Welcome to our annual end-of-year wrap-up, where we celebrate and dissect 2025 — a year packed full of standout music releases.
Our vox pop chats with a wide range of listeners revealed some clear favourites, along with plenty of overlap in what people couldn’t stop playing this year. Huge thanks to everyone who took part and helped make this possible, especially Adam from Team Glasses.
Below is our list of the releases that left a mark in 2025. You might agree, you might not — but we encourage you to hit play on anything unfamiliar. After all, variety is the spice of life, and you might just stumble upon your next favourite band along the way.
All photos are shot by the incredibly talented Nicole Goodwin. Follow her on instagram here and if you're in a band, add her to your guest list, it's the very least you can do. The main shot above is of COMBAT ROCK who released some awesome new music this year.
Iron Mind dropped a banger of a full length in 2025 with The Test Of The Iron Mind.
Top 10 Australian LP Releases of 2025
The long player made a welcome return in 2025, with Australian bands releasing more full-length records than they had in years. Writing and recording enough material for an album takes serious time and effort, so hats off to the bands who pulled it off and put one out in 2025.
FOREWARNED - Only God Forgives (Kingpin)
Our LP of the year comes courtesy of Melbourne straight edge heavyweights Forewarned, who delivered a crushing debut full-length — a huge leap forward from their 2023 introduction. Drawing from the golden era of Victory Records staples like Strife and Integrity, while weaving in shades of Ringworm, Trial, and Mindsnare’s Credulity era, the record hits hard from every angle. It’s mosh-driven, fast, metallic, and surprisingly melodic, with added fire courtesy of guest vocals from Ben Coyte of Day Of Contempt.
THE CHAIN - Blind The World (Last Ride)
IRON MIND - Test Of The Iron Mind (Last Ride)
NO APOLOGIES - Life (Last Ride)
BLEAK SQUAD - Strange Love (Poison City)
SOOTHE - Bleed Out (Loudmouth Records)
THE PRIZE - In The Red (Anti Fade Records)
SUN RUN - Brick Six (Sore Horse)
CROSSFACE - Selftitled (BIG Records)
HISTAMINE - Quality of Life (Last Ride)
DIZDAIN dropped their debut EP titled "I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive" towards the end of the year that delivered.
Top 15 Australian EP Releases of 2025
NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE - Absolution (Burning Hammer)
Named after the fourth Cro-Mags album, Near Death Experience dropped our favourite demo of 2024 and followed it up with our favourite EP of 2025. While the later-era Cro-Mags influence is clear, the Leeway inspiration shines even brighter, blending fast-paced, crossover-tinged yet melodic hardcore that wouldn’t sound out of place at an early ’90s CBGB’s Sunday matinee. Someone needs to do this release justice and press it to vinyl—preferably with the demo on the flip side.
SECRET WORLD - Tomorrow Is A Mystery To Me (Last Ride)
FORGED BY FEAR - Cruelest Creature (LLR)
DESIRE - Stuck In The Blues (Burning Hammer)
FEEL THE PAIN - World In Two (Last Ride)
HARD ONS & JERRY A - You Won’t Shut Up (Cheersquad)
BOUDICCA - Serpentine (Self Released)
GRIM REALITY - ‘Crush Ya Bones’ & ‘Lesson One’ (LLR)
CONCRETE BOMB - Snorting Rubble (BIG Records)
STORM OF STEEL - Selftitled (Rebellion)
HEAT - Act Of Mercy (LLR)
L.O.W - Ruination (Fowl Taste)
DIZDAIN - I’ll Never Got Out Of This World Alive (Last Ride)
DEATHPROOF - Forced To Believe (Loudmouth / Fowl Taste)
HOMESICK - This Is A War (Bad Apples)
IMPLODE released a demo in 2025 that turned a lot of heads.
Top 12 Australian Demos 2024
So many new bands released their first taste of music this year, from all corners of the country, playing a multiutde of different styles, which is great to see. Could have easily stretched this out to include even more demos. Special shout outs to The Omission, Reckless Release and Uzis Akimbo for their constant dedication in 2025 to releasing demos for new bands.
SCRAM - Yamba Hardcore Demo (Uzis Akimbo)
The far northern NSW coastal town of Yamba is best known for its pumping waves and talented surfers. It’s not a place usually associated with hardcore, but SCRAM are changing that. These six tracks deliver a modern take on the melodic metalcore sound of the ’90s, drawing from bands like Morning Again, Turmoil, and Harvest.
ORC - Concrete Dismemberment (Bad Habit)
NEGATIVE MENTAL STATE - Early Morning Demo (Reckless Release / Uzis Akimbo)
DOWNWARD SPIRAL (The Omission)
IMPLODE (The Omission / Reckless Release)
GOB - Do You Believe In Gob? (Reckless Release)
COMBAT x ROCK (The Omission)
INTRO - Introduction Demonstration 1 (Reckless Release)
OUT OF SPITE - Demo (Fortify Records)
DANCE - Demo (Uzis Akimbo)
xNC HOODSx - Straight Edge Defiance (Innercity Uprising)
xRETRIBUTORx - Demo (Uzis Akimbo)
HONOURABLE MENTION:
NO ALLEGIANCE - Deemo (Self Released): Ask a QLDer to burn you a CDR copy of this. Features a DYS cover even.
Both Sydney and Melbourne were treated to some last minute, intimate side shows for HIGH VIS. Pictured above at the Bendy.
Top 3 Tours
Last year in our 2024 wrap up we mentioned how it would be great to see a tour from Combust in 2025 and our dreams came true. Again, not saying promoters are looking to Rest Assured for ideas of bands to tour, but if putting names out into the cosmos makes things happen, then it would be amazing to see tours from Mil Spec, Method Of Doubt, Face The Pain, Skinhead or Scarab in 2026.
HIGH VIS @ Marys Underground w/ Antenna, L.O.W.
I don't think I've ever been more grateful for a tour cancellation as to that of Knocked Loose pulling out of their Good Things appearance and their sideshows with High Vis. This in turn caused a rescheduling of some last minute High Vis headliner shows announced in some more intimate venues. Marys Underground used to be a jazz bar called The Basement so the sound is top notch, the layout is perfect with multi tiered levels and the vibe was just right. The star of High Vis is definitely on the rise and the pile ons and sing alongs had doubled in size to the year before. It was hot and sweaty, yet hard not to sing and smile and was appreciated by all. Turns out High Vis are very big Antenna fans too, singing along to the EP songs.
COMBUST @ The Chippo w/ Dizdain, Phantoms, Spite, Intrude
Another long-awaited visit from the latest generation of NYHC flag bearers, Combust. The Chippo is perhaps the perfect venue for a hardcore show in Sydney. Its dark, dank, sounds great, has a full vegan menu and is as close as you come to a basement show in Australia. I love Killing Time's "Brightside" and so do Combust, as evident on their 2022 release "Another Life" so was great to hear these songs live and in the flesh, along with new tracks off "Belly Of The Beast". Dizdain provided Madball and Youth Of Today covers, while Intrude delivered Antidote and Absolution covers, all of which was not lost on Combust frontman Andrew who proudly preached the world wide influence of his hometown.
MILITARIE GUN @ The Manning Bar w/ Touche Amore, Homesick, Peace Ritual
I need to preface this by saying this was mid July and I was really fucking sick, but I really wanted to see Militarie Gun. Unfortunately I didn't see any of the other bands due to my health and not wanting to infect others, it was a quick in and out job. Militarie Gun are another band on the rise and it seems their audience has grown even wider than punk and hardcore cicrcles. Songs off their new album fit seemlessly into their highly energetic and fun loving set which even featured a Royal Headache cover of "High" with Shogun getting up to help out with vocals.
SPEED continued their world domination in 2025 with the release of a new EP All My Angels.
Top 10 International EPs
METHOD OF DOUBT - Total Soul Ignition (Scheme Records)
Loved the melodic hardcore approach on their 2021 album "Staring at Patterns" and this picks up where that left off. There are multiple nods to Fugazi on this EP with last track "Insufficent" sounding like it was actually written during the DC revolution summer of the mid 80s.
MIL SPEC - Selftitled EP (Lockin Out)
SQUINT - Drag (Sunday Drive)
PUBLIC OPINION - Perpetual Motion Machine (Side One Dummy)
SUNSTROKE - Hell Of A Year For Daises (Sky Valley)
DRINK DEEP - Burning House (Control Records)
DYNAMITE - Settle The Score (Scheme Records)
BERTHOLD CITY - No Brotherhood (WAR Records)
TIME x HEIST - The Unforgiving Minute (Heroes & Martyrs)
COSMIC JOKE - Forced Perspective (Triple B)
HONOURABLE MENTION: Technically only one song as a teaser for an upcoming EP, but geez it’s pretty awesome. New band for Pat Flynn of Fiddlehead / Have Heart etc.
HOW MUCH ART - PR (Convulse)
Drain released a new album "Is Your Friend" and toured Australia in 2025.
Top 15 International Albums
TURNSTILE - Never Enough (Roadrunner)
Four years after the release of "Glow On", Turnstile have even further refined their upbeat pop core sound with another batch of highly infectious and catchy tracks. An increase in diverse sounds courtesy of synthesizers and drum sounds reinforces Turnstile’s innovative trajectory, blending experimentation with their hardcore foundation into a fully immersive record.
