Episodes

  • 35 Years Of Fear With DINO CAZERES From FEAR FACTORY

    35 Years Of Fear With DINO CAZERES From FEAR FACTORY
    May 8 2026
    Interview by Angela Croudace
    One can’t overstate the size of the FEAR FACTORY boot print on the neck of heavy metal. Unleashing influential albums with devastating anthems for 35 years now, they are widely recognized as both crucial and innovative in extreme metal circles.
    FEAR FACTORY manufactured, demanufactured, and remanufactured a sound that reverberates across several subgenres. They perfected an explosive blend of staccato paint-stripping riffs, industrial- tinged drums, electronic flourishes, and a scream/sing dichotomy, all of which became staples in heavy music, ever since the group first emerged in L.A.
    Celebrating 35 Years Of Fear, FEAR FACTORY are dialing in a Cybernetic Domination of Australia for their first full headlining tour in 10 years and finally for New Zealand, they perform for the first time since 2012!
    The signature sounds, concepts, and passions remain, as FEAR FACTORY salutes its past, present, and future. HEAVY caught up with guitarist Dino Cazeres to find out more.
    "We've been coming to Australia since 1993," he began. "This is gonna be our 15th time there, and I can't wait to get there. We have a huge catalogue of songs to sift through and create a perfect set for a killer live show in Australia."
    Fear Factory often deal with subjects of dystopia and control, the rise of the machines being a dominant landscape. Which begs the question, does Dino see the world today as closer to those themes than when the band first started?
    "100%," he nodded. "And I believe we are at fault, you know what I mean? We're the ones who are allowing this to happen. Sure, there are higher people who are making these kind of executive decisions and developing this technology, but a lot of the stuff that we sang about in the past has definitely come to fruition, and it's just… this technology's gonna keep on evolving."
    In the full interview, we covered Fear Factory's current creative state, touring plans, and forthcoming releases, with Dino explaining his songwriting and performance perspective. Dino described himself as a rhythmic writer who composes riffs with drum patterns in mind and said he writes whatever he feels, whether melodic or brutal; he noted his performance approach and enjoyment of entertaining fans remain consistent with his work since the 1990s.
    The conversation addressed touring improvements, and emphasized that studio collaboration keeps the project enjoyable and motivating. Dino confirmed that new singles and a new Fear Factory record will be released soon and directed fans to fearfactory.com for tour dates and VIP packages and more.


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    8 mins
  • Welcome To The Enchanted Rock Palace With ROBERT NIXON From WEARY WIZARDS FEDERATION

    Welcome To The Enchanted Rock Palace With ROBERT NIXON From WEARY WIZARDS FEDERATION
    May 7 2026
    Interview by Kris Peters
    Magic DOES happen!
    Weary Wizards Federation are coming back after a brief slumber and have declared a welcome home party for one and all Mo’s Desert Clubhouse on May 16. While your attendance stops short of being compulsory, if you’re NOT there you will miss out on not only the Wizards’ first live performance in over 365 days, but also the debut show from the fresh assortment of Wizards who now call the stage their home as part of Weary Wizards Federation.
    The Weary Wizards Federation have awoken from hibernation and are ready to once more unleash a thunderous sound rich in sonic beauty. And what would a welcome home party be without a few friends? Pretty boring that’s what! So to ensure everybody enjoys themselves Chase the Wolves, Birds are Fake, and Dirty Jox have all sent in their RSVP’s with a promise to do justice to this momentous occassion.
    Even better, you can bring your aspiring Wizards and Enchantresses because the whole celebration will be open to music lovers of all ages. To catch up on all of the spellbinding happenings, HEAVY nailed down the man behind Weary Wizards Federation, Robert Nixon. One topic of discussion is preperations for the comeback show and how Robert is feeling only a week or so out.
    "It's been a really interesting change for me," he measured. "From going from the previous members who were guys that have played in multiple bands and were very much familiar with playing on stage and in a band setting, to now, our new drummer Tom, it will be his first time playing in any kind of band. And the first time getting up on stage in front of a live audience. But he's stoked. He's pumped as. It's great for me - I have been doing this since I was 16 or 17 - so to see a guy doing his first show and to be lucky enough to get to do that at somewhere like Mo's Desert Clubhouse… We've struck it pretty lucky to be honest."
    In the full interview, Robert talks more about the show and what to expects. He talks us through the three other bands playing - Dirty Jox, Birds Are Fake and Chase The Wolves - and what they bring to the table. We talk about the lunchtime start and the fact it is an all ages gig and the benefits of that to the next generation of music lovers plus the diversity of genres across all four bands.
    We spoke about the re-recorded version of the band's 2023 debut EP and what to expect from that, including a brief history of Weary Wizards Federation and their plans moving forward plus more.
    Weary Wizards Federation play at Mo's Desert Clubhouse, Saturday, May 16 with Dirty Jox, Birds Are Fake and Chase The Wolves. Show starts at 12 pm and is an all ages event.


