It’s offically Soundwave season, folks. The months upon months of speculation about the lineup are coming to an end, and AJ Maddah and co. have started slowly but surely releasing the lineup to the masses.
The drip-fed lineup now amounts to seven bands, with many more to come – but what better time to brush up on what we know so far?
Bring Me The Horizon
Hot off the presses, Bring Me The Horizon are the seventh act to be added to the Soundwave 2016 lineup. The band grew from humble beginnings in the UK to become one of the world’s top metalcore acts, before taking each new album as an opportunity to explore their sound and surprise their fans.
BMTH have this week dropped their fifth album, That’s The Spirit, a timely departure from their critically acclaimed previous releaseSempiternal – but by the time Soundwave rolls around next year there will be a legion of fans singing every word.
Bring Me The Horizon are the cover stars of the BRAG this week – read our full interview with them here.
Lordi
The most out-there and perhaps divisive addition to the lineup so far, Lordi are a heavy metal band from Finland who have a knack for theatrics. Dressed up not unsimilar to an Orc from Lord Of The Rings, Lordi’s definining musical moment was taking out the top prize at Eurovision in 2006.
Lordi (fronted by lead singer Mr. Lordi) have taken a bit of flack for their resemblence to fellow monster metal act Gwar. The Finns are a little less heavy, and rely a lot less on comedy to draw a crowd. They’re not a headliner by any means, but it’s an alright way to kill an afternoon.
Northlane
A lot has happened since Northlane last appeared at Soundwave in 2013. Their original vocalist Adrian Fitipaldes left the band and was replaced by Marcus Bridge. They also released their third album Node and rose through the ranks to become one of the biggest heavy bands in Australia. Northlane were one of the first bands to hit the stage during 2013’s Soundwave, expect a much warmer reception this time around.
Read our latest interview with Northlane here.
Dead Letter Circus
Do not adjust your screen, you’re reading it correctly – TWO Australian bands have already made their way onto the Soundwave lineup for 2016. The Brisbane five-piece Dead Letter Circus have built a massive following over the past decade performing a blend of prog that fellow Aussie acts such as Cog and Karnivool also helped break through to the masses. On the back of their third record, Aesthesis, DLC and are touring around the country in October before taking on Soundwave early next year.
Read Dead Letter Circus talk about their new album with the BRAG here.
Failure
The most obscure addition to the lineup, the recently reunited Failure will be coming to Australia for the first time next year. The band formed in LA during the early ’90s, and rose to prominence during that decade’s alternative music boom. Their 1996 album Fantastic Planet remains a cult classic, helping brand the genre of ‘space rock’.
The band reunited in 2014, and set to work writing and recording their new album The Heart Is A Monster, releasing their first material since their break-up in 1997.
Refused
Speaking of reunions, five years ago the idea of Swedish punk icons Refused appearing as Soundwave was about as outlandish as a reunited Guns N’ Roses headlining the festival – and yet, here we are. Refused reformed in 2012 after a near two-decade split, and are heading to Australia for only the second time.
Retrospective: The Death And Ressurection Of Punk Icons Refused
A few months back Refused released their comeback album, Freedom, their first since the seminal The Shape Of Punk To Come.
Bullet For My Valentine
Heading to Soundwave for the third time next year are Bullet For My Valentine. The UK band stood as one of the more popular heavy metal acts of the 2000s, and withtheir fifth album Venom in tow, their impassioned followers will be front and centre for the festival sets.
Soundwave 2016comes to Sydney Olympic Park on Sunday January 24. Stay tuned to thebrag.com for more lineup news as it happens.
