Are you ready to put your (effects) pedal to the metal? Here are the top picks of who you need to stake out front row for at Soundwave. By Patrick Muller.
Metal Allegiance
This group is probably the most quintessential on this list. Made up of Dream Theatre’s Mike Portnoy, Testament’s Alex Skolnick and Megadeth’s David Ellefson, this supergroup is chock full with huge metal names. Watching how these masters of the craft pull it all together is enough to make them a must-see for 2016.
Northlane
After years of Australian bands being absent on the bill (the first being the 2010 addition of The Jezabels), there’s now two on the line-up for 2016. Our own Northlane have earned a reputation as one of the biggest metalcore bands in the country. With this year’s addition of new vocalist Marcus Bridge and the release of their album, Node, Northlane have had somewhat of a reinvigoration. The band’s huge and heavy sound is sure to fill festival grounds around the country.
Nothing but Thieves
It’s been a stellar year for this Essex five-piece as well. They’ve supported big names such as Gerard Way (former My Chemical Romance frontman) and Muse, as well as releasing their self-titled debut album to high acclaim, gaining regular spins on radio around the world. Their mix of atmospheric groove and massive hooks is one not to be missed.
Dead Letter Circus
Soundwave regulars Dead Letter Circus have been around for over ten years. With classic albums such as This is a Warning and their latest effort Aesthesis under their belt, DLC have snuck their way into Aussie rock royalty. It’s always worth checking out this band’s heavy riffs, light soundscapes and singer Kim Benzie’s soaring vocals.
Public Enemy
Not a group you would expect to see at a metal and hardcore music festival, the iconic late ‘80/early ‘90s hip-hop collective are back. Chuck D’s informed and poetic lyricism got a generation thinking politically, with archetypal hype-man Flavor Flav and bomb squad production cementing their place in music history. As the only rock and roll hall of fame members on the bill, you’ll regret missing them.
Soundwave hits Australia on the following dates:
Saturday 23 January 2016 – Brisbane
Sunday 24 January 2016 – Sydney
Tuesday 26 January 2016 (Australia Day public holiday) – Melbourne
Get your tickets now over on the Soundwave website.
Did we miss any bands you think are a must-see? Let us know in the comments!