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    13 mins
  • Finding Yourself With ROU REYNOLDS From ENTER SHIKARI

    Finding Yourself With ROU REYNOLDS From ENTER SHIKARI
    May 7 2026
    Interview by Kris Peters
    A band who transcend genre and have transfixed fans across the globe since emerging in 2003, ENTER SHIKARI weave an unforgettable blend of post hardcore rock and electronic wizardry, while also flying the flag for meaningful lyricism that spans politics, climate change and the very gamut of the human experience.
    During their remarkable and celebrated career, Enter Shikari have received several accolades in the form of gongs from NME, Kerrang!, Rock Sound, Heavy Music Awards and more. They have played a whopping 3000+ live shows around the world including three headline arena tours in the UK, supported the likes of The Prodigy and Linkin Park and played festivals such as Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds, Download and Slam Dunk where they also headlined in 2023.
    And now it's Australia's turn, as Enter Shikari ready for their first headline tour of this country since 2022 on the back of dropping their most recent album, Lose Your Self, as a well kept secret with no singles, no promotion. Nothing. A band who have never been afraid to shun convention, Enter Shikari remain as fresh and relevant today as when they first burst onto the scene in 2003.
    HEAVY took the opportunity to chat with frontman Rou Reynolds ahead of the tour, starting by asking if he is packed and ready to fly. "Getting there," he laughed. "We're all very excited to get back to Australia. It's one of our favourite places to play."
    Australian fans got to see Enter Shikari live earlier last year as part of Knotfest 2025, so we ask Rou what has changed with the band since that tour.
    "Oh, blimey," he countered. "We finished up our record and released that. That was a long, arduous process (smiles). All sorts of life stuff has been going on… It's been all change really. But at the same time it doesn't feel like that long ago we were in Australia but that's an example of how quickly time seems to ebb away at the moment (laughs)."
    Talk turns to last months unconventional release of Enter Shikari's new album Lose Your Self, which was granted no advance publicity or convential single release schedule and was instead set forth on the world to little fanfare and much surprise. We ask Rou about the thought process behind such a potentially risky move.
    "I think once we finished the album we really saw it as a body of work; as one entity," he replied, choosing his words carefully. "And that was kind of a shock really, because the album was recorded in such a disjointed way over a long period of time. There was a worry that it wouldn't come together as one solid body of work but it did, quite effortlessly. At that point we were trying to think how did we want to release this and we basically just thought it would be a credit to the art of it if we just released it. How do we want people to approach this album? How do we want them to absorb it? And I think the traditional way of releasing three or four singles before a reord just didn't excite us. I think just dropping a record in people's laps forces them to take it in as an album. The focus then becomes not about the hype or trying to make a really successful album. It actually becomes about how do people react to the album? How do people indulge in it and make it their own when they take one body of work and immerse themselves in it. That's really exciting to us."
    In the full interview Rou talks more about the tour and what we can expect, running us through an Enter Shikari live show and the synergy between the band and the crowd that creates a welcoming and comfortable experience.
    We spoke more about Lose Your Self and the surprise release, including the changes in approach and pressure the band experienced by not having to meet pre-album obligations and expectations. Rou talked about the darkness inherent in the album material and how it represents Enter Shikari moving forward and much more.