FACE THE PAIN - Time and Dedication (Youngblood)
SKINHEAD - It’s a beautiful day (Closed Casket)
GRIDIRON - Poetry From Pain (Blue Grape)
COMBUST- Belly Of The Beast (Triple B)
SCARAB - “Burn After Listening” (Rebirth)
MILITARIE GUN - God Save The Gun (Loma Vista)
HOME FRONT “Watch It Die” (La Vida Es Un Music Discos)
DEAD HEAT “Process Of Elimination” (Metal Blade)
SCOWL - Are We All Angels (Dead Oceans)
SOUL BLIND - Red Sky Mourning (Closed Casket)
END IT - Wrong Side Of Heaven (Flatspot)
GUMM - Beneath The Wheel (Convulse)
PROPAGANDHI - At Peace (Epitaph)
BIG LIFE - The Cost Of Progress (Setterwind Records)
HEAVEN’S GATE - Tales From A Blistering Paradise (Beach Impediment)
Top 5 International Demos
ENUF - Demo (Radio Raheem)
Yes this did technically originally come out in 1988, but hot dang after a reissue and a polish from Radio Raheem, it has never sounded better. To make up for including it, we’ve added an extra demo below.
WITS END - Demo I and II (Rebirth Records)
WEAPON X -Demo 2 (Daze)
SUBVERSIVE INTENT - Demo (Rebirth Records)
WMD - Demo 2 (Total Supply)
TOP 3 DOCUMENTARIES
HARD ONS “Harder and Harder” (Living Eyes)
This documentary picks up where the first instalment left off, charting the Hard-Ons’ journey in the post–Waterfront Records era. The band finds itself in uncharted territory, both with and without drummer and singer Keish, as they attempt to navigate a modern music landscape. Largely propelled by the band’s trademark humour — led by bassist Ray and guitarist Blackie — the film explores a new chapter with the additions of Pete Kostic (Front End Loader), Murray Ruse (Conation), and Tim Rogers (You Am I). To its credit, the documentary doesn’t shy away from difficult moments, addressing both the 2019 Rose Tattoo tour controversy and Keish’s dismissal from the band in 2021 following allegations of sexual misconduct. Just as engaging and entertaining as the first Hard-Ons documentary, it’s well worth a watch.
Teaser below.
INTENSE ENERGY - "The Sounds Of Skateboarding" (Trust Records)
Trust Records have been behind countless standout projects, playing a key role in preserving hardcore punk history through their vinyl reissues and documentary work. This film zeroes in on the deep connection between punk and hardcore and skateboarding throughout the ’80s and into the ’90s, while also tracing the rise of hip hop’s parallel relationship with skate culture. Featuring interviews with a wide range of pro skaters and punk musicians, the documentary offers a compelling look at how these worlds collided.
You can watch the full film below.
DEVO (Netflix)
This documentary traces Devo’s journey from their art-rock beginnings in Ohio through to new wave commercial success and everything that followed. I’ll admit, I went in knowing very little about Devo — I’d always dismissed them as something of a novelty band, and “Whip It” struck me as more cheesey than clever. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The film reveals a band with far more depth than their public image suggested, unpacking the sharp socio-political commentary embedded in their music and videos — something that was widely misunderstood at the time, myself included. The documentary is currently streaming on Netflix and is well worth your time.
Teaser below.
HONOURABLE MENTION:
SPEED - Turnstile USA Tour Vlog
Pretty incredible first hand look at the goings on behind the scenes of a larger scaled tour of the USA as Speed support Turnstile on the Never Enough album tour also with Amyl and the Sniffers.
Watch it below.
TOP 3 BOOKS
FLOORPUNCH: No Exceptions 1995-2000 (Shining Life Press)
Shining Life Press have long been at the forefront of all things hardcore print related. While they usually release books that are comprised of fanzine anthologies, this is the first whole book (not a fanzine) dedicated to a band. That band is Floorpunch. This 340 page book features interviews with all of the band members and the FP crew, along with flyers, live photos, merch photos and even an interview with Duncan from By The Grace Of God. IYKYK
COLLECTED OBESSION (Underwelt Books)
Hardcore has never been short of obsessives. Some people collect records, some people collect tapes, Ryan Bannahan collects merch. This book showcases 400 tees from his collection along with some tidbits about how the designs came to light or the rarity of the shirt. Over 320 pages of proper hardcore nerd shit.
SWIZ (Akashic Books)
I love SWIZ, like really, really, really love SWIZ, so had to include this as well. What's really cool about this book is that it features memories of the band from all of the members. It doesn't read like a autobiographical memoir, more a collection of stories complete with photos, flyers, drawings and Jason Farrell's artwork. The book was released to coincide with the reissue of their iconic discography by Dischord.
TIMEPEACE from Melbourne will be dropping their debut EP early in the new year. Keep an ear out for that!
HIGHLIGHTS OF 2025
The SPEED effect has continued to play a huge part in the ongoing growth and popularity of hardcore in Australia. The accessibility of SPEED playing AA shows and pulling together diverse mixed genre lineups exposing younger ears to different sounds and styles is a huge part in acheiving this. Take a look at our Australian demo section for just a small sample of some of the new bands on offer and how high the quality of musicianship is. The ABS method of measuring population growth is simply births minus deaths, and if you apply that to the country's hardcore scene in 2025, all demographics are on the increase: we had even more new bands, more shows, more girls in bands and more young people in bands too. The trajectory is up and up.
Again the growing amount of newer and smaller scale bands touring Australia for the first time increased. This year alone we had debut visits from Combust, Odd Man Out, End It, Outta Pocket, Jarhead Fertilizer, The Accused, Worm Rot, Gel, Frail Body, and Pentagram. This makes for such a refreshing change and big thanks to all of the promoters for taking a chance on something new and different.
In the past year we also saw a bunch of newer labels come to the fore, generally focusing on releasing music for newer bands than ever before. Between the following 5 labels there were 20 releases: B.I.G Records (6) out of Newcastle, The Omission (3) out of Melbourne, Reckless Release (7) out of Perth, Fortify Records (2) out of Adelaide and Uzis Akimbo (2) out of Canberra. This only gives bands even more opportunites to have their music heard by a wider listening base.
Given the social media ban for kids under 16, accessing information on upcoming All Ages hardcore shows becomes a bit more difficult if you're playing by the rules. To counteract this, Nic from Stressed / Fortify Records has set up a website for upcoming shows in Adelaide. While a collaborative effort between Uzis Akimbo, Barricade Records and Wildcard have produced a new Australian Hardcore message board called Brainwave that features seperate forums for each state to keep track of what's on in terms of shows. Hopefully it doesn't descend into total chaos like the message board forums of the past.
Day Of Contempt got back together for some shows in Adelaide and Melbourne in 2025.
DISAPPOINTMENTS OF 2025
Resist Records closing its doors forever. For close to 30 years, Resist has been the go to store for anything punk and hardcore related in Sydney, often stocking releases you won't find anywhere else in the country. The shop was first established way back in 1996 on King Street in Newtown and survived three relocations to Australia Street, back to the basement level of King Street, then eventually to Marrickville. Hardcore has always been rooted in physical formats and in supporting bands and labels by buying their music. Having spent ten years behind the counter at Resist, its closure was genuinely heartbreaking—there aren’t many workplaces I’ve left that I’d happily return to. While the physical store is gone, Resist lives on as an online business, still offering the same incredible range of releases and merch. You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone—so go order something: https://shop.resistrecords.com/
As mentioned earlier, overseas touring increased in 2025, but striking the right balance between what is and isn’t sustainable remains a fine line. Touring is a gamble for every promoter, particularly when it comes to smaller-scale bands. Ideally, a tour turns a profit that can be reinvested into bringing out another band, with the hope that one of them breaks through, stays loyal, and tours again in the following years. Heading into 2026, we’ve already seen Shai Hulud cancel an Australian tour due to low ticket sales. Given their history of successful tours here, it raises the question of whether overseas touring bands have become oversaturated. A similar situation occurred in 2013, when a Murphy’s Law tour was announced and quickly cancelled for the same reason. Now, with a new Murphy’s Law tour slated for 2026, the gamble continues. If early ticket sales are now the benchmark for a tour’s viability, then the message is simple: buy your ticket early.
Spotify continues to be a thorn in the side of musicians worldwide. If low streaming payouts weren’t bad enough, it was revealed in June that Spotify’s owner had invested billions into Helsing, a German military tech company specialising in AI drone missile systems. It’s not an easy thing to digest, knowing that streaming your music on Spotify helps support that kind of investment. At Rest Assured, when we share new music from a band, our first port of call will always be Bandcamp. It may not have the reach of Spotify, but it’s a far better earner for artists—especially through initiatives like Bandcamp Friday, where 100% of proceeds go directly to the bands.
No Sydney Mindsnare show. Again.
50 Lions also made a return and released a new LP.
PREDICTIONS FOR 2026
More new younger bands and demos, more new releases, more record labels, more reunions. Scene beef from the new message board.
Melody will return to hardcore and the youth will realise the role they play in youth crew and embrace it whole heartedly. This is the way.
The Wests Tigers will continue their rise up to 9th on the NRL ladder, the rebuild is real. In Benji we trust.
Newcastle will win another wooden spoon and wonder why they let KPP go to the Tigers.
Hopefully a Mindsnare Sydney show.
END OF YEAR LISTS
Enough of what we thought of 2025, here's what got everyone else's heads banging like GUTTA pictured above.
Special thanks to Adam of Team Glasses for helping organise a bunch of these, so he gets to go first.
