10 Australian Bands with New Tunes That'll Keep You Headbanging All Weekend

Aussie Heavy//Alternative Music Is Thriving.We say that a lot, but it's true, and when the mainstream is too focused on the international flavour of the month or some new act that's remixed a song from 20 years ago (yep, I do mean 2004 - we're old now) it gets stale pretty quickly.Luckily for the rest of us, the stakes keep getting raised with each new week that rolls around and this week in particular we saw an abundance of releases from bands down under that all deserve to be celebrated, so let's check 'em out.

Windwaker - HYPERVIOLENCE

The band has evolved from memecore kids to futuristic hyper-pop metal trailblazers with their sophomore album. A snippet of our in-depth album review reads:

'Another note that comes to mind is the confidence that has exuded from this album. It’s almost like not enjoying the song [Tabula Rasa] is not an option. The persuasiveness and conviction that stems from every layer; instrumentally, vocally, lyrically, and sonically, is beyond intoxicating, and has so far, made HYPERVIOLENCE untouchable.

Stream/Purchase HYPERVIOLENCE here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJkKIKk4MBI

In Hearts Wake - Incarnation

It's one thing to lose your bassist/clean vocalist... but to then drop an album with almost no clean singing proves just how ruthless In Hearts Wake are with their approach to modern metalcore. The new release serves as a shadow sequel to their debut album Divination which featured WinstonMcCall, so it only seemed fitting to get the Parkway Drive frontman back on the latest single 'TheFlood' which was inspired by a non-musical team-up the frontmen had in 2022 as JakeTaylor explained:

"It was February 2022 and torrential rains hit our home region in Northern Rivers NSW. Entire towns swallowed two stories underwater. Homes and lives were lost. The floods were biblical. My step-dad narrowly escaped out of a second story window by jumping onto a floating mattress... In the weeks that followed, I was out in Lismore NSW delivering emergency supplies with the rest of the band and I bumped into Winston (vocalist of Parkway Drive) who was helping out on a food run. We couldn’t believe the destruction we were seeing, and yet at the same time, the resilience and strength of the people.

12 years since Winston’s last feature on Divination and it felt right to reconnect and collaborate on such an important event that happened to our community.

Stream/Purchase Incarnation here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Suw1TQmv9Ec

Speed - ONLY ONE MODE

Western Sydney Hardcore has been put on the map on the global scale with SPEED's ever-increasing popularity, and it's only going to get bigger from here on out as the group releases their debut album.From humble beginnings to scoring praise from some of the biggest names in the music industry, it's time for you to discover this gang called, Speed.We sat down with Jem and Joshua to chat all about their new release, and the origin story of how the flute ended up in the single 'THE FIRST TEST'

Stream/Purchase ONLY ONE MODE here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO4TZcWDUO0

Terminal Sleep - 'Shadows'

Following on from last month's explosive hit 'Spineless', the Melb/Naarm-based hardcore band just dropped their latest EP, which features ferocious second single 'Shadows' and two Sow Discord remixes to boot.If unrelenting screams screams and chuggy riffs are your forte, go no further than this delectable release from one of Australia's most promising acts on the rise.

Stream Spineless/Shadows here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgRXpUf_zUQ

Trophy Eyes - 'Enmore'

The emo/alt-rockers made a triumphant comeback with new song 'Enmore' which will certainly tie us all over until they head off across Australia next month with BostonManor and Towns.Vocalist JohnFloreani is one of the only musicians who can turn heartbroken wails into captivating experiences that'll have you crying for reasons even you're not 100% aware of.

Stream 'Enmore' here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBpgJuFQGAo

Hate Complex - 'CORROSION'

In this day and age, it's hard to find a complete band with similar musical interests in the same city (let alone the same state) but HateComplex have made the most of their complex dynamics by enlisting members from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.After initially bursting onto the scene with their first single 'PARASITE', the group consisting of JesseBurr (vocals), StuartPearson and JakeCarling (guitars), Tano D’urso (bass) and JaydenMason (drums) circled back with 'CORROSION' - and in this case, the sequel is better than the original.With a band consisting of members of Inhibitor, Wraith and AversionsCrown, you know what you're in for when you hit play. So get onto that champ!

Stream 'CORROSION' here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJNErfF_sX8

Bellwether - 'Homecoming'

A bittersweet release as this marks the Sydney alt-pop punk group's final single before they sadly disband - due to life pulling them in different directions with new prioritiesOn the swan song, the band shares:

"Drawing influence from hyperpop and j-pop sounds, ‘Homecoming’ explores the feelings and guilt when leaving your loved ones behind to fulfil your own goals, all the while promising that you will return to them one day and come back home."

Stream 'Homecoming' here (tissues sold separately)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7aeFZt9HEI&pp=ygUZQmVsbHdldGhlciAtICdIb21lY29taW5nJw%3D%3D

Bad/Love - 'Vultures'

It's time to sex it up as Bad/Love draws us in with the alluring new single 'Vultures'. Anthemic alt-rock at its finest and a tasty breakdown with screams that'll get a ride out of you one way or another; let's turn these hidden gems into national treasures.Catch them on tour with Outloved next month - tickets here

Stream 'Vultures' here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCSG0_QTGvU

A Night in Texas - 'Death Protocol'

After revealing new vocalist SamCameron alongside their 'Apex of Agony' and 'Welcome to The Gulag' comeback singles, the Queensland deathcore monsters have returned to turn faces into smashed pies with 'DeathProtocol'.Here's my interpretation of how the recording process for this track went:

Sam: How many gutturals and pig squeals do you want me to do?Band: YES!

New album Digital Apocalypse is out August 2nd - and if you haven't pre-ordered or saved that shit, uppercut yourself!

Stream 'Death Protocol' here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ad0FucMEIQM

Cordiform - 'Doomsday'

Hope you bought those tissues because you're gonna need them as we wrap up this feature with the heartbreaking newbie from pop punks Cordiform, who share 'Doomsday'; the add-on to previously released single 'Sparks' - both of which just missed out on making the cut on their Growth & Despair EP.As the band explains:

They are to us affectionately the two extra children from the EP. If 'Sparks' is growth (a reminder that it's ok to love), then 'Doomsday' is Despair (a reminder that life is short). 'Doomsday' is the melancholy of perpetual growth, movement, grief and the opportunities life presents.

Lyrically, the track was inspired by vocalist James Hibble's health scare which he explains:

“Doomsday was born from a long recent health scare in my life before & during Cordiform’s life. After 2 death scares due to blood clots & ITP (Immune thrombocytopenia) I felt like I was running out of time to create music. This song represents the range of emotions I went through during that period. I hope this song brings you all a sweet reminder that life is short. Tell your friends you love them & make the most of it.”

That's it from me, time to start crying again...

Stream 'Doomsday' here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REbNCjMI1rkIf you've been wanting to uncover new Australian talent to follow, check out the above list and our selection of the best Aussie releases so far this year in our Aussie Heavyweights & Hitmakers Playlist on Spotify and Apple Musichttps://open.spotify.com/playlist/4tMr1CycvXq1qJzG2aE84G?si=95dae744adca4a04