If you’ve been a regular on the Aussie gig scene in the last few years, you’ll know for a fact that Australian heavy music is having a moment. Or rather, numerous big moments.
From the epic international rise to fame for bands like Polaris and Northlane, to the genre-bending sounds of Windwaker, and touring staples like Slowly Slowly cementing themselves as one of the best live acts going, the Aussie music scene has never been better.
With international tours still revered and selling out – for exorbitant costs – chances are you still can catch a lot of your fave Aussie bands on the road for tickets less than $70 a pop. Which, these days, is arguably a steal. Hands up who has spent quite a few hundred seeing bands like My Chemical Romance, Bring Me The Horizon, Bad Omens or more over the years? Guilty AF.
It’s no real secret the Aussie music scene isn’t exactly the most profitable, with many Aussie musicians working ‘ordinary’ jobs to support their music careers.
So with Aussie music never sounding better, and many of our fave bands touring relentlessly across the nation, we’ve decided to highlight some of the Aussie bands who have been making waves.
Windwaker
After the success of 2024’s Hyperviolence, Windwaker has continued to prove their one of the most exciting bands on the scene. Though they’ve been around for a decade, the current lineup has proven the band isn’t afraid to take risks and their signature and experimental sound has pushed them into the spotlight and shown they’re a serious band to watch.
Playing bigger shows and proving their live presence isn’t one to be missed, a Windwaker gig will be like a party (or moshpit) you never want to leave.
Take a listen to: Latest release ‘Victory Lap’
RedHook
Have you even really lived if you haven’t been to a chaotic Redhook live show? From bubble machines to saxophone solos, the band fronted by the charismatic Emmy Mack is undeniably one of the funnest live acts on the Aussie music scene in recent years.
The release of their second LP Mutation cemented Redhook’s presence as not just a support band, but a headlining one. The band has had quite the relentless touring schedule both internationally and nationally in 2025, proving they’re now one of Australia’s most in-demand live acts. Plus, we love to see a female-fronted metal band making huge waves on both the Aussie and international scene. Also, happy birthday, Ned.
Take a listen to: The sassy ‘Bomb.com’
Thornhill
Thornhill is continuing to define modern metal in Australia, taking on Deftones-inspired sounds in 2025’s Bodies, their third album.
Ambitious, atmospheric and heavy, the band proved they’re not here to fuck around, with soaring vocals intertwined in effortlessly with rage-filled screams and heavy riffs. Cementing their place as scene leaders, Thornhill’s balance of emotion combined with a polished production makes them one of the most exciting bands to really explode on the scene in recent years, and we can’t wait to see the world sit up and pay more attention.
Take a listen to: The sexy and heavy ‘Silver Swarm’
Stand Atlantic
Stand Atlantic hardly needs an introduction at this stage, but we can’t leave them off this list given the band has been flying the pop-punk flag for Australia hard, for years.
Between huge tours and streaming numbers that prove worldwide domination, the band treated Aussie fans to a regional tour earlier this year, proving home is always where the heart is.
While 2025 may have been a little quieter on the release side of things (with the band releasing a deluxe version of Was Here as a little treat), we have no doubt 2026 will be a year of continued success for the cuties of the music industry.
Take a listen to: ‘Criminal’ ft Polaris, because who doesn’t love a collab between two Aussie icons.
Slowly Slowly
Slowly Slowly dropped their fifth album Forgiving Spree in early 2025 and have been living life on the road consistently since, playing bigger headlining venues than ever as they celebrate their well-deserved success in the Aussie music scene.
Undoubtedly one of the hardest working bands of recent years, their live shows are ones not to be missed – while it’s not filled with the distractions of pyro or crowd-surfing, what the band does showcase is their raw talent, chaotic energy, and a heavier, punkier takes on crowd faves like ‘Race Car Blues’ to keep fans screaming for more.
Take a listen to: The ever-catchy and poignant ‘Forgiving Spree’.
Bloom
You know when you go see a live act when they’re still relatively small back in the day and just know they’re destined for big things? Bloom is that band, and 2024 and 2025 has seen Australia and the world sit up and take notice.
The release of their debut album Maybe In Another Life in 2024 garnered global praise, with music critics touting them as one of the most exciting up-and-coming metalcore bands and fans are highly anticipating the release of their new album The Light We Chase at the end of October.
We predict 2026 will see the band have continued success both nationally and internationally as the humble beginnings turn into worldwide tours and recognition.
Take a listen to: Newest heavy-hitting single ‘Out of Reach’
Amyl and the Sniffers
These punk powerhouses have had an absolutely breakout couple of years. From 2024 album Cartoon Darkness nearly topping the ARIA charts, to gaining international recognition in the UK and hard-to-crack US market, Amyl and the Sniffers are on a very exciting upward trajectory.
Opening for huge global acts like the Foo Fighters and Offspring has only cemented their place as a band that all Aussies should be proud of. Plus collaborating with Fred Again…? Icons only.
Watch this space because we predict they’ll only get bigger and better in 2026.
Take a listen to: The punchy and scream aloud song ‘Jerkin’
Ladders on Tables
Now this is admittedly an interesting one – if you’ve been ingrained in the Aussie alternative scene for the last decade or so, you may be across the Hands Like Houses vs former lead singer Trenton Woodley saga, where Trenton was dumped by the band in 2023, after being one of the original founding members (and the lead vocalist) since 2008.
Hands LIke Houses have continued on with a new lead singer and have played some amazing gigs this year, just coming off the back of a run of shows supporting The Used.
But for older fans who have missed Trenton, good news: he has teamed up with guitarist Bahador Borhani (ex Written By Wolves) and released a new, remade 2025 version of Ground Dweller, featuring all the old classics.
With Trenton going on run of shows soon in support of the release, there’s never been a better time to snap up a ticket and relive the magic.
Take a listen to: ‘Antarctica’ and bask in the nostalgia.
Look, we could keep going all day – so honourable mentions to hard-working Aussie bands and musicians like Alpha Wolf, Make Them Suffer, Reliqa, In Hearts Wake, The Beautiful Monument, Hevenshe, Ocean Grove and many, many more…the list of talented Aussie acts is truly never-ending.
With 2025 drawing to an end and another impressive year for Aussie musicians, we can’t wait to see what 2026 will hold for all our faves.
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