Name: Adam McArthur
From: Team Glasses Records, Raw Impact
Top 5 LPs:
1. Cell Rot ‘Parasite’
2. Earl Sweatshirt ‘Live, Laugh, Love’
3. Westside Gun ‘Heels Have Eyes (1, 2 & 3)’
4. Danny Brown ‘Stardust’
5. Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist ‘Alfredo 2’
Top 5 EP/7"s
1. Urban Sprawl ‘Blood Pact’
2. Bloodmouth ‘Carnicidal Nercotatcics’
3. Phenomena ‘S/T’
4. Intro ‘Introduction Demonstration 1’
5. Discount Code ‘Doomed Existence // Consciousness is a Curse’
Top 5 AU releases:
1. Histamine ‘Quality of Life’
2. The Chain ‘Blind the World’
3. Rapid Dye ‘S/T’
4. Metho ‘Metholated Spirit’
5. Valve ‘Family Trust’
Top 3 demos:
1. Orc ‘Concrete Dismemberment’
2. Downward Spiral ‘Demo’ (along with the Implode and both Combat Rock demos. The Omission is strong)
3. No Allegiance ‘Deemo’
Top 3 shows/tours:
1. Urban Sprawl Australian Tour
2. A Cold Day in BNE (Extortion & Disentomb swooping in to save the fest after the headliner canned their Australian tour. I Exist first show in 6 years. 15 years of Shackles. Whole day of awesome sets.)
3. Orc ‘Queensland Dismemberment’
Highlight of 2025:
So many tours and shows this year, there was something on almost every week. Getting to see Weezer again. Oasis in Sydney. Raw Impact playing a bunch of wild shows for our first year.
Disappointment of 2025:
Shai Hulud tour cancellation. Missing Refused. Actually missed heaps of stuff this year, whatever hey.
Predictions for 2026:
The continued flow of quality tours, shows, releases and new bands popping up. Scram opening for Turnstile & Basement at Riverstage in Brisbane next month is psycho. Surely we’re due for a Griselda tour. Cold Day in BNE 2026 will be our biggest edition yet.
Name: Marcus Tamp
From: Potion, Amends, Burn In Hell, Goethe
Top 5 LPs:
Histamine - Quality Of Life
Bloodmouth - Carnicidal Necrotactics
Scalp - Not Worthy Of Human Compassion
No Apologies - Life
Mangled State - Learn To Suffer
Top 5 EP/7"s
Aglo - Fixate & Disgrace
Full Of Hell - Broken Sword, Rotten Sheild
Thantu Thikha - Waging War Against Your Facade
Keratin - Death & Rebirth
Culture Shock - Self Titled
Top 5 AU releases:
Histamine - Quality Of Life
Bloodmouth - Carnicidal Necrotactics
Aglo - Fixate & Disgrace
No Apologies - Life
Orc - Concrete Dismemberment
Top 3 demos:
Orc - Concrete Dismemberment
Iron Eater - Demo
Forged By Fear - Cruelest Creature
Top 3 shows/tours:
The Return of I Exist - Cold Day in Brissy
I Exist & No Apologies in Canberra
Muro at Marrickville Bowlo
Highlight of 2025:
The return of I Exist, the best band from Australia
Disappointment of 2025:
Muro not having fat guy sizes in their shirts
Predictions for 2026:
Kids going crazy out here atm writing psycho shit, I feel like we ain’t too far off them finding discharge and a new wave of crustys come through
Name: Griffo
From: Forged By Fear, Banished Realm, Warcycle etc (Perth/Boorloo)
Top 5 LPs:
Innumerable Forms - Pain Effulgence
Scarab - Burn After Listening
Age Of Apocalypse - In Oblivion
Staticlone - Better Living Through Static Vision
Asidhara - Asidhara
HM’s:
Rotten Sound - Mass Extinction
Bell Witch & Aerial Ruin - Stygian Bough Vol. II
Eighteen Visions - Until The Ink Runs Out Redux
Deftones - Private Music
Evoken - Mendacium
Direct Measure - Might And Might Alone
Teitanblood - From The Visceral Abyss
Doomsday - Never Known Peace
Pallbearer - Foundations of Burden Redux
Top 5 EP/7"s:
The Final Agony - Depraved From Darkness
Concrete Bomb - Snorting Rubble
Near Death Experience - Absolution
Ill Natured - Cryptic Psychosis
Dizdain - I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive
HM’s:
Shellgame - Shellgame
Speed - All My Angels
Wetwork & Spat Out - Split
Heat - Act Of Mercy
Life Cult - Life Is Love / The Death Bell
Top 5 AU releases:
No Apologies - Life
The Chain - Blind The World
Vile Apparition - Malignity
Iron Mind - Test of the Iron Mind
Bloodmouth - Carnicidal Necrotactics
HM’s:
Mud - More Mud
Ghostsmoker - Enertia Cult
Forewarned - Only God Forgives
AGLO - Fixate & Disgrace/Control & Torture
Top 3 demos: (2025 was Year of the Reckless Release!)
Iron Eater - Demo
Gob - Do You Believe In Gob?
Intro - Introduction Demonstration Vol. 1
Top 3 shows/tours:
Iron Lung, Extortion, No Future, Gaoled & Iron Eater @ The Milk Bar
Pig Destroyer @ Amplifier Bar
One Blood Fest @ The Milk Bar
Highlight of 2025:
Getting back into graphic design/illustrating and actually getting to create gig flyers/ merch designs for the first time.
Disappointment of 2025:
Not getting to travel interstate or overseas because of work commitments.
Predictions for 2026:
Travelling anywhere, GTA IV still not getting released, Perth/Boorloo missing out on some more “Australian Tours” as per usual, coming out but then going back into mosh retirement, more concerning A.I. stuff and probably rolling the work truck.
HEAT dropped a banger of a new EP "Act Of Mercy" in 2025.
Name: HEAT
From: Melbourne
Top 5 LPs:
1. C4 - Payback's a Bitch
2. Bulls Shit - Bulls Shit
3. Forewarned - Only God Forgives
4. Who Remembers - Still Kickin'
5. Raw Brigade - 100%
Top 5 EP/7"s
1. Method of Doubt - Total Soul Ignition
2. Day By Day - Dust and Ashes
3. Desire - Stuck In The Blues
4. Blood On My Hands - Death Through Devotion
5. It Comes From Within split between Statement of Pride, Envision and Destiny
Top 5 AU releases:
1. Implode - Demo
2. Ends In Tragedy - Beauty of Death
3. Tarnished - Six
4. Scram - Yamba Hardcore Demo
5. Forged By Fear - Cruelest Creature
Top 3 demos:
1. Once And For All - Demo
2. Wits End - Demo 1
3. Fear of Sin - Demonstration
Top 3 shows/tours:
1. Blood On My Hands record launch at Boronia Girl Guides Hall on 7 September 2025. The Lair went clutch to find an AA venue for BOMH after Fairfield Bowls Club (where BOMH were originally supposed to have the show) lost their licence or something so couldn't host the show anymore - the venue they found was Boronia Girl Guides Hall. The show was skitz and the venue has since fast become an invaluable AA venue in the outer suburbs hosting heaps of shows. The BOMH record is unreal. It was my first time seeing Ends In Tragedy, the most exciting prospects of the new generation in my opinion.
2. Speed with Whispers, Primitive Blast, Feel The Pain, and Forewarned at 170 Russell on 27 July 2025. My first time seeing Whispers, the most gangster band. Forewarned biblical opening set. Speed doing what Speed do best.
3. Horsepower with Time Ends, Thantu Thikha, Chain Of Fools, Gutta, and Skurge at Singing Bird Studios in Frankston on 2 May 2025. Another goated all ages event put on by the Lair. Heaps of heads attended. Frankston is a goated hardcore community.
Highlight of 2025:
In hardcore, it was seeing the new wave of kids come through and do hardcore how they want it to be done. Outside of hardcore, it was that a Luke's Banh Mi opened at the base of my work building.
Disappointment of 2025:
Dunno, 2025 was pretty skitz.
Predictions for 2026:
Ends In Tragedy domination
Name: Toby
From: Entrapment
Top 5 LPs:
Combust - Belly of the Beast
Drain - is your friend
End it - wrong side of heaven
Skinhead - its a beautiful day, what a beautiful day
The mountain goats - through this fire across from Peter Balkan
Crush Your Soul - Living Gracious
Top 5 EP/7"s
Deathproof - Forced to Believe
Heat - Act of Mercy
Forwarned - Only god forgives
Feel the Pain - World in Two
Buckled - …and Custard for All
Top 5 AU releases:
No apologies - Life
Dizdain - I'll never get out of this world alive
Iron Mind - Test of the iron mind
Sabercat - The Cat is Back
Private function new album with the weird emoji thing for the title
Top 3 demos:
Scram
Orc
Haxan
Top 3 shows/tours:
Seven Hells @ Cooparoo hall
Private function @ Vinnies
Southport under siege (Toe to Toe, Forwarned, Time Ends, L.O.W, Sick People, Cold Blood, Deathproof, Consequence and about a thousand other bands)
Highlight of 2025:
AA shows
New Deathproof songs
Stage dives
Disappointment of 2025:
Petty bullshit and egos
Predictions for 2026:
Stage dives
Name: Footy
From: Clarity Records / Division / lots of other stuff
Top 5 LPs:
1. Olivia Dean - The Art Of Loving
2. Ruby Gill - Some Kind Of Control
3. Turnstile - Never Enough
4. Skinhead - It's a beautiful day, what a beautiful day
5. Ty Segall - Possession
Top 5 EP/7"s
1. Kissland - Girls Mignon
2. Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Shapes And Forms
3. Fucked Up - Disabuse
4. The Vacant Lot - Creatures Of The Night
5. Solex - Solex
Top 5 AU releases:
1. Ruby Gill - Some Kind Of Control
2. The Prize - In The Red
3. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Phantom Island
4. Placement - Insect
5. Mudrat - Social Cohesion
Top 3 demos:
1. Desire - Stuck In The Blues
2. Enzyme - Demo 2025
3. Orc - Concrete Dismemberment
Top 3 shows/tours:
1. American Football @ Zepp DiverCity, Tokyo
2. Fortify Records Fest @ Jive
3. Sex Pistols with Frank Carter @ Hindley Street Music
4. AC/DC @ The MCG
Highlight of 2025:
- Visiting Uluru for the first time
- Acquiring an incredible amount of records
Disappointment of 2025:
- People
- The passing of David Lynch
Predictions for 2026:
- So... every spare minute that I had during 2025 (which wasn't much), I spent working on a book about Australian Punk, Hardcore and Independent records throughout the decades.
