Aftershock Aftermath: Backstage Banter with Bands
You better believe Wall Of Sound's Paul 'Browny' Brown and Adam 'Ricey' Rice came out swinging at Aftershock Festival in the USA.
So far you've seen our play-by-play recap of the Sacramento, California festival's EPIC four day celebrations, but now we turn our attention to the mad chats we had backstage with the bands from the lineup.
Who has new music on the way? Who are about to jet down under and play a stack of shows for Aussie fans? Who hasn't been down to Australia in over a decade but are foaming at the mouth to make it happen and what does the Metal Ambassador himself have to say about the current state of Australian metal?
All that and more is revealed in our Aftershock Aftermath - Backstage Banter with Bands.
Follow the team on socials - Browny @brownypaul and Ricey @riceyadam
SPEED
All the way from Sydney to the West Coast of America - Jem Siow from SPEED stopped by to have a chat with Browny all about their massive US tour supporting TURNSTILE and how fans are turning out in droves decked head to toe in merch and throwing down harder than ever before. Jem talks about making music their best friends love and the current state of hardcore on a global scale.
ATTILA
Can you believe it's been over 10 years since Attila were last in Australia? It's crazy but according to frontman Fronz, we're too woke to let them in the country! Ricey had a mad chat with the man behind the band about life, music and inspiring Alex Koehler's return to the deathcore scene - as well as a fun chat about which frontman would win in a jelly wrestling fight between Michael Crafter, Ronnie Radke, Alex Terrible and himself...
LANDMVRKS
Pardonnez Mon Français - but we could not be anymore stoked with Nico and Flo from LANDMVRKS stopping by to chat about the reactions of their new album The Darkest Place I've Ever Been - six months after its release - selling out shows across America alongside their best friends, fanboying over blink-182 and Box Car Racer, French rapping and whether or not they'll be back in Australia in the not too distant future...
NORTHLANE
It's always a pleasure saying G'day to fellow Aussies abroad and when Marcus Bridge from Northlane stopped by to chat about their first-ever run of US festivals, it felt like home. The vocalist reflects on ten years fronting Northlane and whether or not he'd be interested in releasing solo music and what that would sound like + he gives us an update on NL's next phase of new music and looking ahead to Hellbound - Australia's first large scale heavy metal cruise setting sail in October 2026.
TRIVIUM
Ricey was joined by Corey Beaulieu of Trivium to discuss new music, departing member Alex Bent, playing Aftershock Festival for the first time, their new album incoming next year and when the band will get their butts back to Australia (and which big band they'll be bringing with them)...
DAYSEEKER
Ahead of their return to Australia this coming December for Good Things Festival, we took the time to discuss what fans might be able to expect from the Californian alt-rock/emo superstar (and lyrical genius) Rory Rodriguez when they perform on Australian stages later this year, what we might expect from their upcoming album titled Creature In The Black Night, and even the potential for a new line of merch that would get you hot under the collar.
HATEBREED
It doesn't get much heavier than Hatebreed. The masters of hardcore have been tearing up stages for three decades and have remained unrelenting in their path to total domination. Drummer Matt Byrne stopped by WoS to chat with Browny about their legacy, the state of new music (an album is coming in 2026 woohoo) and for an update on that rumoured Summer Slaughter Tour the band teased was coming to Australia... Matt also discussed Wayne Lozinak's return to the stage following his recent brain surgery and how the heavy music scene banded together to support each other.
LEFT TO SUFFER
Two years since we caught him last, we just had to sit down with Left To Suffer/Seven Hours After Violet vocalist to get caught up on what's new in the uprising superstars' world, how he juggles fronting multiple touring bands, new music and the Australian tour that we have all been waiting for.
JOSE MANGIN
For 25 years, Jose Mangin - aka the Metal Ambassador - has been promoting and curating heavy metal on the air across America and is a true hero of the scene. We grabbed the icon to chat about his longevity in the industry, when he ventured to Australia for Good Things Festival in 2019 and the one Aussie band he loves and adores...
SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET
As they quickly become a household name, it would be amiss not to catch up with Seven Hours After Violet's Morgoth to discuss their fast-paced trajectory as they climb their way to the top, playing in arenas across different continents and what it might take to give their Australian fanbase what they want... A TOUR!
