It’s not every day Tasmania gets a spotlight in the heavy music world, but Alpha Wolf’s Sabian Lynch made sure it did.
Speaking with Blunt at Good Things Festival, Lynch reflected on his band’s journey from Tasmania’s isolated shores to international success. Lynch also reflected on the challenges of their beginnings.
“No, not at all. That’s why we moved to Melbourne,” Lynch said bluntly when asked about Tasmania’s metal scene. In its earlier days, he explained, the island lacked the infrastructure needed for a thriving music culture. As a result, Lynch became a promoter simply to give Alpha Wolf some opportunities to perform. “I used to run shows as a promoter there so my own band could get gigs because there was nothing else.”
But Lynch didn’t stop at organising local shows—he brought mainland bands to Tasmania to actually create a scene from scratch. “If we wanted to play a gig, we put a gig on. I would fly down a band like In Hearts Wake, Northlane, Boris the Blade. Supported those bands, helped those bands, and from that, when we shifted to Melbourne, those guys helped us out.”
The hard work has clearly paid off. Alpha Wolf, now based in Melbourne, has become one of Australia’s most prominent heavy acts, with a reputation for explosive live performances and brutally honest lyrics. Their success has taken them across the globe, from sold-out Australian tours to headlining slots in Europe and the US.
Lynch believes Tasmania’s scene has improved in the years since Alpha Wolf’s departure. “It was bad back then. It’s getting better now. Bands are popping up, and bands are travelling there a lot more now, which is great,” he said. Reflecting on the cyclical nature of the island’s music culture, he added, “When I was a teenager, it was huge. When I started the band, bad. When my band got good, huge.”
Alpha Wolf’s story is a testament to the perseverance it takes to rise from a small scene to international acclaim. For Lynch, Tasmania’s rawness and isolation clearly shaped their sound—and even though they’ve moved on to bigger stages, the island’s influence remains. “We’ll make our way down there soon, I’m sure,” hinting at a possible tour on the horizon.
While Alpha Wolf did not have the easiest of beginnings in Tasmania, they continued to rise anyway. It just goes to show what can happen to a band when they utilise a bit of forward thinking and ingenuity.
MORE IN Music
