PREMIERE: Lycanthrope Shape-Shift Into Gear with Empowering Metal Anthem, ‘Wither’

There’s no other Australian band with a bite in them quite like Newcastle’s very own Lycanthrope. The premier melodic-metal act have conquered stages around the world, released neck-snapping tunes for the better part of the past decade and displayed a quality of musicianship that invokes repeat listens.

As the band re-emerge into their 2025 season, they’re bringing with them their first taste of new material in the form of ‘Wither‘, an audio assault on the senses full of modern metal/core influences, a dash of djent and soaring cleans with ground-crushing riffs – all of which complement the song’s message of empowerment through dark times.

There’s no denying the band are back with a vengeance and if this is the start of what they’ve been working on, chances are we’re going to see yet another peak by one of the country’s best kept secrets. We grabbed the boys for a chat about the track, and a sneak peek into their plans for later this year…

Welcome back to WoS lads. It’s been a hot minute since we last heard from you; what’s been happening at HQ since the release of Hydra?

Hello again – It’s been a chaotic year but super happy to be back in action!

Over the last 12 months we’ve released the 2 ‘Bonus Tracks’ from the Hydra EP (‘Advance Evolve’ and ‘Into The Grey’), then embarked on an East-Coast tour with Nicholas Cage Fighter, and an Australian Co-Headline tour with Wollongong-based Tech-Death wizards Complexant.

To wrap 2024 up, we had the opportunity to perform alongside the mighty melodic-metalcore OG’s Bleeding Through in Sydney (who are one of our biggest collective musical idols and influences – a huge ‘pinch me’ moment), and ended the year in the studio to record our brand new single; ‘Wither’.

Speaking of your new track – ‘it finds you venturing in a futuristic, melodic metal direction, while still retaining that signature sound. There is a significant progression that needs to be commended here guys! Tell us about ‘Wither’ and its conception.

Really appreciate the positive feedback on the new track!

So for a little context ’22/’23 We had came off a dream run – from winning the Australian Metal Battle and being chosen to represent our country at Wacken Open Air Festival, returning home to crush Good Things Festival and open the stage for Electric Callboy, to releasing our Hydra EP and playing some amazing international support shows… then seemingly overnight a series of unexpected and ill-fated life events derailed us, which unfortunately stalled our momentum and progress as a touring act.

After taking some time to regather ourselves (and a change in lineup), we came back revitalised and began writing the next era of Lycanthrope together. The intent with ‘Wither’ and its lyrics was to proclaim a relatable anthem to this period of our personal/professional lives to resonate with others: To find yourself experiencing a tragedy that can shake your life’s foundations, but with resilience, determination and self-belief, you press on to overcome your obstacles in the hope that one day it’ll all be alright!

That’s the kind of motivation we need in troubling times! With each spin, I get more and more hooked. (This could be my fav song you have released). The Killswitch Engage influences are top notch and that solo is *chef’s kiss*. Where did you draw inspiration from and was it a conscious decision to incorporate modern metal/core influences throughout?

I mean, each of us have our different musical influences and personal tastes that’ve evolved over the years (which, in instances like our touring road-trip playlists, makes for bizarre mix of anything from Deathcore to K-Pop to 90’s R&B!).

When it comes to songwriting in the Lycanthrope camp, we’ll have some members that like to experiment with new ideas from more contemporary artists that we’ve discovered, whereas other’s prefer to embrace the comforts of nostalgia – what we always aim to achieve is to stay true to our core foundations of the band’s identity, while also injecting new elements with each ‘era’ to push ourselves to make something that we can be proud to listen to for years to come.

During the recent songwriting process and live shows we’d been experimenting with incorporating electronic elements as more of a ‘garnish’ layer to our existing sound. When we were in the studio with Mark (@ Keywork Audio), he helped us finesse and refine these elements to gel better within the melodies of the song – we’re super happy with the end result! It’s an evolution of the signature Lycanthrope sound.

What would the 2018 Lycanthrope (Chapters-era) say about the 2025 Lycanthrope? How have the dynamics within the band lead you to where you are today?

I feel like if we could jump in a time machine and visit our former selves, we’d be incredibly proud of how we’ve progressed on both a musical and interpersonal level: We’ve achieved a lot together and we’ve endured a few storms together too!

Our shared experiences being thrown into some crazy and incredible scenarios has helped us bond better as bandmates, which has helped grow our confidence in our abilities on and off the stage together. Over time we’ve learned where each other’s strengths are in the creative process, and adopted more of a growth-mindset to become open to new ideas or upskilling in areas that benefit the team’s goal.

We can’t NOT mention it again, but playing Wacken and following it up in Australia with a Good Things Festival Sydney performance saw you at your peak. What have you learned about the experience and what’s the newest goal for the band?

We’ll never not be happy to reminisce on those incredible shows! Lycanthrope’s always had a reputation for having a high energy and engaging live show, so having the opportunity to perform at festivals of such large scale and witnessing an overwhelmingly positive reaction from the crowd was further reinforcement for the hard yards we’ve put in over the years, and that we can confidently hold our own alongside some of the world’s best acts (hearing European crowds chanting “LY-CAN-THROPE!” for the first time nearly had us in tears of joy!).

I feel like those who attend live music, be it at a local show or a huge festival, love to see an act who perform with passion and intensity; who’s songs connect with the them and resonate on a personal level to feel a bond of camaraderie with the band and the fans, and leave with a smile on their face – Lycanthrope delivers this experience at every show! Our main goal now is learning what’s required to get to ‘the next level’ that elevates us alongside the major players, so we can return to the festival stages soon…

Fun One: You’re stuck in a movie with a Lycanthrope/Werewolf – which movie is it and what’s your survival technique?

OH THAT’S EASY – Gotta put respect on the name of our all-time favourite Lycan Hunter: the mighty Selene from the Underworld movies! Double wielding a pair of silver pistols, while wearing a sleek leather trench coat alongside Kate Beckinsale – they’ll never stand a chance! lol

Any upcoming shows we should keep an ear out for and as we head into 2025, what else can Lycanfans anticipate from the group?

With the release of the ‘Wither’ single and incredible music video (Shoutout to Nev @ DeadEnds!), we’ll be spending some time away from the stage to refine the new songs we’ve written for the upcoming new album, which we are looking to begin recording shortly. We endeavour to be back to performing in the 2nd half of 2025 with brand new music, plus a special surprise to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of our first EP Revival – so stay tuned for more!

Eyes well and truly opened now! Any final thoughts?

A special message to all those who’ve supported us – whether you’ve been with us since day one playing in youth centres and pubs, from the big stages and festivals across Australia and beyond, or whether you’ve just discovered us yesterday – From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you.

Interview by Paul ‘Browny’ Brown @brownypaul

‘Wither‘ is out tomorrow – check out the music video and get streaming on New Music Friday!

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