My prediction for 2026 is that I will finally finish it.
'Part One' focuses on 7"s.
I'll also use this opportunity to say, if you have a collection of Australian hardcore / punk 7"s that you would like to sell, please get in contact:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
IRONEATER popped up on a few lists with their impressive demo in 25.
Name: Brett
From: Dominant Hand
Top 5 LPs:
C4
Forewarned
Skinhead
Contention
Culture Shock (u.s)
Top 5 EP/7"s
ALL 4 ALL
L.O.W.
Runeboy
Contempt
Enuf demo 7” (yes it counts)
Top 5 AU releases:
L.O.W
Iron Mind
Robber
Total Defeat
Compound
Top 3 demos:
Wits End demo 1.
Wits End demo 2.
Iron Eater.
Top 3 shows/tours:
Muro.
Iron Eater/no future.
Compound release show.
Highlight of 2025:
Seeing many local shows well attended and selling out filled with people going off from the first to last band via moshing and singing along. Dance playing Sick People by Breakdown. If you play a Breakdown cover I will mosh. It’s illegal for me not to. Seeing Grim Reality again.
Disappointment of 2025:
Multiple people outing themselves as conservative, sexist, racist etc etc flops. But that’s also a good thing they did because we now know where you stand and it’s not with us. Good. Kick rocks. On the flip side, the cancel culture rumour mill is fucking crazy. Check your facts, ask questions and have conversations before you throw your information out there. Hardcore loves a good drama and hates reality ruining their knitting circles.
Predictions for 2026:
Sunami will tour again 5 times with all the same supports... again.
Name: Dane
From: Daisychain
Top 5 LPs:
Fear of horses - st
Sunrun - bricksix
Othiel - worlds fastest car
Melvic centre - trawler LP
Not just a phase comp vol 3
Top 5 EP/7”s
Sans visage - drowned resistance
Keratin- death and rebirth
Ehncen - in childhood the sun is brighter
Bodyshirt / life split
Doris / Es muss sein split
Top 5 AU releases:
See above and below
Top 3 demos: (& singles?)
Videonauhat - sarvet
April demos
Saddest landscape - hexes
Top 3 shows/tours:
Blind girls, frail body, and Gil tour in Jan.
Urban sprawl at a Newcastle diy warehouse gig put on by team glasses recs.
Rails ep release with Boudicca, sondar and model audio.
Highlight of 2025:
April and Goblinviolence ruling at the daisychain release gig.
Disappointment of 2025:
Still waiting for All that’s left of you tracks.
Predictions for 2026:
Less Melodic screamo in Aus, more metal core influenced screamo.
Name: Pete Abordi
From: No Apologies
Top 5 LPs:
The Chain- Blind The World
Best LP of 2025 for me by a mile and the best live straight hc set I saw this year
Iron Mind- Test Of The Iron Mind
More Pain. Their best record how many years into their time as band? Great stuff
Forewarned- Only God Forgives
Love how they go about things, oh and STRAIGHT EDGE
Skinhead- It’s A Beautiful Day, What A Beautiful Day
What a record/ band. Unique, original and catchy as.
One Four- Look At Me Now
Leading the charge of the new wave of Aus hip hop. 100% real and not cringe also helps
Top 5 EP/7"s
More than 5, sue me.
Secret World- Tomorrow Is A Mystery To Me
Speed- All My Angels
Dizdain- I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive
Near Death Experience- Absolution
Thantu Thikha - Waging War Against Your Facade
Feel The Pain- World In Two
Mongrel- Baptized In The Gutter
Dynamite- Settle The Score
Top 5 AU releases:
See above most of my picks are from here
Top 3 demos:
Desire- Stuck In The Blues
Scram- Yamba Hardcore Demo
Orc- Concrete Dismemberment
(Maybe not all demos but new bands first releases)
Top 3 shows/tours:
Parkway Drive- Sydney Opera House Sydney
The Chain- Nexus Arts Adelaide
Speed- Metro Theatre Sydney
Highlight of 2025:
Releasing LIFE
Disappointment of 2025:
South Sydney’s injury plagued season
Predictions for 2026:
Just happy to be here
Combat Rock burst on the scene in 2025 with not one but two releases.
Name: Moose
From: Screaming Target, Combat Rock, Rat Bait, Armour
Top 3 TEN demos (the only release that matters):
Tomcat
Amerol
Implode
Whose Reality?
Bag
Orc
Downward Spiral
Iron Eater
Gob
Negative Mental State
Top 5 LPs:
Citric Dummies – Split with Turnstile
Turnstile – Never Enough (aka Glow On 1.5 but whatever)
Endless Joy - S/T
Illiterates – Does Not Compute
Electric Chair / Physique
Top 5 EP/7"s
Powerplant – Heat EP
Powerplant – Crashing Cars b/w Never Smile
Screen Star – Cop City
No Idols 7”
Identity Shock – Traces EP
Top 5 AU releases:
Promaja – Bravo Brava
Milly Strange - S/T
Body Maintenance – Far From Here
Tarnished – Six
Punter – Australienation
HM: Cerebral Erosion / Body Melt Split, Kissland EP, Grim Reality – Crush Ya Bones, Billiam singles, Tee Vee Repairman singles etc. etc.
Top 3 shows/tours:
1. Oasis
2. Oasis
3. Oasis
Highlight of 2025:
Any time I get to do something from Perth for work.
Disappointment of 2025:
I’m positive now man
Predictions for 2026:
HARDCORE PUNK is back
Name: Madeleine
From: Boudicca / Push Back
Top 5 LPs:
CMAT - Euro Country
Melvic Centre - Trawler
End It - Wrong Side of Heaven
Scowl - Are We All Angels
Volatile Ways - Perfect Dark
Top 5 EP/7"s
Ta2reeban - نانسي
Hail Mary - Hail Mary
Thantu Thikha - Waging War Against Your Facade
Feel the Pain - World In Two
Forged By Fear - Cruelest Creature
Top 5 AU releases:
Orc - Concrete Dismemberment (!!!)
Histamine - Quality of Life
Laurapanic - laurapanic
Private Function - ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Head In A Jar - Unbelieveable Violence
Top 3 demos:
Vasta Ruína - Guerra Ao Pobre
Retributor - xretributorx
Yearn - Fear Is For Others
So many awesome Australian releases this year that I can't fit here- special shout out to my friends in Second Idol, Persecutor, Blood Oath, Post Heaven, and Witch Spit as all of their new music is fantastic too.
Top 3 shows/tours:
Boudicca played heaps of amazing shows this year (Frenzee at the Hamo, Muro at the Croatian Club, and Smierc at the Hamo were particularly sick.) I have attended 42 shows this year at time of typing which is an alright effort (I have really made an effort to write them all down this year to keep track haha), but three that were super sick to be at as a spectator were
Kneecap and Miss Kaninna at the Roundhouse (great way to spend a birthday)
Succ, Feel The Pain, Whispers and Speed at the Hamo (so many people all together! I love Newcastle!)
Exit Mould, Secret World, End It and Scowl at King St Warehouse (very recent, but a super fun night.)
Highlight of 2025:
Increasing amount of physical releases and zines at shows, and a personal music-related one was collaborating with my mates Head In A Jar from Sydney on a track for their new album Unbelievable Violence.
Disappointment of 2025:
Hate continuing to permeate our 'counterculture' community.
Predictions for 2026:
Upcoming Latest God and Timepeace releases making many "best of" lists in 2026, and my wish is for more hardcore fans and bands showing UP for punk or "mixed bill" shows, more d-beat, and more youth crew.
Name: Robert Fitzsimmons
From: Ratbait, Life Lair Regret
Top 5 LPs:
1. Scarab – Burn After Listening
2. Bulls Shitt – Self Titled
3. AFI – Silver Bleeds The Black Sun
4. Skinhead – It’s A Beautiful Day, What A Beautiful Day
5. xDestesterx – Take This To The End…
Top 5 EP/7"s
1. Mil Spec – Mil Spec
2. Day By Day – Dust And Ashes
3. Method Of Doubt – Total Soul Ignition
4. Integrity / Skarhead – Split
5. Dynamite – Settle The Score
Top 5 AU releases:
Implode – Demo
Iron Eater - Demo
Scram – Yamba Hardcore demo
No Apologies – Life
Ends In Tragedy – Beauty Of Death
Top 3 demos:
Wits Ends Demo I/II
Who’s To Blame
Combat Rock
Top 3 shows/tours:
Toy Drive show, 150+ people at an all ages show truly summing up what hardcore is about.
Horsepower / Thantu Thikha / Time Ends weekend, truly gangster weekend of shows.
Forewarned video shoot, million degress and a million people just having the best time
Highlight of 2025:
Becoming a father to the incredible Lily, thank you Samantha. Getting to still do the label 13 years in and have people be into what we do, RAT BAIT still rocking, getting 20 odd copies of Forever War to distro in Australia, getting to put out not one but two 7’’s for the legendary Grim Reality. It’s been a busy year and it’s flown by but Ray sums it up best, my mood for the year has been one of ‘APPPPRRREECIATTTIONNNNN’.
Disappointment of 2025:
The consolidation of power should be avoided as much as it possibly can be, it does not help our community to grow or support us in the long term. Invest in others, each one teach one.
