Lochlan Watt, Journalist

“I tell you what – if there was an off the record poll that you could take with policemen I bet that a good third or fourth of them are actually marijuana smokers themselves, but they can’t do it or can’t admit it because of their job and the drug testing and what not."

Three recent records that "tackle the bigger picture, yet more often than not seem to go more unnoticed next to the party rockers and metaphorical wrist-slitters."

"If we started paying attention to people’s opinions of how we make music, what we do, what’s valid, what’s not, what’s good, what’s not, we’d cease making music that’s honest."

Lochlan Watt loved The Acacia Strain most in 2012 but also dug Parkway Drive's foray into filmmaking.

Tonight also marked the first time I've ever been offered a tomato at a show by a crust punk - I attempted to eat it like an apple, but could only make it through two thirds...

"You can go pay for gas at a gas pump with a credit or debit card and you can lose all your fucking money, because someone hacked the little computer that’s in there. That’s the world we live in. That’s reality."

"You have heroin?" he asked me. "No drugs" I responded, which obviously wasn't even true, as he sniffed at my panadol, demanded an explanation for a slightly embarrassing (but not heinous) prescription medicine, and sampled my vitamin C tablets.

"It's just all natural. It’s all happening all the time. Inspiration is just life itself... Life is happening to me. There’s plenty to be upset about, and there’s plenty to celebrate, and there’s plenty to have questions about. That’s all that music is, really."

"I’ve been to Israel a couple of times, and me being a metalhead and into hardcore and punk rock; if you live in Israel and you’re a hardcore punk, you’re anti-government."

Not only will Hate be a game changer for bands seeking to out-brutal each other in Australia – it has pushed the boundaries of what ‘deathcore’ (if this can still be classified as such?) can be on an international standard.

Defeater is an American band that has taken the foundations of hardcore punk, and through their own creative liberties forged a style in line with their own vision. Vocalist Derek Archambault speaks to Lochlan Watt about the coming end to their latest touring cycle.