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    11 mins
  • Everything's Better With Ice Cream According To STEVE HARRIS From HILLBILLY VEGAS

    Everything's Better With Ice Cream According To STEVE HARRIS From HILLBILLY VEGAS
    May 7 2026
    Interview by Kris Peters
    Hillbilly Vegas’ dynamic sound caught the ears of an independent label in Nashville in 2011, and their first album Ringo Manor was released and sold more than 10,000 copies – driven by the hit single Little Miss Rough and Tumble.
    The band has gone onto chart five songs on Billboard’s Rock charts, including Let It Ride – which remained on the chart for 13 weeks and reached #10, Feels Good, High Time For A Good Time, Hell To Pay, Two GunTown, and fan favorite Shake It Like A Hillbilly. The band has earned a reputation for rousing live shows-bringing a loud, party-like atmosphere that is all-inclusive.
    They’ve shown they have a broad appeal across different genres, pleasing crowds while performing shows with rockers Blackberry Smoke, The Kentucky Headhunters, Wolfsbane and Ted Nugent; along with country icons Alabama, Travis Tritt, Blake Shelton, and Wynonna Judd. Hillbilly Vegas has played before huge crowds at NASCA Revents, as well as many major bike rallies, including the legendary annual Sturgis Motorcycle rally.They have a strong UK following, and have played the Maid of Stone and Steelhouse festivals.
    Now, Hillbilly Vegas are set to raise the stakes even higher with the release of their new album A La Mode, slated for release this Friday, May 8. With everything you love about Hillbilly Vegas and fresh characteristics that expand their sound even further, A La Mode epitomises the rock and roll spirit unlike anything you have heard in recent memory.
    HEAVY sat down with vocalist and original member Steve Harris to find out more, starting by asking how he is feeling about the release.
    "We feel good about it," he enthused. "We like what we've done. The name A La Mode is a silly name, but it's a fun name. We hope that everybody enjoys it as much as we enjoyed doing it."
    We ask Steve to dive deeper into the musical side of the album.
    "Well, I wish I could say there's a bunch of deep meaning in it," he smiled, "but we just write songs and when I hear the music that the guys start writing, I just... Sometimes it tells a story, sometimes it paints a picture, and then I start writing from there. I do a lot of observational stuff, and people I know are just things I've seen, and there's a lot of things on there. There's a good story in every song, even the silly ones, and we hope everybody finds their story in our story."
    In the full interview we covered Hillbilly Vegas’ new album A La Mode, its musical character, notable collaborations, and upcoming touring plans. Steve introduced the band lineup and described the record as a mix of ballads, heavy rockers, country, and boogie-woogie, explaining the title reflects the idea that “everything’s better with ice cream” rather than any title track. He also highlighted the single Mr. Midnight, noting Paul Rodgers contributed vocals, appears in the song and video, and was praised as a defining rock voice and a generous collaborator.
    The conversation then reviewed the band’s origins and early Nashville experience, with Steve saying the Nashville songwriting-factory environment conflicted with their broader rock-and-roll approach. He recounted how their first radio play led to a Nashville record deal. Steve also announced a U.S. summer tour planned for June–August, the band’s first U.S. tour in three years, and noted several of their top streaming cities are in Australia and more.


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    14 mins
  • Killer Instinct With MIKE NESS From SOCIAL DISTORTION

    Killer Instinct With MIKE NESS From SOCIAL DISTORTION
    May 6 2026
    Interview by Kris Peters
    This Friday, May 8, California’s legendary iconic band Social Distortion release their eighth studio album, Born To Kill, via Epitaph Records.
    Born To Kill is more than the conclusion to a 15-year wait between Social Distortion albums, it’s a revelation: 11 songs of pure, unadulterated rock ’n' roll fury, joy and catharsis, all imbued with the signature blend of defiance and world-weariness that has made founder Mike Ness a poet and sage to the dispossessed for more than 40 years.
    The first Social Distortion album since Ness’ recovery from a bout with cancer, Born To Kill brims with aggressive optimism. The album wastes no time letting the listener know where its heart is, with its title track and mission statement dropping nods to Lou Reed (Rock ’n’ Roll Animal gonna come your way!) and Iggy and the Stooges (“The agenda is yeah to Search and Destroy”) and a homage to David Bowie (“It’s a Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide”) following a few songs later on Partners In Crime.
    This is a man, a band and a record that wear their influences proudly while creating timeless anthems and ballads that both chart Social Distortion’s path forward and celebrate its storied past: Tonight and The Way Things Were are emotionally charged reminiscences in the vein of classics like Story of My Life from the band’s eponymous 1990 breakthrough and I Was Wrong from 1996’s White Light, White Heat, White Trash, the latter containing a potent distillation of the Social D ethos: "I wrote a song with a stolen riff / If you ain’t got a song you ain’t got shit.”
    HEAVY sat down for an interesting chat with Ness about the new album, the history of Social Distortion and much, much more. One of the early questions was about expectation and if he felt any outside pressure due to the length of time since 2011's Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes?
    "I mean, a little bit," Ness measured. "I mean, I didn't mean for 15 years to go by, but a lot of things in life came up in the last 15 years. But I did know it was definitely a thought in the forefront of my mind that when it was time to make this record, it couldn't be a sleeper. It needed to be... it needed to get people's attention."
    We ask Mike to dive deeper into the musicality on Born To Kill and what he was going for this time around.
    "With every record you want to try and reinvent yourself," he replied, pausing to reflect. "But for me it was as simple as just going back to the late 70s and the music I was listening to, just to inspire me. It was a chance to pay homage, if you will, to some of my idols and play around with some different grooves and rhythms. I tried to go back to a little bit more primitive style. Primitive is good (smiles)."