Predictions for 2026:
Mil Spec and Method Of Doubt have shown that melodic hardcore isn’t a dirty word so maybe we’ll get some of that. Speed will continue to be the gift that keeps on giving to our whole community and set the standard for what a hardcore band should be and do. More podcasts that misinterpret the past or focus on inserting themselves in the stories.
Name: Mark Beavan
From: Homesick
Top 5 LPs:
Skinhead - It’s a Beautiful Day, What a Beautiful Day
Excide - Bastard Hymn
Deftones - Private Music
Mililtarie Gun - God Save The Gun
JID - God Does Like Ugly
Top 5 EP/7"s
Clobber - God Loves, Man Kills
Spin - You’re Losing Me
Haywire 617 - Shirts vs Skins
Illusion Hills - Zero (Being)
Public Opinion - Perpetual Motion Machine
Top 5 AU releases:
Forewarned - Only God Forgives ( Best AU HC release in the last 10 years in my opinion )
Shady Nasty - Trek
Slowly Slowly - Forgiving Spree
Chasing Ghost - Therapy
95 Reunion- Nice Touch
Top 3 demos:
Dance - Demo
Downwards Spiral - Demo
Top 3 shows/tours:
Tyler the Creator @ Qudos Bank Arena
AFI @ Enmore Theatre
Militarie Gun @ Manning Bar
Highlight of 2025:
Musically Homesick playing Big Sound Festival, it was a crazy experience and the response and opportunities we have received are really cool. Homesick 2026 is looking very cool.
Personally a Surf Trip in Sumatra and a family holiday in Japan.
Disappointment of 2025:
The state of the world.
Predictions for 2026:
Parramatta Eels top 6 finish.
IRON MIND released a new LP that dominated a lot of lists in 25.
Name: Mrat
From: Canberra, NMS, Thantu Thikha, Uzis Akimbo.
Top 5 LPS:
Forewarned - Only God Forgives
The Chain - Blind the World
Iron Mind - Test of the Iron Mind
Combust - Belly of the Beast
Face The Pain - Time and Dedication
Top 5 eps/7s:
Armlock - Audiotree live
Desire - Stuck In The Blues
its a single but How Much Art - PR
Whispers - Yo-Ma-Lok
Bozo - Is There More Than This?
Top 5 Aus releases
Mass Control - Illusory Wall/ Chasm
Storm Of Steel - Self titled
Dizdain - I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive
No Apologies - Life
Resurrect - Salvation
Top 3 demos:
Scram - Yamba Hardcore Demo
Implode - Demo
xRetributorx - Demo
Top 3 shows
NMS first show at Elsies Filmhouse
1S1P both nights, but night 2 especially
Sebfest in WA. That was unforgettable. Shout out the Lasic household.
Highlight of 2025:
Seeing more and more new faces coming to shows in Canberra! Shoutout Peacemaker, nephs holding it down.
Disappointment of 2025:
Fake edge.
Predictions for 2026:
Blue Speed jersey kids will all buy docs and pretend to listen to CMI and shave their heads when/if Haywire tours Australia.
Name: Luke Dolan
From: Latest God
Top 5 LPs:
Nas & DJ Premier “Light Years”
Skinhead “It’s A Beautiful Day, What A Beautiful Day”
End It “Wrong Side Of Heaven”
Home Front “Watch It Die”
Open City “Hands In The Honey Jar” (came out in 2023 but I only heard it this year and it rules)
Top 5 EP/7"s
Grim Reality “Lesson One”
Drink Deep “Burning House”
Cold Meat “Cake and Arse Party”
Hard Ons w/ Jerry A “You Won’t Shut Up”
Serial Pest “Living In Fear”
Top 5 AU releases:
No Apologies “Life” LP
No Reason “Resurface” LP
Laurapanic “S/T” LP
The Chain “Blind The World” LP
Melvic Centre “Trawler” LP
Press Club “To All The Ones That I Love” (couldn’t narrow it down to 5)
Top 3 demos:
Subversive Intent Demo
Compete Demo 2025
Who Remembers “Hardcore” Demo
Top 3 shows/tours:
Nintendo Police & Bleeding Face @ The Mosh Pit
End It, Scowl, Secret World, & Exit Mould @ King St. Hotel Newcastle
Smierc, Jalang, & Boudicca @ Hamilton Station Hotel
Highlight of 2025:
Latest God playing our first show in over 18 months with the mighty No Reason and Melvic Centre and releasing the “Joy Bringer” single.
Disappointment of 2025:
Still waiting for 7 Seconds / Negative Approach Aus tour lol
Predictions for 2026:
Latest God “Concrete Kids” LP out February
Dominant Hand 7” will be A.HC record of the year.
Did somebody say Gravitate?
Name: Andy
From: Loudmouth Records
Without including any LMR releases, you can deal with my Perth bias though hah;
Top 5 LPs:
Combust - Belly Of The Beast
Dead Heat - Process Of Elimination
Skinhead - It’s A Beautiful Day, What A Beautiful Day
End It - Wrong Side Of Heaven
Raw Brigade - 100%
Top 5 EP/7"s
Dynamite - Settle The Score
Desire - Stuck In The Blues
Concrete Bomb - Snorting Rubble
ORC - Concrete Dismemberment
Spaced - No Escape
Top 5 AU releases:
Forewarned - Only God Forgives
Iron Mind - Test Of The Iron Mind
Blood On My Hands - Death Through Devotion
Vacant Home - Can You Show Me Who I Am?
No Apologies - Life
Top 3 demos:
Direct Order - Demo 2025
Intro - Introduction Demonstration 1
Scram - Yamba Hardcore Demo
Top 3 shows/tours:
One Blood Fest 2025
Pensive Launch @ Mills Records
Palestine Fundraiser @ Freo Buff Club
Highlight of 2025:
Finally booking Gravitate to play Perth
Disappointment of 2025:
RIP Dean Stafford
Predictions for 2026:
More all ages shows, more mixed bills and melodic hardcore begins its comeback.
Name: Nic
From: Stressed, Time Ends, Fortify Records
None of these are in any particular order!!
Top 5 LPs:
No Apologies - Life
Face The Pain - Time & Dedication
Dying Wish - Flesh Stays Together
Cannonball - Cannonball
Xiao - Control
Top 5 EP/7"s:
Statement of Pride/Destiny/Envision split - It Comes From Within...
LOVE SICK - I Am No One Now
Desire - Stuck In The Blues
xapothecaryx - The Machine Demands Blood
Ends In Tragedy - Beauty of Death
Top 5 AU releases:
Thantu Thikha - Waging War Against Your Facade
Scram - Yamba Hardcore Demo
Volatile Ways - Perfect Dark
Mud - More Mud
Forewarned - Only God Forgives
Top 3 demos:
Twist of Fate
Out of Spite
Retributor
Top 3 shows/tours:
Fortify Adelaide - basically a show with a bunch of my favourite current bands. Awesome from start to finish.
Boronia Toy Drive - great cause, cool venue, loved every band, lots of friends.
No Apologies in Adelaide - I love No Apologies and also every band that played.
Highlight of 2025:
Seeing all the new kids coming up in the scene in Adelaide and Melbourne too has been awesome. It's so cool to see the kids getting into it, being keen to engage with the scene and with the music.
Disappointment of 2025:
That I haven't learned guitar yet.
Predictions for 2026:
Many more nights spent way too late at O'Connell St Bakery after shows.
Name: Jackson McCutcheon
From: The Chain / Miles Away
Top 5 LPs:
Rapid Dye - S/t
Acopia - Blush Response
Shady Nasty - Trek
The Berries - S/t
C4 - Payback’s a bitch
Top 5 EP/7"s
No Idols - No Idols
SPY - Seen Enough
Eddy Current Supression Ring
Speed - All My Angels
95 Reunion - Nice Touch
Top 5 AU releases:
Gaoled - Bestial Hardcore
Iron Mind - Test Of The Iron Mind
Secret World - Tomorrow’s a Mystery
Metho - Metholated Spirits
No Apologies - Life
Top 3 demos:
Iron Eater
GOB
Scram
Downward Spiral
ORC
Implode
Desire
Intro
AHC on fire, couldn’t narrow it down.
Wits End (both demos) but they aren’t Aus so only an honourable mention.
Top 3 shows/tours:
Muro (from Colombia!!) @ Buff Club
Iron Lung / Extortion @ Milk Bar
Fontaines dc @ Red Hill
Highlight of 2025:
Hardcore 4 Hardcore fest in Fremantle
Last Ride Records showcase in Newy
Burning Hammer Showcase in Brissy
Flatspot / Last Ride World in Melb
S.A.H.C in Adelaide
The first time i ever got to travel outside of QLD was in the back of a friend’s Commodore speeding down to Hardcore 08 in Sydney knowing we had to be back on Monday morning for high school. To be seeing and playing all of these crazy AHC fests around the country, seeing the new wave of bands and scenes and people coming together from all over feels special in a lot of ways.
Disappointment of 2025:
All these gronks “crowd killing” gotta be the least hard thing I see at hardcore shows.
More hard mosher with style dancing in the pit and all the posers just aiming to flog people standing on the outskirts of the pit should get flogged back.
Predictions for 2026:
Less horseshoes at shows. Everybody back up the front, stealing the mic and diving off the stage.
Big ups to Ryan and Rest Assured - love reading these every year !!
Name: Jay Preston
From: Innercity Uprising, Compound, Backhand, Toe To Toe, MILAT.
