I spoke with WOODY WEATHERMAN of CORROSION OF CONFORMITY just ahead of the Australian tour and chatted about the old days, hiatus, Hurricane Katrina and the upcoming tour which the band are super pumped about. Check it all out below.
If you'd prefer to read the interview, click here.

I recently spoke with KARL LEAN from legendary Melbourne band, NOTHING SACRED, about the history of the band, recording, hiatus, party gigs, reforming again, recording again and also the upcoming gig at Churches Of Steel festival in February.
Check it all out below.
If you'd prefer to read the interview, click here.

Okay, we know how killer these gigs are. HEAVY SA 2020 full line-up has been announced.
Tickets here.
Check it all out below.

There's a massive MELODIC ROCK FEST coming to Australia and while Adelaide hasn't scored the complete gig, we have scored a couple of sideshows.
XYZ and CRAZY LIXX are playing the Arkaba Hotel on the 9th of March, and the next night (the 10th) KIP WINGER and TONY HARNELL are doing acoustic sets, also at the Arkaba . Would've been good if it was all one gig but there you go.
Get onto it.

In shock news, guitarist GRANT BURNS has announced he is leaving Melbourne band, MASON.
A replacement has already been announced. Check the following.
​
The following has been copied from Mason's Official Faceook page.    Follow them here

It is with regret that we announce that Grant Burns has decided to leave Mason and will no longer be our Guitarist moving forward. Grant has been with Mason since the release of the Unmerciful EP and the Impervious record.. he was a crucial part of the bands journey and helped achieve some of our greatest milestones to date. We’re very proud of the music we created and all of the hard work and dedication that he put into the band, but unfortunately he has chosen not to continue on with Mason.
With that being said we will continue to move forward and would like to announce the re-birth of our ORIGINAL band mate Ryan Butler. Ryan will bring a new hunger and focus to the band and we’re super stoked to have him back in the family. Not only is he an extremely talented guitarist but an amazing person and we’re truely excited to hit the stage with him again.
All of our booked dates for Australia/Japan will happen as planned and we will be in the studio recording new music in 2020, you can count on that!
Much love,
James, Nonda, Steve, Ryan, Grant

A smattering of my favourite gig photos for 2019, for various reasons. Enjoy.
​Gallery here.

These are MY favourite albums for 2019. I normally try to get a top 10 but there's been too many to narrow it down to 10. ​ Hard to separate the top 3 for album of the year for me.​

We all know him from NIGHTWISH and TAROT, but MARKO HIETALA has recorded a solo album and it's a ripper.
It comes out on Nuclear Blast on January 24th next year. I spoke with him before soundcheck of a Christmas Metal gig he was involved in.
​If you'd prefer to read the interview, click here.

Okay Adelaide, I've seen it all now. The OPETH gig was fully seated and you were made to stay in your seat? Pardon the language, but what the f*ck?
OPETH were excellent at being OPETH I suppose, quite a different gig though from the one I saw at the same venue on the Ghost Reveries tour  in 2006.
Only a short time for photos and nowhere near the front as you can probably tell.
I'm still aghast at the seating though....
Photos galleries here.     OPETH     SOUTHERN EMPIRE

VENOM INC. With Special Guests EXCITER Announce 2020 Australian Tour.
Crazy stuff, right? What a double bill coming our way in June 2020.
​All tour info below.

KADAVAR touring Australia and New Zealand in late March 2020. Full details below.

ATREYU have announced a tour of mainland state capitals in late Feb / early March 2020.
​Press release and full dates below.

From a dark corner of HQ recently, ROSS THE BOSS played to a small yet very appreciative crowd, and proved himself to be the gentleman once again. I snagged some photos through the darkness.
Photo gallery here

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY announce tour for February 2020.

​HARDLINE MEDIA proudly presents, a deadly double, crossover thrash bill… D.R.I. & HIRAX in Australia! Hardline are pleased to announce the return of D.R.I., and welcome, for their first time in Australia - HIRAX!