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by BRIAN GIFFIN
THE latest round of updates from the local Hot Metal-endorsed music community.
MELBOURNE metal legends Frankenbok are getting back in the ring with a brand new single and album release. The tireless campaigners reunited with original vocalist Adam “Hutch” Glynn in late 2024 and then toured with Drowning Pool and appeared at Necrosonic. Now they have a new track about the dangers of online dating apps, “F.O.F.A.”, the first new offering from the forthcoming album. The Arriba War Honkle will be released on May 29.
Sydney’s neo-psychedelic hard rockers The Neptune Power Federation have released not one new album but two as they prepare to embark on another tour of Europe. Their seventh album of original material, Mondo Tomorrow landed just at the end of last month, and this week the redux version of their 2012 debut also makes its presence felt. Mano A Satano has been re-recorded with the vocals of current singer Screaming Loz. In further news, rhythm guitarist and band mastermind Inverted Crucifox has decided to step down from the band after their European jaunt. His final Australian show with the band is at the Crowbar in Sydney on May 8 with Astrodeath.
If you ever thought you needed some high fashion mixed in with your melodic symphonic metal, Melbourne’s ANA is the band for you. Following up 2023’s debut EP, the self-styled high-couture metal unit is releasing their full length album on May 29, thru Eclipse Records. Motivated by Death is available for pre-order now, with the clip for the album’s second single “Shadow of Life” out now.
The third album from Australian guitar maestro and composer extraordinaire Plini is now available. An Unnameable Desire dropped on April 24, alongside the album’s third single, “After Everything”, featuring Emily Hopkins on harp. Plini is currently on tour in Europe, with further dates to be announced. An Unnameable Desire is available now.
Melbourne funk-rocksters Deep Majestic Thunder have released their latest single and clip. Exploring themes of toxic manipulation, “Drama Queen” is new from the genre-defying four piece, available now to stream from their BandCamp.
Former Horizons Edge vocalist Kat Wilder is hit out on her own with a new single. A taster for her forthcoming solo album, her new track is “To Hell With You” and leans into a more traditional metal style than she was known for with her old band. Download or stream the song now, and check out the clip.
Awaken the Fate is a groove/thrash five piece out of the Sunshine Coast and they’ve just released their first single for X-Music. “Fucked Up!” is out now across all digital platforms.
Electro party metal maniacs Gopher have dug up their debut album and a second single. Just a couple of weeks from releasing their debut track, Ned Smelly and Ernie Bingo are now serving up a “Party in the Sky”, the new single from just-issued album Tunnel Buddies. Order the album now from their BandCamp and check out the latest tune.