Top 5 LPs:
COMPOUND - S/T
SPY - Seen enough
RAPID DYE - S/T
RAGE AND RUIN - Cream of the Cropped
LATEST GOD - Concrete kids
Top 5 EP/7"s
L.O.W - Ruination
SKORN - Closer to god
R.U.B / BACKHAND - split
RAPID DYE - red deluxe
GRIM REALITY - Lesson one
Top 5 AU releases:
TOE TO TOE - Live at Vinnies
COMPOUND - S/T LP
ROBBER - Bad eggs LP
LATEST GOD - Concrete kids
RAPID DYE - S/T
Top 3 demos:
WARHEAD 97 - possessed by hate
SKOUNDREL
MASS CONTROL
Top 3 shows/tours:
TOE TO TOE - Sydney show
COMPOUND - LP launch
CUTTERS - Last Chance rock n roll bar
Highlight of 2025:
After 10 years of being sober, now claiming straight edge.
Clocking 54 times around the sun, still breathing and still hardcore as fuck!
Disappointment of 2025:
Arthritis, chronic kidney disease and a prostate biopsy. The universe is making me pay back my bad karma points back in fucking full!
Predictions for 2026:
Another stock standard year of hustling, trying to stay out of jail and kids birthday parties.
Name: Luka
From: L.O.W // Booking Mary’s Underground, Liberty Hall, Laundry Bar, Cheap Thrills
Top 5 LPs: No Particular order
No Apologies - Life
Chat Pile and Hayden Pedigo - In The Earth Again
Algernon Cadwallader - Trying Not To Have A Thought
Forewarned - Only God Forgives
Skinhead - It’s A Beautiful Day, What A Beautiful Day
Top 5 EP/7”s: No Particular order
Orc - Concrete Dismemberment
Secret World - Tomorrow Is A Mystery
Homesick - This Is A War
Twine - Deer In The Headlights
Cosmic Joke - Forced Perspective
Top 5 AU releases: These are the ones who just missed the cut on the top 5 albums.
Shady Nasty - Trek
Sun Run - Brick Six
Blistar - Window Of Islands
The Chain - Blind The World
Histamine - Quality Of Life
Top 3 demos:
Negative Mental State - Early Morning Demo
Downward Spiral - Demo
Wits End - Demo 2
Top 3 shows/tours:
1. Southport Under Siege @ Vinnie’s Dive Bar w/ Toe to Toe, Forewarned, Entrapment, Sick People, Drudge, Cold Blood, L.O.W, Backhand, The Meat, Time Ends, Death Proof, Consequence, Human Condition, Till Ya Dead, Not Telling, Defiant Ground, Raw Impact
2. One Scene, One Pride @ Shadows Nightclub & Weston Neighbourhood Hall w/ Born 2 Lose, Street Suffer, L.O.W, Brawlist, Cutthroat, Fearetical, Highland Light, Skorn, Bozo, Mindrace, Scram, Dance, Negative Mental State
3. No Apologies @ La La La’s w/ L.O.W, Compound, Negative Mental State
Highlight of 2025:
Playing Queensland and Victoria with L.O.W and putting out our EP on vinyl. Also seeing Metallica lol
Disappointment of 2025:
Seeing Vegyn at Liberty Hall, I love his music and his Headache project but he just played remixes you’d hear at some shitty suburban pub. Needed more Headache songs
Predictions for 2026:
Less cool guy shit, more playing with bands who aren’t just your best mates, someone finally starts another hardcore band in Wollongong
Name: Joel Attenborough
From: A bunch of bands your mate’s weird uncle probably saw play (taking sides // Jungle Fever // Irrelevant), or a podcaster that they may have listened to (Myage Podcast).
Top 5 LPs:
SKINHEAD - It’s a Beautiful Day, What a Beautiful Day.
BAD BEAT - LP 2025
GUMM - Beneath the Wheel
END IT - Wrong Side of Heaven
AFI - Silver Bleeds the Black Sun
PROPAGANDHI - At Peace
NEGATIVE BLAST - Destroy Myself for Fun!
SPITE HOUSE - Desertion
MILITARIE GUN - God Save The Gun
Top 5 EP/7"s
SECRET WORLD - Tomorrow is a Mystery
SUNSTROKE - Hell of a Year for Daisies
COULDN’T BE ME - Couldn’t be me
RECOLLECTION - Vivid Dreams
SQUINT - Drag
STATUE OF HEAVEN - hung from rope, woven by hope
Top 5 AU releases:
OUR CARLSON - Not Much of a Straight Man
OLD HEATHENS - Celestial Decay
NO APOLOGIES - Life
BACKHAND - Ive Fucking Broken the Chain
HISTAMINE - Quality of Life
NON PUNK/HC Top 5:
TYLER THE CREATOR - Don’t Tap the Glass
FREDDY GIBBS/THE ALCHEMIST - Alfredo 2
HIT-BOY/THE ALCHEMIST - Goldfish
CLIPSE - Let God Sort Em Out
REAL LIES - We will annihilate our enemy’s
THE NATIONAL - Rome
Top 5 shows/tours:
THE GET UP KIDS @ Oxford Arts Factory
AFI @ Enmore theatre
TRASH TALK @ Oxford Arts Factory
MILITARIE GUN @ The Manning Bar
SPEED/END IT/ANTENNA XMAS PARTY SHOW
Highlights of 2025
Taking my son to 10 different concerts this year - from massive hip hop shows (Kendrick Lamar and Tyler, the Creator) to amazing hardcore shows (Trash Talk and Speed/End It/Antenna)
Seeing a video of American Nightmare playing SIMPLE SONG by AVAIL and have Tim mother fucking Barry join them.
Lowlights of 2025
NOFX are still broken up
Predictions for 2026
With the release of Season 5 (starting December 26, 2025) the TV show SHORESY will be finally recognised by the masses, and recognised for the comedic masterpiece it is.
Name: Sam "Dr Feelgood" Commens
From: Algor Mortis
Top 5 LPs: IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER
sanguisugabogg
Peeling flesh
Universe Last A Ward
Turnstile
Forwarded
Top 5 EPs:
Sabercat
Ends in tragedy
Blood on my hands
Crime spree
Scram
Top 5 AU releases:
Speed
Sabercat
Blood on my hands
Ends in tragedy
Scram
Top 3 shows/tours:
Anything algor mortis (always back yaself).
Speed/whispers tour.
Cold day BNE baybeeee
Highlight of 2025:
Playing with hatebreed
Or first ever international shows in Japan.
Disappointment of 2025:
Not playing more shows
Predictions for 2026:
Metalcore is back and better than ever.
A lot more AA shows, more mosh, more heavy.
Name: Nate Rose
From: Bundjalung Country, In Ashes/Avenge the Dead and photographer @wholelottarosie__
Top 5 LPs:
Deftones- Private Music
Taylor Swift- The Life of a Showgirl
No Apologies- Life
Scowl- Are We All Angels
Dying Wish-Flesh Stays Together
Top 5 EP/7"s
Homesick-This is a War
Blood on my Hands- Death Through Devotion
Bane-6:58pm Boston
Entrapment-Coliseum
If It Rains- How’s it going to end?
Deathproof- Forced to Believe
Top 5 AU releases:
No Apologies- Life
Scram- Demo
Forewarned- Only God Forgives
Crossface- Crossface
Iron Mind- Test of the Iron Mind
Top 3 demos:
Scram
Scram
Scram
Top 3 shows/tours:
Bloc Party- Silent Alarm 20th Anniversary show at Brisbane Riverstage
Southport Under Siege @ Vinnies Dive
Cyco Miko @ Vinnies Dive
Highlight of 2025:
The return of Metalcore.
Disappointment of 2025:
The new AFI Album
Predictions for 2026:
A Blues Whitewash Series Win and South Sydney Rabbitohs 22nd Premiership.
Chain Of Fools are a new band of old heads outta Melbourne who popped up in 25 featuring Joel from Hitlist on vox
Name: Cameron Gillard
From: Apparitions, Ritual Disorder, To the North & Via Studios
Top 5 LPs:
Pile - Sunshine and Balance Beams
Modern Life Is War - Life On The Moon
Pygmy Lush - Totem
La Dispute - No One Was Driving The Car
Ways Away - I'm Not You
Top 5 EP/7"s
Valve - Family Trust
Razorblades - Halloween
Urban Sprawl - Blood Pact
Keratin - Death And Rebirth
Twine - Dear In The Headlights
Top 5 AU releases:
Sun Run - Brick Six
Crossface - Crossface
World Sick - Timing Is Everything
Tape Off - Fort Sensible
Slowcut -Flesh
Top 3 demos:
Glass Cage and a slew of recording demos
Top 3 shows/tours:
Best Friends Forever fest. Urban Sprawl & Medium Build
Highlight of 2025:
Finally making it to India. Seeing Burning Airlines and Rival Schools. Working on lots of music. My friends helping me get through a rough patch.
Disappointment of 2025:
Way too much death, war and apathy.
Predictions for 2026:
Fugazi reunion to bring down the orange goblin. Hopefully some sanity.
