute to the legendary guitarist’s birthday. The song is featured on the band’s latest album ‘Days Of Thunder‘. To listen […]
Godsticks are, for me, one of the most underrated bands around today. Eighteen years and seven albums since their formation, the band from Newport live under the shadow of their local brothers Skindred and GLC in terms of popularity. Put the needle in the groove, though, and for me, the Progressive Metal of this quartet is way more interesting and exciting.
It is, of course, a different style completely, and I have admiration for all the bands from my current home city, the ‘Port. Godsticks latest album VoID is amongst their best, and for me, marks the latest step in the band’s evolution.
Congratulations given to singer/guitarist/keyboardist/founder Darran Charles, I discover that he is humble and reflective about the band’s status and the response they receive.
“It’s very nice to get it, in all seriousness, because you often wonder what the reception is going to be like. We generally always get a lot of positive press, but this time there’s been a couple of negative reviews, and I always thought I didn’t give a shit.
“It turns out that I do slightly give a shit! Really. I don’t know what it is. I probably take the sales over the positive reviews just because that would enable us to continue, more than anything else. But, yeah, that’s what I always thought.”
Godsticks – VOiD – The quality of this band has always been there. Now it is just pushed up another two levels at least.
The passion is evident within minutes. Darran and the band care deeply about their music. Possibly too deeply, as there is always an element of fragility about the future of a band like Godsticks, despite their support from Kscope.
“It always feels like it’s at an end,” Darran says. “Each album, if I’m on a tour cycle, because you put your heart and soul into stuff because I love doing it, love doing this. But then the only downside is that if figures come in for gigs, ticket sales and stuff like that, and they are not great. It’s always potentially the end, and not through a lack of determination or anything like that.
“But the longer it goes on, the more you’re faced with the reality that it can’t go on at a certain level. There have to be steps up, not for any ego reason or anything like that. It’s just to justify continuing.
“The problem used to be that there’s a lot of music out there, a lot of competition and whatnot. There’s a lot of good music out there. That’s the thing. There’s a lot of talented bands out there and talented people. You’re not trying to separate yourself from the shit anymore.
“You don’t have to be a legitimate artist to show your creativity these days. Now that more people have access to technology, we’ve got more competition for it. So, it’s difficult. It’s really difficult. I’ll be honest, there. You caught me on a day when I’m quite miserable about it as well.”
Whilst Darran has a typical Newport outlook on life. He has a valid point. The slog of years of creativity with what feels like little reward is challenging.
He continues to explain. “In all honesty, it gets to this stage whenever you release an album, and you’re waiting to go out on a tour, you’re hoping for an improvement in sales and stuff. If you don’t see many, there’s no point in looking for excuses like, ‘Oh, no one’s got any money anymore.’
“I’m always on the precipice anyway, so this isn’t unusual. Any sort of knock back, you always must pick yourself back up a little bit and get on with it and sort of this stuff. I really do love doing it, but at the end of the day, other people have to, as well.”
Godsticks – The Bunkhouse, Swansea – 9 February 2024. Photo: Paul Hutchings/MetalTalk
For those who bought the extra edition of VoID, there is a special, exclusive CD called Nowhere To Be Seen, containing three tracks not available anywhere else.
Whilst it’s brilliant to have some exclusive songs, I ask Darran about the origins of the music because they do not feel like the standard throwaway songs some bands release. I flag Downplay in particular as a standout track.
“I really love Downplay, which we recorded when we did the last album, This Is What A Winner Looks Like, in 2023,” Darran says. “That was one of the only occasions that I can remember where we had four extra songs that we didn’t include on the album. Usually, we’ve got ten tracks, and that’s it.”
Godsticks – The Bunkhouse, Swansea – 9 February 2024. Photo: Paul Hutchings/MetalTalk
Darran explains that during the pandemic, he had nothing in terms of writing. “But when we started playing live again, I just had inspiration. I brought a pile of stuff. But that track just didn’t fit the vibe of This Is What A Winner Looks Like. I’m glad that we didn’t record it and we didn’t commit it to that album because I was always going to do a bonus just to encourage pre-orders and give something for free as well.
“I always think, oh, I’ll just knock something out, right? And it’s never the case. It’s like I can’t, as if it is impossible for me not to put 100% effort into everything. Even then, it took me months to do those tracks. I treat them the same.”
Darran is glad that he was able to do this and does not view them as throwaway tracks, which is reassuring. “It’s a bonus disc, and it’s exclusive to pre-orders. But you write, and when you put together the track listing for an album, you still think of the journey. That just didn’t feel part of the journey.”