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    19 mins
  • Keep On Digging Until You Make It With NED SMELLY From GOPHER

    Keep On Digging Until You Make It With NED SMELLY From GOPHER
    May 1 2026
    Wheezing new life and enjoyment into the current Australian heavy music climate, the arthritic riddled retirees known as GOPHER have released their astonishing, must hear debut album Tunnel Buddies.
    Featuring the forever young looking and current world mahjong champion Ernie Bingo on vocals, and perpetually complimented by the effervescent ladies man Ned Smelly on guitars, they prove without a doubt that you are never too old to hail the horns and bang your head. Even if it is fused to your neck.
    GOPHER’s infectious debut album Tunnel Buddies knits together a cohesive fusion of knee wobbling groovy grind, back breaking death/slam, slinky massaging synths, sedating sing along anthemic choruses, and most importantly FUN! Like a bit of diversity in your heavies and looking for something new to gnash your gums on? GOPHER, unlike Australia Post, delivers!
    To coincide the album’s release is a brand spanking new single and video for their about to be shindig hit Party In The Sky - a tale of guitarist and scrabble shark Ned Smelly’s passion for guzzling grog on flights and expertly making the time whizz by. Ned states, ‘When you’re up in the air for hours on end and with only shitty modern-day entertainment on offer, what better way to kill the time than drinking the plane dry, charming the hosties and passing the fuck out. We’ve all got a plane face and my ancient wrinkly noggin is the best of ‘em! This splendid ditty kicks off with a catchy synth intro before launching into an all-out groove riff spread and then cleverly leading into an all-time party sing along anthem. Get your boarding pass and come ‘Party In The Sky’ with us."
    Disturbed by the happenings with Gopher's sudden rise through the ranks, HEAVY tracked Ned down at his tropical hideaway to figure out whether or not to take Gopher's threats seriously. But first we thought we would compliment him on how good he looks today.
    "Look, when you're this old, everything freezes up," he spat back, possibly not believing I was being genuine. "Your muscles are fucked. Everything's just gone to shit. So I'm doing the best I can with what I've got to work with, you know? It's not easy. We do what we do. 250 years old, man."
    We turn our attention to Gopher's new single, Party In The Sky, with much the same result.
    "Yes. Yes," he nodded. "We like to party. We like to drink every day and smoke dairy and not do much else. We'll play guitars and write some music and do this crazy stuff. But yes, that's what we do. Flying in a plane is really boring, so what better way to pass the time than just to get really pissed, drink the plane dry and just pass the fuck out and voila, you land and you're good to go. Well, not so good, you're shit really, but at least you slept those six hours and then the time's gone."
    In the full interview, Ned described Party in the Sky as party metal about partying on a plane, explaining the song's themes and the video concept of staged on-the-road misbehavior, and positioned the album as a mix of metal subgenres with heavy riffs, synth elements, and singalong choruses.
    We talked about the past, present and future of Gopher, digging holes in Indonesia and their fun first ethos and attitude to music. Ned went off track more than a few times, but when he regained his focus we talked more about the musical side of Gopher's music, what they hope to bring to the music scene, playing live and much more.


