By BRIAN GIFFIN
WITH the start of a new year, the start of a new regular feature on Hot Metal. Alive and Local is a round-up of activity from Australian bands – new releases, plans and touring info. It’s not a great name for a feature as I’m not good at naming things, so suggestions are invited for something better. For now, here’s the first chapter.
FIRST up some sad news about long-time Perth progressive metal campaigners Chaos Divine. After just over two decades, the band has announced it is splitting up, effective immediately. As a farewell to their fans and supporters, they have released a version of Mike + the Mechanics’ “The Living Years” for your audible delectation.
IF he wasn’t already busy enough with the Hard-Ons current workload, guitarist Peter Black is dropping two new albums and squeezing in an east coast tour ahead of his band’s jaunt with Red Kross in March. The guy who once released a new song every day for a (leap) year is dropping both The Boss is Gone Gone Gone and A Bowl of Spiders on February 6. Both are available through his Bandcamp.
AUSSIE rock great Shirley Strachan would have been 74 this month. To celebrate the memory of the Skyhooks singer and TV personality, Brisbane legends Dreamkillers have released a track in his honour. “Shirley” is taken from the band’s forthcoming album Priophys Cunninghami, out on January 27.
PSYCHEDELIC Sydney rockers The Neptune Power Federation are returning to Europe this year, but in the meantime they’ll be dropping a new album and playing some Aussie shows. In support on Mondo Tomorrow, the NPF will do launches in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney in April and May.
THE first four Empires of Eden albums have now been remixed and remastered for release by Massacre Records. The collaborative metal project by Aussie-based Death Dealer guitarist Stu Marshall originally bore fruit in 2009 with the release of Songs of War and Vengeance and continued with Reborn in Fire, Channeling the Infinite and Architect of Hope, all of which featured a wealth of guest singers and musicians including Udo Dirkschneider, Ralf Scheepers, Rob Rock, Mike Vescera, Steve Grimmett, Zak Stevens, Sean Peck and more.
FORMED in Perth in 1996 by Japanese students Toshi Maeda, Kei Nakamura and Atsu Omori, Mach Pelican quickly became established on the Aussie punk rock circuit, appearing alongside Radio Birdman, the Hard-Ons and Frenzal Rhomb among others and carving out numerous summer festival showings. Despite splitting in 2007, the lads have reformed three times since then, and now once again, this time with new music. “Remember It?/Summer Sun” drops on vinyl on January 30, with a launch at the Last Chance in Melbourne on the 31st. Order now.
BRISBANE’S Diesect are kicking off 2026 with the release of their latest single “Four Walls”, lifted from last year’s EP Hide From the Light. The EP is being released in a luxury edition in February, in time for their European tour with Miss May I.
AWARD winning Perth rockers Electric State have released a new single, “What Do You Want”, lifted from a forthcoming new album. After negotiating car trouble and a demonstration, they still managed to get the clip done. They’ll be hitting the stage with Sister’s Doll in Perth on February 21.
SYDNEY progressive band Stormflower have released the latest track from their fresh EP Equanimity. “Addicted” is the band’s welcome to 2026. Live shows are on the way.
DATES:
THE NEPTUNE POWER FEDERATION:
APRIL 24: New Farm Park Boat Cruise, Brisbane
PETER BLACK:
FEBRUARY 5: Society City, Wollongong – tix
FEBRUARY 7: Velvet Fog Records, Katoomba – https://thevelvetfog.com.au/
FEBRUARY 13: The Cave Inn, Brisbane – tix
FEBRUARY 14: Vinnies Dive Bar, Gold Coast (Matinee Show) – tix
FEBRUARY 19: Medusa Bar, Geelong – linktr.ee/medusageelong
FEBRUARY 20: Town Hall Hotel, Melbourne (two sets) – https://townienorthmelb.com/
FEBRUARY 21: Shedshaker Brewing Company, Castlemaine – Music – Shedshaker Brewing
FEBRUARY 27: Hopsters Brewery, Sydney – https://hopsters.coop/events/
FEBRUARY 28: Flow Bar, Old Bar – http://www.flowbar.com.au/
MARCH 1: Hiss and Crackle Records, Newcastle –https://linktr.ee/hisscrackle
