Interview by Ali Williams
Videography by Kyle Watson – @CounterfeitFilms
If there’s one thing better than going to a metal festival, it’s chatting with the bands backstage before, during, or after their set. Backstage is where the magic happens, and it’s also where bands can be at their most vulnerable – and exciting…
HEAVY has just finished doing the rounds at Dead Of Winter Festival at the Mansfield Tavern, and one of the bands Ali Williams caught up with was Witchgrinder.
Witchgrinder have established a dominant presence in the Australian heavy music scene with their “horror-driven industrial thrash” sound. Their music uniquely blends the aggressive chug of 1980s thrash metal with mechanical industrial grooves, drawing inspiration from iconic acts like Metallica, Rammstein, and Ministry.
Lyrically, Witchgrinder is deeply rooted in classic horror and sci-fi films, generating a dark, theatrical atmosphere. Known for high-energy, commandingly loud live performances, they have commanded stages alongside global acts like Static-X, Rob Zombie, and Wednesday 13. Their acclaimed discography includes The Demon Calling (2013), Haunted (2015), and their heavy 2024 release, Nothing Stays Buried.
To check out what Witchgrinder were like at DOW, head to HEAVY‘s review section for a comprehensive wrap of the day.