With a varied run of dates, it is drummer Tom Price, along with the promoters, who select the supports for each show. The Swansea one has a great undercard. Darran laughs about it, though.
“I’m allowed to just sit back and do fuck all on that,’ he smiles. “That’s the one I’m enjoying. That’s like my gift. We all have our responsibilities. Tom does social media. Tom and Gavin. Gavin’s in charge of videos because that’s a pain in the arse in itself, man. That’s a lot of work. You got to do your own videos. You’ve got to be editing yourself.”
Darran is still the chief songwriter, although he is keen to point out the contributions of the others. “Gavin [Bushell], Thomas, and Francis [George] are essential, every album increasingly. Gavin always creates synth stuff. He would rewrite some of my guitar parts, and he always creates little motifs. I put the demo together, and then I’ll let them do that.
“Tom’s drums, he stitches everything together. I really like working with Tom because he is, and I always add, probably my favourite drummer to work with, because he’s really musical.
“These guys all care about the song. The more proficient you are on your instrument, you’ve got to wean yourself off it, forget that and remember the reason that you learned those techniques in the first place was that you like the music. It wasn’t for the sake of doing less, or to see if we can do fast stuff.
“I always liked that kind of music, and I always needed that technique to perform this kind of music. I like this kind of music. None of it is ever like, if I got a really good lick, let’s see if I can cram this in. They have the same attitude as that.
“Don’t get me wrong. Every now and again, they’ll try to push their luck and say, oh, I’m going to get this in. But they all serve the song, and that’s like a massive deal for me because that’s what it’s all about. The song’s the most important thing.”
If you have seen the music videos on YouTube, you will be familiar with the comments section, which can be hilarious. For the M.I.A. video, there is a comment which states ‘sounds like Altar Bridge. I really like it’.
When Darran tells me he could not tell you what Altar Bridge sounds like, it’s time for a bit of laughter. “Well, they sound like you, obviously,” I laugh.
“Is it Miles Kennedy who’s the singer?” Darran asks. “I take it as a compliment, of course! There’s always a part of me that wonders why we never actually take off, and I don’t mean into the stratosphere. I mean, go up and attract more people. I always wonder whether it’s my voice. I can’t judge it, right?”
It’s a question I am not alone in asking, and it moves us into a conversation about the evolution of rock and Metal vocalists and the expectancy for harsher vocals.
“One of my favourite Metal albums, and I maintain it is a Metal album, is Faith No More’s King For A Day, Fool For A Lifetime. I love that album. That was a big influence. Don’t get me wrong. I ain’t comparing my voice to Mike Patten’s because he’s got one of the greatest voices in rock. I don’t necessarily think Metal has to have just a gravelly or growling voice.”
Godsticks – The Bunkhouse, Swansea – 9 February 2024. Photo: Paul Hutchings/MetalTalk
This comes back to the question of where Godsticks fit. “We don’t fit neatly into any category,” Darran says. “We try to force ourselves into the Progressive Metal category in a sense, but when we first started out, we fit in nowhere. That’s always been it for us. The classification stuff is quite important in a sense for promotion marketing.
“We always sort of straddle, especially at the beginning. But even now, we still get, ‘What kind of music are they?’ Because we do like softer stuff.
For me, music has always been music, and the only reason that you play heavy music is that, for me, that’s the best stuff to do in life. I just love it.
We talk about that transfer of energy, exchange of energy, that has the most energy for me. So, it means something when you write it, and it means something when you perform it.”
Godsticks released VOiD on 27 March 2026 via Kscope. For more details visit godsticks.lnk.to/VOiDFA. Their tour kicks off on 17 April at the Hope & Anchor in London. Tour ticket links are available from here. The band also play SOS Festival, Oldham on 4 July 2026.
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a
Event Details
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a refreshed lineup and the momentum of their seventh studio album, the band are primed to deliver a set packed with intensity, precision, and atmosphere.
With VOiD showcasing a more immediate and hard-hitting sound, these live shows promise to capture that same urgency, blending tight, punchy compositions with the band’s trademark technical edge.
Fans can expect a carefully crafted setlist that balances new material with established favourites, all delivered with the controlled aggression and musical depth that define Godsticks. Tracks like M.I.A, Hold Back, and Watch It Burn are built for the live environment, while the expansive Talking Through Walls pieces offer a dynamic contrast that highlights the band’s versatility.
