Killswitch Engage, The Vandals Lead Soundwave Third Announce

Soundwave could pretty much deliver anything they want to for their third announcement today and it wouldn't make that much of a difference. Firstly, they've already got one of the most massive line ups – of any style of music – that the country has ever seen. Secondly, tickets all across the country are completely sold out, so they don't benefit financially from a whole bunch of kick arse international and Aussie heavy bands being added to the bill. Finally, if anyone complained about a dismal third announcement, there'd be tens of thousands of people willing to shoot down the negativity, such is the dedicated following the festival has built over the years.

But that doesn't matter one bit to Soundwave, because their third announcement is absolutely fucking killer!

Killswitch Engage, The Vandals, Orange Goblin, The Sword, Chelsea Grin, The Chariot, Sharks, Dr.Acula, O'Brother, Northlane, Milestones

Listen to the bill!

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE:

It has been three long years since the release of their last record, but it's not long now until Killswitch Engage unleash their sixth studio album, Disarm the Descent on the world. They are one of the finest metalcore bands that the world has ever seen, that's obviously a point that people could argue visciously but you can't deny they've done a lot for the genre, and they'll no doubt fuck shit up when they hit Soundwave in 2013.

THE VANDALS:

We don't see The Vandals in Australia enough; these pop-punk geniuses have been making some of the finest smart-arse music in the world for over 30 years and, while they've been a little quiet on the recording front of late, their back catalogue is so strong that, frankly, that doesn't matter at all. Get ready to sing along to all of your favourite stupid songs played with blinding finesse as The Vandals join Soundwave 2013. This also means that our blogger got one right. Still a pissweak effort.

ORANGE GOBLIN:

Adding to the already pretty damn solid stoner element of the festival (Kyuss Lives, …) Orange Goblin represent Great Britain in the Soundwave Stoner Celebration as a part of this third announce. The band, who have been smashing out doom-inspired heavy metal and hard rock for almost 20 years released the actually very good A Eulogy for the Damned album earlier this year, a record that showed they can keep stoner rock exciting, and are a pleasantly surprising addition to Soundwave 2013. Only problem is, we kinda feel like riding a motorbike through the Soundwave grounds now and that's a feeling that's going to be hard to quell.

THE SWORD:

The rock'n'roll keeps on rolling with the announcement of Texas' The Sword returning to Soundwave stages in 2013. The band, who were last here just after the release of their ambitious Warp Riders record of 2010, this time return with the brand new Apocryphon under their collective arm following its release next month. We don't know much about the record as yet, to be honest, but we believe it to be a particularly energetic release, which sounds pretty awesome given the quality of their live show. You'll get to see that live show at Soundwave next year and you'll realise why these guys are so well loved.

CHELSEA GRIN:

For anyone who knows what a Chelsea Grin is, it will come as no surprise that this band play deathcore and, yeah, it's as brutal as it sounds. Heavy on breakdowns, guttural, punishingly fast and deafeningly loud, these guys are one of the heaviest bands on the Soundwave 2013 bill. Their two albums are fucking nuts and we reckon their live show will be pretty insane as well; we look forward to finding out!

THE CHARIOT:

When Josh Scogin left Christian nu-metal band Norma Jean back in 2002, that band's fans were hoping this wouldn't be the last we'd hear of the frontman. Sure enough The Chariot were up and running not too long after, delivering a style of hardcore that was vibrant and exciting. All these years later the band almost seem like they're getting better; their One Wing record, which was released just a couple of weeks ago, is a furious and exciting cut of hardcore goodness that is going to send Soundwave 2013 nuts.

SHARKS:

We were spewing when Pennywise were forced to cancel their Australian tour a month or so back, not just because it meant we wouldn't get to see them, but also because it meant we weren't gonna be able to catch their supports – one of those bands being the UK's Sharks. We had a feeling they'd be back soon enough and thankfully Soundwave have secured Sharks for the 2013 festival, playing their catchy, but gritty melodic rock for those who have been turned onto them in recent years. Our suggestion is to get well acquainted with the songs between now and February, because they're just made for big old sing-a-longs.

DR.ACULA:

Another one for the kids who like their music as heavy as possible; Dr. Acula's brand of deathcore isn't quite as fucked up as that of Chelsea Grin, but they get very bloody close. These hardworking Long Islanders just released their fifth album Nation, which sees them change their sound up a bit; it's partly more melodic, partly more guttural, but still pretty viscious. See you in the pit.

O'BROTHER:

Soundwave has a habit of throwing the occasional indie-rock curveball and this year O'Brother definitely fits that bill. If you happen to need some respite from the thrash, deathcore and stoner heaviness, this Atlanta quintet could be just the ticket. This isn't to say they're a wussy rock band though, they're gritty and loud and distorted and while their records are very powerful, we think they'll be even more arresting live. Definitely weren't expecting to see them on the Soundwave 2013 bill, definitely not complaining.  

NORTHLANE:

The next Aussie act added to the bill is Northlane, a bunch of Sydney dudes who have been working their arses off on the road and clearly on their songwriting as well, as their Discoveries record of last year is a very mature offering and we look forward to hearing what they'll do next. They hit Soundwave fresh from a trip on the road with Parkway Drive, so they're gonna be in perfect form when they step up to the plate.

MILESTONES:

Massive news for Brisbane emo-inspired punk rockers Milestones as they embark on the massive Soundwave festival for the first time in 2013. The band will no doubt use this as a perfect launch pad to get their incredibly catchy and palatable punk rock out to a wider audience and it's great that they're given such an opportunity.