Take a look at who’s coming up and up and coming at this year’s Good Things Festival

By BRENDAN DELAVERE

WITH the weather warming, festival season is just around the corner and one of the biggest on the calendar is Good Things. The bill dropped back in August and a slew of sideshows were announced this week; you could be forgiven for being overwhelmed with the number of bands on display. With Korn, Sum41, Mastodon and Electric Callboy dominating the headlines, we’ve had a listen to some of the other bands on the bill to let you know who’s worth checking out in December.

LOATHE

This UK four piece specialise in eclectic synth-driven prog metalcore. Formed a decade ago in Liverpool, the band have visited here once before, supporting While She Sleeps in 2022. They have three records and a number of EPs under their belt and their last release, the instrumental The Things They Believe, is an expansive, sonic soundscape that builds upon their already-established metalcore leanings. 

FFO: Deftones, Sleep Token.

IMMINENCE

Swedish symphonic metalcore. Lead by violin virtuoso Eddie Berg, formed in Trelleborg, Sweden 15 years ago, the band have really come to light with this years release, The Black. With tracks like “Desolation” and “Death by a Thousand Cuts” quickly gaining millions of streams. Five full length albums in and these Swedes have definitely left their mark. 

FFO: Polaris, In Flames, Architects

DRAGON

With a history of hits stretching back almost 50 years, you’d be forgiven for wondering what the hell these guys are doing here when most Good Things punters are half the age of this band – at least. But no doubt we’ve all heard classic tracks like “April Sun In Cuba” and “Are You Old Enough?”, whether your [grand]parents played them or through countless spins on radio stations and supermarket PAs. Or ScoMo’s horrendous rendition on national television. Sure to be a good time.

FFO: Old school Aussie pub rock

RELIQA

Sydney prog metalcore outfit Reliqa have gone from strength to strength in the past 18 months. From supporting Babymetal, Spiritbox and the touring Unify Festival with Thy Art Is Murder and Make Them Suffer, they’ve signed to Greyscale and Nuclear Blast records and released a killer debut record. Blending pop and electronica with prog and metalcore, it’s a melting pot of styles and will sound immense on the Good Things stage.

FFO: Alt., The Gloom in the Corner, Ne Obliviscaris

FROM ASHES TO NEW

If you like bands that hate the town they grew up in then look no further than Lancaster, PA four piece From Ashes To New. This is an anthemic, synthy hybrid of rap and metalcore. Keys, chugging riffs, electronic beats, rapped verses and singalong choruses, FATN will bring the dance party to the moshpit.

FFO: Linkin Park, Hollywood Undead, I Prevail

GRANDSON

This Canadian/American artist has racked up over a billion streams, has written songs for films such as Suicide Squad and Venom, and collaborated with Steve Aoki, Travis Barker, Tom Morello and Idris Elba. Just announced as stage headliner for Sonic Temple Fest in Columbus, Ohio and current support for Linkin Park’s comeback tour, the multi genre artist will be hitting the sideshow stage with Sum 41.

FFO: Twenty One Pilots, Missio