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    20 mins
  • Expressing Yourself With SPRUCE From HZED

    Expressing Yourself With SPRUCE From HZED
    May 1 2026
    Interview by Kris Peters
    HZED is a powerhouse riff-driven rock band hailing from Melbourne, Australia, known for their high-octane energy and authentic, rock drenched sound. The band’s current lineup features vocalist Tenaye, guitarist Spruce, drummer Sam, and members Hannah and Piddo.
    Musically, HZED is defined by raw, "in-your-face" rock anthems. Their songwriting process often begins with a riff or track idea from Spruce, which is then passed to Tenaye to develop lyrics and a vibe. This collaborative approach has resulted in standout tracks like No Colour and the hard-hitting single Heartbreaker.
    Following the release of Rising Up Above in March, HZED today release their new single Say Whatcha Want. Produced by Rusty Brown (of the legendary Electric Mary), the track is a masterclass in short and punchy rock and roll. To turn the heat up even further, HZED recruited Aussie rock icon Dave Leslie (Baby Animals) to lend his signature searing guitar work to the track, creating a high-octane collaboration that demands to be heard at maximum volume.
    HEAVY caught up with Spruce ahead of the release to find out more.
    "This one's a bit heavier and faster than what we've done before," he began, "and a bit more in your face. It's a bit more punk rock as well. We had Dave Leslie jump on board and do some guitar work on there for us as well, and Rusty (Electric Mary) produced it as usual so it's pumping."
    In the full interview we discussed musical and production details for the new song. Spruce described the single as heavier, faster, and more punk-influenced, noting guest guitarist Dave Leslie’s contribution, and credited producer Rusty Brown for mentoring and improving their songs since 2021.
    He confirmed two immediate single-launch shows on May 2 in Collingwood and May 8 in Frankston, with ticket links available via their socials and Linktree. Spruce also outlined plans for an EP and two additional releases around October and the end of the year, plus more.


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    12 mins
  • A Thirst For Music With MIKE SCOTT From THE WATERBOYS

    A Thirst For Music With MIKE SCOTT From THE WATERBOYS
    Apr 29 2026
    THE WATERBOYS make their long-awaited return to Australia and New Zealand in May 2026 their first tour in over a decade.
    Led by the incomparable Mike Scott and critically acclaimed as one of the best live bands on the planet, the 2025 band also features double keyboard players Brother Paul from Memphis and James Hallawell from Cornwall and is grounded by killer Irish rhythm section Aongus Ralston (bass) and Eamon Ferris (drums).
    THE WATERBOYS will be performing tracks from their audacious new album, Life, Death and Dennis Hopper: a bold, cinematic tribute to the maverick American actor and cultural icon, along with material across their storied catalogue. From the early "big music" of The Whole Of The Moon and classic album This Is The Sea through to the roots-inspired Fisherman's Blues era and music from their ambitious post-2015 output.
    HEAVY sat down with Mike for a chat ahead of the tour, asking him about The Waterboys reputation as one of the best live bands on the planet and what it is about their performances that makes them so special.
    "Well, they're always different," he shrugged. "We don't repeat the show. We improvise on stage and I like being able to to take a left turn in the music anytime that it occurs to me. I like to do what the music tells me and I get instructions in the moment when we're on stage. I get a little sort of advanced notice in my mind of what the next phrase or the next musical action is going to be and I like to go with those and obey them basically, and it's wonderful to have a band that can deal with that and that likes to improvise themselves.
    All the band members are able to make up their own parts and to head off into something they've never done before. And I like that. I think that unpredictable quality and the sense of excitement that you get when something unforeseen happens and it's magic... I think that helps bring people back to see us again and again. Also we play with a particular intensity, I know we do. We play with our lives."
    In the full interview, Mike talks more about what we can expect from the shows and runs us through the changes in the band since they toured here last. We discussed the virtues of having two live keyboard players and how it enhances their sound, as well as most recent album Life, Death and Dennis Hopper and how it was received.
    We run through the concept and how easily it translated to music, running through two of the albums songs and finding out the story behind them. Mike took us back to the early days of The Waterboys and the musical climate that gave birth to the band, emphasing their musical evolution and more.


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    21 mins