Whether you’re a long-time follower or discovering them for the first time, this tour is set to underline exactly why Godsticks continue to stand apart in the Progressive Metal landscape.
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a
Event Details
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a refreshed lineup and the momentum of their seventh studio album, the band are primed to deliver a set packed with intensity, precision, and atmosphere.
With VOiD showcasing a more immediate and hard-hitting sound, these live shows promise to capture that same urgency, blending tight, punchy compositions with the band’s trademark technical edge.
Fans can expect a carefully crafted setlist that balances new material with established favourites, all delivered with the controlled aggression and musical depth that define Godsticks. Tracks like M.I.A, Hold Back, and Watch It Burn are built for the live environment, while the expansive Talking Through Walls pieces offer a dynamic contrast that highlights the band’s versatility.
Whether you’re a long-time follower or discovering them for the first time, this tour is set to underline exactly why Godsticks continue to stand apart in the Progressive Metal landscape.
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a
Event Details
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a refreshed lineup and the momentum of their seventh studio album, the band are primed to deliver a set packed with intensity, precision, and atmosphere.
With VOiD showcasing a more immediate and hard-hitting sound, these live shows promise to capture that same urgency, blending tight, punchy compositions with the band’s trademark technical edge.
Fans can expect a carefully crafted setlist that balances new material with established favourites, all delivered with the controlled aggression and musical depth that define Godsticks. Tracks like M.I.A, Hold Back, and Watch It Burn are built for the live environment, while the expansive Talking Through Walls pieces offer a dynamic contrast that highlights the band’s versatility.
Whether you’re a long-time follower or discovering them for the first time, this tour is set to underline exactly why Godsticks continue to stand apart in the Progressive Metal landscape.
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a
Event Details
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a refreshed lineup and the momentum of their seventh studio album, the band are primed to deliver a set packed with intensity, precision, and atmosphere.
With VOiD showcasing a more immediate and hard-hitting sound, these live shows promise to capture that same urgency, blending tight, punchy compositions with the band’s trademark technical edge.
Fans can expect a carefully crafted setlist that balances new material with established favourites, all delivered with the controlled aggression and musical depth that define Godsticks. Tracks like M.I.A, Hold Back, and Watch It Burn are built for the live environment, while the expansive Talking Through Walls pieces offer a dynamic contrast that highlights the band’s versatility.
Whether you’re a long-time follower or discovering them for the first time, this tour is set to underline exactly why Godsticks continue to stand apart in the Progressive Metal landscape.
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a
Event Details
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a refreshed lineup and the momentum of their seventh studio album, the band are primed to deliver a set packed with intensity, precision, and atmosphere.
With VOiD showcasing a more immediate and hard-hitting sound, these live shows promise to capture that same urgency, blending tight, punchy compositions with the band’s trademark technical edge.
Fans can expect a carefully crafted setlist that balances new material with established favourites, all delivered with the controlled aggression and musical depth that define Godsticks. Tracks like M.I.A, Hold Back, and Watch It Burn are built for the live environment, while the expansive Talking Through Walls pieces offer a dynamic contrast that highlights the band’s versatility.
Whether you’re a long-time follower or discovering them for the first time, this tour is set to underline exactly why Godsticks continue to stand apart in the Progressive Metal landscape.
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a
Event Details
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a refreshed lineup and the momentum of their seventh studio album, the band are primed to deliver a set packed with intensity, precision, and atmosphere.
With VOiD showcasing a more immediate and hard-hitting sound, these live shows promise to capture that same urgency, blending tight, punchy compositions with the band’s trademark technical edge.
Fans can expect a carefully crafted setlist that balances new material with established favourites, all delivered with the controlled aggression and musical depth that define Godsticks. Tracks like M.I.A, Hold Back, and Watch It Burn are built for the live environment, while the expansive Talking Through Walls pieces offer a dynamic contrast that highlights the band’s versatility.
Whether you’re a long-time follower or discovering them for the first time, this tour is set to underline exactly why Godsticks continue to stand apart in the Progressive Metal landscape.
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a
Event Details
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a refreshed lineup and the momentum of their seventh studio album, the band are primed to deliver a set packed with intensity, precision, and atmosphere.
With VOiD showcasing a more immediate and hard-hitting sound, these live shows promise to capture that same urgency, blending tight, punchy compositions with the band’s trademark technical edge.
Fans can expect a carefully crafted setlist that balances new material with established favourites, all delivered with the controlled aggression and musical depth that define Godsticks. Tracks like M.I.A, Hold Back, and Watch It Burn are built for the live environment, while the expansive Talking Through Walls pieces offer a dynamic contrast that highlights the band’s versatility.
