Ten years after Opera Oblivia rewired expectations around Australian heavy music, Hellions are stepping back into that world next month, not just to relive it, but to reframe it.
Hellions ARIA nominated record still stands as a turning point, a moment where theatrical ambition collided with post-hardcore grit and actually stuck, but this isn’t just about revisiting the past, it’s about context, where Hellions came from, what they helped shift, and who’s now picking up the thread.
A decade on, the impact still lingers
When Opera Oblivia dropped in 2016, it didn’t slot neatly into the scene, it pushed against it with big swings, layered arrangements, and a willingness to get weird with structure made it feel out of step at the time.
Now, that same unpredictability feels baked into the DNA of a lot of newer bands coming through, Hellions returning to the album in full feels deliberate, a reminder that Australian heavy music has always had room to stretch, if bands are willing to take the risk.
And looking at the current crop, that risk taking is alive and well.
Josh Campiao’s picks for the next wave
Josh Campiao has been watching it happen from the inside, his picks cut through the noise and land squarely on bands pushing their own edges.
Josh From Hellions Top 5 New Australian Acts To Check Out
Feel The Pain – Newcastle, NSW
Bouncy hardcore from the hunter, better than lego.
Riffs are crazy, swag is crazy, they all have grills, what more can or do you need to say.
FTP will be taking over sooner than you may think so keep your eyes and ears on them.
Listen to the “World In Two” EP by Feel The Pain
Desire – Adelaide SA
Hardcore music that sounds like real hardcore music from Adelaide.
It’s pissed off, it goes fast when you want it to, it goes slow when you want it to.
It really does what it says on the tin.
Listen to the “Stuck In The Blues” EP by Desire
Antenna – Sydney, NSW
High energy punk rock from Sydney, Shogun from Royal Headaches back doing what he should be doing.
They just released a new song “Rolling By” keep an eye out for more new music later in the year.
Listen to the self titled EP “Antenna” by Antenna
Bozo – Sydney, NSW
Fast heavy hardcore from Sydney. Evil riffs, what’s not to like?
If you like smoking inside then this band is for you.
Listen to the “Is There More Than This” EP by Bozo
Scram – Yamba NSW
Don’t know what’s in the water in Yamba but these kids are on another level.
I wish I was half as clued in as them, especially at their age.
They only have a demo out at the moment but it’s as good as any release their contemporaries are coming out with.
Listen to the “Yamba Hardcore Demo” by Scram
The throughline
There’s a clear thread running from Opera Oblivia to now, not so much in sound, but in attitude, bands willing to take swings, bend genre lines, and ignore whatever box they’re supposed to sit in.
Hellions didn’t invent that instinct, but they amplified it at a time when it could’ve easily been sanded down, ten years later they’re stepping back into that record with a different weight behind it, not just as a milestone, but as proof that pushing boundaries here actually sticks.
Tour dates
Thursday, May 7th – Max Watts, Melbourne (Sold Out)
Friday, May 8th – The Gov, Adelaide
Saturday, May 9th – Freo Social, Fremantle
Thursday, May 14th – Liberty Hall, Sydney
Friday, May 15th – The Triffid, Brisbane
Saturday, May 16th – Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast
Pick up your tickets here.
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