Keldon
From: Half Man, Burning Hammer Records, Mud, Knuckledragger, Deathbed
Top 5 LPs:
Scarab - Burn After Listening
Iron Mind - Test of the Iron Mind
Combust - Belly of the Beast
Ingrown - Idaho
The Chain - Blind the World
Top 6** EPs:
Skinhead - It’s a Beautiful Day
Secret World - Tomorrow is a Mystery
Haywire - Shirts vs Skins split
Mongrel - Baptized in the Gutter
Speed - All My Angels
Dizdain - I’ll Never Make it Out of this World Alive
Top 6** AU releases:
Bozo - Guillotine
Iron Mind - Test of the Iron Mind
Secret world - Tomorrow is a Mystery
The Chain - Blind the World
Thantu Thikha - Waging War against your Facade
Near Death Experience - Absolution
Top 3 Demos:
Implode
Negative Mental State
Retributor
Top 3 shows/tours
Odd Man Out/Half Man Aus tour
Odd Man Out Sydney Show
Speed/Whispers/Feel The Pain tour
Highlight of 2025:
Hc being slightly less Live Nation meaning smaller shows are more common and more fun
Disappointment of 2025:
Live Nation hc
Predictions for 2026:
More fun hc is back, less beatdown
Name: André
From: The Meat / Sick People
Top 5 LPs:
Watch it Die - Home Front
Silver Bleeds the Black Sun… - AFI
Something to Consume - Die Spitz
Grieving - Barren Path
Are We All Angels - Scowl
Top 5 EP/7"s
Blood Pact EP - Urban Sprawl
Lateral Violence - Persecutor
Girls Mignon - Kissland
URUSAI - Smug Anime Face
Concrete Dismemberment - ORC
Top 5 AU releases:
Quality of Life - Histamine
Concrete Dismemberment - ORC
URUSAI - Smug Anime Face
Girls Mignon - Kissland
Lateral Violence - Persecutor
Top 3 demos:
Yamba Hardcore Demo - Scram
Raw Orc: Live Demo 2025 - ORC
Bonepunx & Steel Demo - Bone Geer
Top 3 shows/tours:
Scowl / End It / Secret World / Human Condition @ Blacl Box Theatre, Nambour QLD
Kamasi Washington @ QPAC, Brisbane QLD
George Clinton w/ Parliament-Funkadelic @ Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane QLD
Highlight of 2025:
Finally got started on recording The Meat album
Disappointment of 2025:
Didn’t finish recording The Meat album
Predictions for 2026:
Sick People releases new music before The Meat does.
Name: Kelso
From: J.O.Y, Mass Control, The Real Deal, Intrude, Leaving Theme and Wired Shut / Blue Mountains/Sydney (Dharug/Eora)
Top 5 LPs:
Civic - Chrome Dipped
Age Of Apocalypse - In Oblivion
C4 - Payback’s A Bitch
Scarab - Burn After Listening
Spiritual Cramp - RUDE
Honorable mentions -
Iron Mind - Test Of The Iron Mind
Bulls Shitt - Bulls Shitt
Top 5 EP/7”s:
Utility - Utility
Method Of Doubt - Total Soul Ignition
Thantu Thikha - Waging War Against Your Facade
Electric Chair/Physique - Split
Speed - All My Angels
Top 5 AU releases:
Scram - Yamba Hardcore Demo
Desire - Stuck In The Blues
xRetributorx - xRetributorx
Gob - Do you Believe In Gob
Forged By Fear - Cruelest Creature
Top 3 demos:
Orc - Concrete Dismemberment
Downward Spiral - Demo
Implode - Demo
Top 3 shows/tours:
Blue Mountains Torment (24th May)
The inaugural blue mountains hardcore show, something I’ve been wanting for 20 years. Perfect vibes. BMHC taking over.
Odd Man Out @ Waywards (28th November)
Missed Negative Mental State cause it took 45mins to get a park (still fuming) but every other set was so fucking good, Desire set maybe most I’ve moshed in years.
It hasn’t happened yet but I’m already calling Speed Xmas @ Liberty Hall (7th December) top 3. Amazing line-up, Bestie is up from Melbourne for it.
Honorable Mention -
DIIV @ Carriageworks (13th June)
(Honestly for a band that’s almost “shoegaze” having my attention and impressing me live is wild, so I needed to include)
Highlight of 2025:
Stopped being a chef and am less angry/stressed because of it haha. AA shows popping off and the youth running shit (shout out wildcard shows, youngnerve and uzisakimbo).
Disappointment of 2025:
Intrude demo got recorded in time to release by end of year but feel we’re not gonna release til next year.
I missed Downward Spiral first show I wanted to go down to Tassie for it.
Predictions for 2026:
More youngen bands releasing some of the best music out. Earth Crisis tour.
I’ll be engaged maybe.
Name: Bowie
From: Two Seventy / Sunshine Coast QLD
Top 5 LPs:
It’s a Beautiful Day, What a Beautiful Day - SKINHEAD
Unlicensed Cemetery - Six FT Ditch
Our End Is Near - Fight Night
Together As None - Denied
Conditioned For Demolition - Haywire
Top 5 EP/7”s
Superhero’s At Leisure - Billy Club Sandwich
Fool 2 Tha Game - Volcano
Deal With The Devil - Backtrack
Bliss - Momentum
Spring Promo 2023 - Big Boy
Top 5 AU releases:
Yamba Hardcore Demo - scram
Waging War Againts Your Facade - Thantu Thikha
Hanged Choked Wrists Slit - Mindsnare
Revive - Just Say Go
From The Past To The Grave - Wish for Wings
Top 3 demos:
Demo - Fatal Realm
Demo - Bulldoze
Demo 96’ Billy Club Sandwich
Top 3 shows/tours: Speed, Whispers, Feel The Pain TwoSeventy @blackboxtheatre
1. Wetwork, Sick People, Human Condition, Brawlist, No Allegiance, Bleakfall @blackboxtheatre
2. North coast Xmas ‘24
3. Volatile ways, Wetwork, Street Suffer, Nail, Bloodthinner, Brawlist, No Harm, Scram, TwoSeventy, Human Condition, Total Wreck
Highlight of 2025:
Getting to see/play with Speed in Nambour was a really cool experience, also to play with Whispers and Feel The Pain was also really sick too! Shoutout Anti Vision and Beastmode!!!!!
Disappointment of 2025:
Don’t have one to be honest!
Predictions for 2026:
That hardcore keeps on thriving
Name: Adrian Kelly
From: Secret World, Phantoms
Top 5 LPs:
The Chain - Blind the world
Scarab - Burn after listening
Histamine - Quality of life
C4 - Payback's a bitch
Bloodmouth - Carnicidal necrotactics
Top 5 EP/7"s
Feel The Pain - World In Two
Thantu Thikha - Waging War Against Your Facade
Near Death Experience - Absolution
Spin - You're Losing Me
Skorn - Closer To God
Top 5 AU releases:
The Chain
Histamine
Feel The Pain
Scram
Bloodmouth
Top 3 demos:
Scram - Yamba HC
Orc - Concrete Dismemberment
Dance - Demo
Top 3 shows/tours:
High Vis / Antenna / LOW - Mary's, Sydney
Haywire / Dead City - Williamsburg bridge, NYC
Speedmas 2025 - Liberty Hall, Sydney
Highlight of 2025:
More shows outside capital city 18+ popping off and the younguns doing their thing around the country
Disappointment of 2025: lol
Predictions for 2026: Aus HC continuing to thrive. Hopefully lots of [REDACTED]
Name: James
From: Concrete Bomb, Day of Demise & Engage
Top 5 LPs:
• Siege Column - Sulphur Omega
• Vile Apparition- Malignity
• The Chain - Blind the World
• Pissgrave - Malignant Worthlessness
• Caustic Wound - Grinding Death Machine
Top 5 EP/7”s
• Final Resting Place - Bound by Affliction
• Concrete Bomb - Snorting Rubble
• Banished Realm - Utterances of an Ennead
• New World Man - Peeling Through the Skin
• Life Cult - Life is Love
Top 5 AU releases:
• Dizdain - I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive
• The Chain - Blind the World
• GOB - Do You Believe in GOB
• Sölex - S/T 7”
• Forged by Fear - Cruelest Creature
Top 3 demos:
• Intro - Introduction Demonstration
• Intro - Introduction Demonstration
• Intro - Introduction Demonstration
Top 3 shows/tours:
• The two Chain LP release shows
• Total Defeat LP release show
• GOB house show, bring em back
Highlight of 2025:
• New and young kids in the scene! Some of them clearly watched some Hate5six vids and practiced moshing in their bedrooms
Disappointment of 2025:
• some of them did not practice their moshing
Predictions for 2026:
• I do two more bands maybe?
• More Perth bands over east and more east coast freaks over here (stop printing merch and buy a flight)
• Seb/Reckless Release will mosh more than anyone else at shows in Perth
• Thomas Sweetman will design 900 shirts, 500 tour posters and 25 EP/LP/Demo cover arts
Name: Pia
From: Hunny, The Real Deal, Spite, The Sydney Style Zine and The Riff Eternal
Top 5 LPs:
Downward - Downward (2)
Rapid Dye - Rapid Dye
The Beth’s - Straight Line Was A Lie
Mud - More Mud
Xiao - Sweden’s hardcore band
Top 5 EP/7”s
Desire - Stuck in the Blues
Method of Doubt - Total Soul Ignition
Envision/Destiny/Statement of Pride - It Comes from Within
Mil-spec - Mil-Spec
Evil ways - Mind Games
Top 5 AU releases:
I’ve already listed a couple in other categories because we are churning out music like never before but here’s some honourable mentions, not only for their sound but also for their contributions to their local communities.
Histamine - Quality of Life
Bozo - Is There More Than This?
Orc - Concrete Dismemberment
Dance - Demo
Thantu Thikha - Waging War on Your Facade
Top 3 demos:
Scram - Yamba Hardcore Demo
Wits End - Demo 2
Altar - Altar
Self interest - Demo
Compete - Demo 2025
Top 3 shows/tours:
Start Today fest in Aotearoa: The boys from set up a fest in beautiful Pōneke, with my all hardcore all stars Horsepower, Too Late and Martial Law among a bunch of other rising nzhc stars. It was really cool to go home and see all my friends, feel like I am still part of the whanau and support Start Today Crew. Pretty good to do some mean bombs into the harbour and stay up til 2am talking shit as well.
Iron Lung: This one was crazy for me, getting to play with powerviolence legends Iron Lung in Sydney was a biggie. Fast drums and a room full of people geeking. It wasn’t a big show or tour for everyone but for a small selection of people this was a really really sick moment. Thanks Faceless Burial I owe you one billion dollars.