Whether you’re a long-time follower or discovering them for the first time, this tour is set to underline exactly why Godsticks continue to stand apart in the Progressive Metal landscape.
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a
Event Details
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a refreshed lineup and the momentum of their seventh studio album, the band are primed to deliver a set packed with intensity, precision, and atmosphere.
With VOiD showcasing a more immediate and hard-hitting sound, these live shows promise to capture that same urgency, blending tight, punchy compositions with the band’s trademark technical edge.
Fans can expect a carefully crafted setlist that balances new material with established favourites, all delivered with the controlled aggression and musical depth that define Godsticks. Tracks like M.I.A, Hold Back, and Watch It Burn are built for the live environment, while the expansive Talking Through Walls pieces offer a dynamic contrast that highlights the band’s versatility.
Whether you’re a long-time follower or discovering them for the first time, this tour is set to underline exactly why Godsticks continue to stand apart in the Progressive Metal landscape.
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a
Event Details
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a refreshed lineup and the momentum of their seventh studio album, the band are primed to deliver a set packed with intensity, precision, and atmosphere.
With VOiD showcasing a more immediate and hard-hitting sound, these live shows promise to capture that same urgency, blending tight, punchy compositions with the band’s trademark technical edge.
Fans can expect a carefully crafted setlist that balances new material with established favourites, all delivered with the controlled aggression and musical depth that define Godsticks. Tracks like M.I.A, Hold Back, and Watch It Burn are built for the live environment, while the expansive Talking Through Walls pieces offer a dynamic contrast that highlights the band’s versatility.
Whether you’re a long-time follower or discovering them for the first time, this tour is set to underline exactly why Godsticks continue to stand apart in the Progressive Metal landscape.
Bleu Grave’s Overboard is a shadowy post punk cut tailor-made for Cure-heads and lovers of nocturnal soundscapes. Built on brooding basslines, crisp drum patterns, and shimmering, reverb-heavy guitars, it captures a beautifully cold atmosphere that lingers throughout. The vocals carry a distant, melancholic tone, enhancing the track’s sense of isolation and quiet intensity. There’s a refined balance between darkness and melody here, making it both immersive and memorable.
Overboard stands as a sleek, frostbitten offering for fans of classic and modern post-punk alike.
Legendary Aussie rockers Spiderbait today announce they will return to stages around the country this July, to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of their iconic 1996 album ‘Ivy & the big apples’.
Kicking off on Saturday 4 July at Brisbane’s The Tivoli, the band will head through Perth, Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney delivering their epic live show to fans nationwide. Iconic special guests Custard, Magic Dirt, The Meanies and Tumbleweed will join the party on select dates, as emerging Melbourne rockers The Gnomes warm audiences at all shows.
Frontier members can access presale tickets from 12 noon (local time) on Thursday 16 April, before tickets go on sale at 1pm (local time) on Friday 17 April.
Spiderbait last toured in 2024 to widespread acclaim to mark the 20th Anniversary of their seminal album Tonight Alright and its standout track ‘Black Betty’. Adding extra dates to meet overwhelming demand, the trio played some of their best shows ever, belting out hit after hit with explosive energy. Underpinned by a decades-long friendship, their intensity and camaraderie are immediately evident onstage, endearing them to fans young and old.
Widely regarded as a defining moment in Australian alternative rock, Spiderbait’s third studio album, Ivy & the big apples, marked a major breakthrough for the band, showcasing a bold shift toward a more polished yet still energetic sound. The record debuted in the ARIA Top 3, went Double Platinum, and stayed in the Top 50 for nearly a year — a testament to its enduring impact and the strength of singles like ‘Calypso’ and ‘Hot Water & Milk’.
Featuring standout track ‘Buy Me A Pony’, which became the first Australian song to take the crown in triple j’s prestigious Hottest 100, the record captured the raw, youthful spirit of the time while pushing the boundaries of the local music scene. A fearless mix of punk, pop and alternative rock, the album cemented Spiderbait as one of Australia’s most important bands of the 90’s.
Out on July 3, Ivy & the big apples 30th Anniversary Edition LP celebrates this cultural touchstone. Reissued on vinyl to mark the moment, this is an essential piece of Australian music history, ready to be rediscovered. Pre-order it now.
The story of Spiderbait is an unlikely but heart-warming one – three friends from a small Australian country town taking on the music scene, and emerging triumphantly thirty years later, friendship intact, and now one of the biggest and best rock bands on the national landscape.
