However, the second half of 2018 is shaping up to be an absolute ripper that’s sure to drain the wallets and life expectancies of many longhaired hessians and balds alike. Here are some highlights from the thick flurry of announcements of late.
Sixteen years into their existence, Aura Noir will make the trek from Norway to Australia next month. The blackened thrashers are keeping their visit relatively light on dates, however Melbourne is lucky enough to cop two rounds. The Bendigo Hotel is up first on Friday July 6, before they headline the first Malign Rites festival at The Croxton on Saturday July 7 with Heresiarch, Grave Upheaval, Denouncement Pyre, Encircling Sea, Ruins and Mar Mortuum. Keeping it coming from Norway, Dimmu Borgir is the biggest black metal band in the world, yet has somehow never played an Australian headline tour in their 25 years of existence. Their only prior visit was in 2011 for Soundwave. The new album Eonian, while a solid effort for their first release in seven years, may not be the greatest thing in the band’s catalogue, but who cares? You know they’re going to play all the hits at 170 Russell when they come in on Wednesday October 17.
In yet another first, Texan crossover dudes Power Trip will finally make their maiden trip to Australia this year. There hasn’t been a band that’s revived the cool factor of thrash-metal since Municipal Waste, and 2017’s Nightmare Logic is just the right mix of razor-sharp aggression and filthy grit. The first show is sold out, but there is still a chance for you to pick up a fresh long sleeve shirt at The Bendigo Hotel on Saturday September 29. Meanwhile, it’s a pretty regular occurrence for Tasmanian death-metal legends Psycroptic to do the east coast rounds, but what makes this one special is that they’re bringing down Canada’s Archspire for their first-ever experience Down Under. Seriously, the abilities of Archspire are out of this world. You don’t know what technicality is until you’ve heard this band. I hope they can actually do it live. Get shredded at Max Watts on Saturday August 18.
Parkway Drive, Killswitch Engage, Thy Art Is Murder – this triple threat is just disgustingly massive. This is the tour that will finally make every “real metalhead” still kicking and screaming against Parkway shut up and accept the fact that they are not only Australia’s biggest metal band, but one of the biggest metal bands of all time. Catch the full European production complete with pyrotechnics and spinning drums at Margaret Court Arena on Friday November 2.
