Six days ago, AJ Maddah unleashed the first Soundwave 2015 lineup unto the world. Then came the stream of status updates on social media, which saw punters divided in criticising or applauding Maddah for what he was able to pull out of his promoter hat.
Featuring big names such as Faith No More, Soundgarden, Slipknot, Marilyn Manson, Slash, Fall Out Boy, and many more, the hard and heavy festival is now a spread over two days ¨C to minimise clashes and optimise ¡°dark time.¡± Kicking off in Adelaide and Melbourne, Soundwave will then move to Sydney and Brisbane the following weekend.
Meanwhile, the debate wages on as to which day boasts a better bill, and although we consider both days pretty rich in talent, we thought we¡¯d have a closer look at Day 1¡¯s headlining acts to ensure fans are well-schooled on their lineup.
Now, before we start, take note that the Day 1 bill will hit Adelaide on the Saturday (February 21), Melbourne on Sunday (February 22), Sydney the following Saturday (February 28) and Brisbane on Sunday (March 1). Also, keep in mind that there are still ¡°around 14 bands¡± to be added to the mammoth lineup in the coming weeks.
Topping the bill for Day 1 is Californian alt-rock outfit, Faith No More. Forming in 1981 ¨C a time when MTV still played music videos, and before a majority of Soundwave punters were even born ¨C the hard rock veterans¡¯ career has been nothing short of illustrious. From lineup changes to an 11-year hiatus, and tours with the likes of Metallica and Guns N Roses, Faith No More last visited Australia in 2010 when they played Soundwave. Fans, ye be warned, if you are expecting more of the same, you are sorely mistaken, as the band recently took to Twitter to tell fans that they are in the midst of change. ¡°The Reunion Tour is over; in 2015 things are going to change.¡±
Not only this, but in May Mike Patton and co tweeted, rather cryptically, ¡°The reunion thing was fun, but now it¡¯s time to get a little creative.¡± Rumours circulated, and there was a great deal of talk regarding a new record, but the band is yet to confirm if there is truth to word on the street. The band did, however, debut two new songs in July during their support slot for Black Sabbath, so Soundwave punters could be in for a treat.
Hailed as grunge innovators, American rock band Soundgarden will bring their mesmerising soundscapes and compelling lyricism to Aussie stages for this year¡¯s Soundwave festival for the first time, like ever. As pioneers of the early ¡®90s grunge movement, Soundgarden influenced Seattle contemporaries such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Alice In Chains, and they wear it like a badge of honour.
¡°When I think of Soundgarden, I think of a sound, I think of one entity, one organic thing,¡± says singer and guitarist Chris Cornell, ¡°but I guess that the exciting part is that it¡¯s always been really varied.¡±
Citing Faith No More as a major musical influence, Californian alt-rock group, Incubus will join their idols as one of the four headlining acts for Day 1. Forming in the ¡®90s, the band grew synonymous with early ¡®00s alternative rock. However, it was their song, ¡®Drive¡¯ from 1999¡¯s Make Yourself, which won Billboard¡¯s award for ¡®Modern Rock Single of The Year¡¯, that really put Incubus on the map. The video for the single was also nominated for ¡®Best Group Video¡¯ at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards, but the band lost to ¡®N Sync (face-palm).
The Brandon Boyd-fronted outfit last played Soundwave in 2008, sharing the headline slot with The Offspring. Hence, with a new album (2011¡¯s If Not Now, When?) the band will undoubtedly play new material exclusively for Aussie fans.
Metalheads can breathe a sigh of relief, because groove metal giants Lamb Of God will unleash their mighty guitar riffs and the guttural vocals of Randy Blythe this Februarty. As self-proclaimed architects of the American metal scene, the quintet ¨C who resemble a group of metal garden gnomes, thanks to their long hair a beards ¨C LOG is no stranger to Soundwave. In 2009, I was literally lifted off my feet and sucked into the tumultuous mass of metalheads that made up the Lamb Of God mosh pit. So, do your neck warm-ups, and cradle the hate, because the Virginia metallers are going to be brutal!
Two-day tickets ($188) go on sale to the general public at 9am this Friday August 29, with more information regarding the single day ($120) tickets to be announced soon. Be mindful that the festival headliners will not be playing side shows, and no additional two-day passes will be sold after the follow-up reveal. Check below for further date and lineup details.
Soundwave Festival 2015 Lineup ¨C Day One:
Faith No More
Soundgarden
Incubus
Lamb Of God
Antemasque
Ministry
Gerard Way
Mayhem
New Found Glory
Fear Factory
Hollywood Undead
Atreyu
The Aquabats
Area 7
Godflesh
Crown The Empire
The Interrupters
Icon For Hire
Emily¡¯s Army
Patent Pending
Fireworks
The Bennies
The Color Morale
Monuments
Nothing More
Deathstars
Ne Obliviscaris
Soundwave Festival 2015 Lineup ¨C Day Two:
Slipknot
Slash
Marilyn Manson
Fall Out Boy
Judas Priest
Godsmack
All Time Low
Papa Roach
Of Mice & Men
Escape The Fate
Apocalyptica
Lagwagon
Tonight Alive
Crossfaith
Butcher Babies
Confession
The Swellers
Conditions
Coldrain
King 810
Dayshell
This Wild Life
Soundwave Festival 2015 Tour Dates:
Saturday, 21st February & Sunday, 22nd February 2015
Bonython Park, Adelaide, South Australia
Saturday, 21st February & Sunday, 22nd February 2015
Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria
Saturday, 28th February & Sunday, 1st March 2015
Olympic Park, Sydney, New South Wales
Saturday, 28th February & Sunday, 1st March 2015
Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane, Queensland