The trio’s popularity spans three decades and shows no signs of abating. They’ve released seven acclaimed albums, all of which have racked up Gold, Platinum or Double Platinum status, and have combined Australian sales of over a million units, with over 100 million annual global streams and 285 thousand daily global streams and growing every year. Spiderbait have also chalked up almost every Australian accolade possible, taking home multiple ARIA Awards and topping charts along the way.
Australian rock ‘n roll royalty, and with a catalogue of music that’s distinctive and uncompromising, Spiderbait’s anticipated Ivy & the big apples 30th Anniversary Tour will see the band playing songs from their seminal album plus favourites from their extensive catalogue – Don’t miss out!
With special guests…
CUSTARD (Brisbane)
Local indie rockers Custard are known for their witty lyrics and distinctive, understated sound, led by singer-songwriter David McCormack. Emerging in the 1990s, they became a cult favourite for their clever, often humorous take on everyday life.
MAGIC DIRT (Melbourne)
Multi-ARIA Award nominated Magic Dirt are renowned for their gritty guitar sound and the distinctive vocals of frontwoman Adalita. They gained a strong following for their raw, emotive style and remain an influential presence in Australia’s rock scene.
THE MEANIES (Perth + Adelaide)
Seminal Melbourne punk rockers, The Meanies are renowned for their high-energy performances and irreverent style. Since the late 1980s, they have influenced the Australian punk scene with their frantic power-pop riffs, short sharp songs, raw sound and confrontational stage presence.
Photo: Jye Talbort
TUMBLEWEED (Sydney)
Australia’s homegrown stoner rock heavyweights. Tumbleweed have built a reputation on hypnotic riffs, loose-limbed swagger, and a live show that feels like it might levitate at any moment. Riding the 90s on a wave of fuzz, feedback and sun-bleached psychedelia, they weren’t just part of the scene, they helped define it.
Photo: Danysha Harriott
THE GNOMES (All shows)
Hailing from Melbourne, The Gnomes deliver a feral, hook-heavy take on ‘60s beat, garage and power pop. With a cult following, they’ve built a reputation for chaotic live shows and a distinctly DIY approach to music.
Spiderbait’s Ivy & the big apples 30th Anniversary Edition LP is out July 3 – Pre-order it HERE
The Obscure NWOBHM Releases label has been a bit quiet recently. However they’ve hit the spot again by living up to their label name and somehow uncovering another couple of bands who tried to set out for success in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal days in the early 1980s but didn’t make it. […]
Following the confirmation that Bring Me The Horizon have re-recorded their debut album for its 20th anniversary, vocalist Oli Sykes has shared footage of him getting back in the flow vocally.
Now, the fact of the matter is that back in 2006, Oli certainly wasn’t using any sort of trained or healthy technique to hit the chaotic highs that came to define the sound of ‘Count Your Blessings’. There’s a reason that his style changed on 2008’s ‘Suicide Season’ after all.
And following extensive touring over the last decade, which even included a case of ruptured vocal cords in 2019, it’s more important than ever that he looks after himself, especially when it comes to such heavy vocals.
So, ‘Count Your Blessings | Repented’ is also a very close-to-home project as Oli is producing it alongside guitarist Lee Malia, so the recording of this vocal take is from a very comfortable place, with little pressure.
And you can see just how pitch-perfect Oli is trying to be with his technique, as he tries to deliver a particularly gritty low for the re-do of ‘(I Used To Make Out With) Medusa’.
It’s a fascinating look into the process, and a reminder that just because you did something one way at one time, it doesn’t mean you should do it again. Take your time, it will come.
As Oli puts it, “took me a minute to work out how to do some of this shit again. Very excited to share CYB repented with u i think we did you all proud. it’s so nice to see all the love and nostalgia too thank you so much“
‘Count Your Blessings: Repented’ is set for release on July 10, with the tracklisting featuring what looks like a previously unreleased track.
On the same day of release, the band will also be playing the album in full for the first time ever, alongside other bangers at a special show in Manchester, in association with Outbreak Fest.
Joining them will be a stellar line-up, made up of Static Dress, Dying Wish, HERIOT, Rolo Tomassi, Car Underwater and Still In Love (featuring original guitarist Curtis Ward, by the way).
Before their new record House Of Cards officially comes out next Friday, April 24th, Australians The Amity Affliction offer in listening another new song in preview called “Heaven Sent”. Read more…