Trash Talk: When I was told about this tour I was so geed up, then to find out we got to play with Trash Talk felt like a teenage Pia’s dream true. Trash Talk were the gateway band for me and a lot of my friends back in Auckland. Felt like a bit of a full circle moment: seeing a band I loved when I was a teen, getting to open for them and playing the lineup with a bunch of my friends. A reminder that hardcore is a longstanding commitment and love.
Highlight of 2025:
Seeing the new generation really pick up the baton and take hardcore off our hands. Not just in Sydney but all over the country: Reckless Release in Perth, Wildcard in Sydney, SCT in Newy… I remember when a lot of these kids went to their first shows. It’s so sick to see them booking shows, playing in bands, making zines, going on road trips... Doing all the things we loved doing in our 20s. The contributions are making a big difference, we have hardcore bands coming out of Yamba and Nambour. The work is paying off and I watch it with love in my heart.
Disappointment of 2025:
Still waiting on Australian bands to tour New Zealand. I can’t promise you will make money but I can promise you will have an absolutely beast time and make friends for the rest of your life. Touring NZ is about playing shows but also jumping off waterfalls, seeing LOTR filming locations, going in caves... if you time it right you can even get some snow in. I hear a lot of talk about ‘one scene unity’ and I think that should extend beyond America. If you’re interested in playing a run of shows in NZ I recommend hitting up Start Today Crew or have a chat with me and I can link you up with the right people. It’s right there, the vibes are good.
Predictions for 2026:
Vegan Straight Edge makes its glorious return to the hardcore scene.
Name: Darcy
From: Gil Cerrone
Top 5 LPs:
Oneohtrix Point Never - Tranquilizer
OKLOU - Choke Enough
Skee Mask - E
YHWH Nailgun - 45 Pounds
Deafheaven - Lonely People with Power
Top 5 EP/7"s:
valve - family trust
Trhä- ∫um'ad∂ejja ∫ervaj
Aicher - Defence Acoustics
Black Eyes - Hostile Design
body shirt/life split EP
Top 5 AU releases:
Vile Apparition - Malignity
valve - family trust
Craning - JAWMAX
Incinerated - Eaten Raw
World Sick - Timing is Everything
Top 3 shows/tours:
Laurel Halo and Leila Bordreuill at Melbourne Recital Centre
Oaktails at Shimokitazawa ERA
DJ Stingray 313 at Sub Club
Highlight of 2025:
Gil went on tour around Australia and Japan with incredible company - something that seemed impossible for us for a long time
Disappointment of 2025:
Fighting strong disconnect and apathy feelings in both small and large scale
Predictions for 2026:
More again…
Timepeace resurrected the camo in 25.
Name: Stone Cold Chilli Chad
From: Hacker / Bright Sun / Timepeace / Charlie Ick Creative
Top 5 LPs:
1. Meatlocker by Alienator.
It’s everything I want in hardcore. This band has been on my radar for a little while now their debut didn’t disappoint. 13 minutes of Straight Fury.
2. Psychowarrior: MG Ultra X by Machine Girl.
Over the past 12-18 months I’ve become obsessed with Machine Girl and went down the rabbit hole with their whole discography. My introduction to breakcore. This release branches out to different sounds and styles but still sounds like them nonetheless.
3. Paybacks a bitch by C4.
C4 is back with more one-liners than ever. Kicks you in the teeth from start to finish. Hardcore for those who needa let off some steam and a good laugh at some very silly lines.
4. Test of the Iron Mind by Iron Mind.
The GOATS of MCHC are back. Intro straight into More Pain is the hardest back to back pair and prove they are still one of the best to ever do it.
5. Chainmail Commandos by Steroid.
It has the lo fi and bounce of so called “egg punk” but the riffage of NHBHM and I’m all here for it. Hacker played with them at the start of the year and became an instant fan.
Top 5 EP/7"s
1. A Kindness Comparable to Nuclear Energy, and Akirame by Tive.
Skye my wife introduced me to this band when she saw them in Japan. Very unique sounding and big props to them for being so welcoming when she travelled there. A highlight of our Japan Trip when we saw them live.
2. Hard Times by Who Pays?
I loved their demo they put out last year and this ep was an excellent continuation of it. Solid Hardcore Punk
3. Traces by Identity Shock.
Great demo from last year. Excellent follow up by this ep. Raw as hell.
4. Where’s the Dictator? by The Beserk.
Excellent ep. Been on repeat a lot for me this year.
5. Depraved from Darkness by The Final Agony. The next best thing to Integrity. Great Dark Hardcore with some serious riffage.
Top 5 AU releases:
(I liked alot of Australian releases this year. We’ve got a lot of great stuff happening here)
1. Test of the Iron Mind by Iron Mind
2. In the Red by The Prize
3. Self titled LP by Rapid Dye
4. Australienation by Punter
5. Demo by Whose Reality?
Top 3 demos:
1. Implode Demo
2. Illan Kappan Demo
3. MK Naomi Demo
All great demos. All great people behind them. Make sure you catch all of them at a show.
Top 3 shows/tours:
- Hacker / Golpe Tour. All of it. First time for Hacker to tour Sydney and Brisbane and it felt great. Made me forget just how much I love touring felt like a real accomplishment for all of us. DIY forever.
- Bloodaxe Festival In Japan. Watching Japan’s finest like Numb, Loyal to the Grave, Tive as well as seeing legends like Bulldoze and Stout really felt special. The love people in Japan have for their scene runs deep and their interpretation of hardcore has always fascinated me.
- The all ages show Timepeace played with Skurge, Ends in Tragedy, Dead End, inscriptions and House of Hate. That show was canned like 3 times and it’s cool to see the kids in Skurge persevere. The hard work paid off there.
(Notable mention. Watching Machine Girl in June 2025. They genuinely blew me away. I didn’t know what to expect but the energy was undeniable. Their drummer is a literal weapon and straight up inspires me to play better)
Highlight of 2025:
The weddings I went to this year were beautiful.
Going to Japan with my beautiful wife Skye
Disappointment of 2025:
- the overuse and weaponisation of Ai
- the shitty climate of the politics around the world.
- Cathay Pacific Airlines. Never flying with them again.
Predictions for 2026:
Timepeace EP being out in Feb
Hacker recording something new
Bright Sun Ep sometime next year
Me being out of constant Burnout.
Louis Cottier
From: Cerebral Erosion
Top 5 Albums
Mephitic Corpse - Sickness Attracts Sickness
Robber - Bad Eggs
Sulfuric Cautery - Killing Spree
Vile Apparition - Malignity
Fates Hand - Steel, Fire & Ice
Top 5 EP’s
Slowcut - Flesh
Persecutor - Lateral Violence
Body Melt - Body Melt
Primeval Butcher - The Lictor’s Blade
Corpse Pile - In The Beginning…
Top 3 Demos
Orc - Concrete Dismemberment
Iron Eater - Demo
Finnian P Crocker - ❤ 4 U
Top 5 AU Releases
Orc - Live Orc
Vile Apparition - Malignity
Incinerated - Eaten Raw
Fates Hand - Steel, Fire & Ice
Robber - Bad Eggs
Top 3 shows
Orc in Nambour
Robber at Coops Hall
Sulfuric Cautery, Gutless, Body Melt, ESP Mayhem, Vile Apparition and Blaghastrad at the Tote
Highlight of 2025:
Watching the scene in Nambour morph into the best scene for independent music in Australia. It’s so satisfying to see shows that are mostly run by 18/19 year olds set the standard for crowd engagement and energy that puts most other places to shame.
Biggest Disappointment of 2025:
Needless racist and sexist behavior still being accepted by white knighting crew who profess to be inclusive just to prop up their own music for selfish gain. Pointless scene beefing getting in the way of what could be thriving communities. Jock like attitudes discouraging people from being accepted into what should be an inclusive environment.
Predictions for 2026:
The new scenes of young people starting bands/labels and putting on shows growing into something all of us older people will stand by and watch in awe.
Name: Kalani (they/she)
From: Flogg, Guerilla Bookings & Bad Habit Records / Nambour/Gubbi Gubbi
Top 5 LPs:
1. Caustic Wound - Grinding Mechanism of Torment
2. Suffocating Madness - Unrelenting Forced Psychosis
3. Home front - Watch it Die
4. Doechii - Alligator Bites Never Heal
5. Iron Lung - Adapting//Crawling
Top 5 EP/7"s
1. Antenna - s/t
2. Orc - Concrete Dismemberment
3. Persecutor - Lateral Violence
4. Discount Code - Consciousness is a Curse
5. Iron Eater - s/t
Top 5 AU releases:
1. Rapid dye - s/t
2. Forewarned - Only God Forgives
3. Bozo - Is There More Than This
4. Desire - Stuck in the Blues
5. Implode - Demo
Top 3 demos:
1. xStarscreamx
2. Scram
3. Negative Mental State - Early Morning Demo
Top 3 shows/tours:
End It/Scowl @ Black Box
Anti Vision Xmas
Orc Namba Black Market Day
Highlight of 2025:
Nambour getting it’s get-up and establishing Black Box as the best venue in so-called Australia. Scram release. No Allegiance becoming a band. Brainwaves becoming a thing. Step Back!.
Disappointment of 2025:
Creeps, bigots, and infiltrators not keeping the fuck away from the scene, Michael Crafter not getting jumped. Old men yelling at clouds. Combust playing Brisbane instead of Nambour.
Predictions for 2026:
Next crew of young heads coming through, starting fresh bands and running shows. Crazy Aus tours from legacy bands, and a general eschew of beatdown sensibilities in lieu of more interesting/revisionist approaches, heralded by bands like Orc and NMS. Hopefully more fags, freaks, and general homos in our scene.