Get ready to unleash the fury as Dark Down South III returns to Kirup this November 21 and 22, bringing two days of relentless metal mayhem to Western Australia’s South West. From Friday through Saturday, Jim McDonald Oval will once again transform into a haven for metalheads, showcasing a lineup that cuts across the full spectrum of heavy music. Headlining this year’s festival is a crushing lineup of extreme acts, featuring Mexico City’s unrelenting force Demente, the blistering grind chaos of Melbourne’s Nembutolik, the oppressive weight of Iniquitous Monolith, scene veterans Infected, and the raw, unfiltered energy of Melbourne’s Kunt Squad.
Backing them is a stacked undercard of Western Australia’s underground, including Psychonaut, DeadCode, Vanadium B.C., Oceans & Omens, Enforce, and Psytopia, alongside interstate chaos merchants like Adelaide’s Greedy Bunch of Parasites. Rounding out the lineup is a wave of emerging acts in Terror Adaptors, FistDead, Valmara, Undeniable, and Deathcap Dinner Party, each bringing their own flavour of noise, grit, and violence to the stage. Dark Down South III isn’t just about the music; it’s an immersive experience. With free camping, a BYO policy (no glass), and on-site food vendors, the festival delivers a full weekend escape built around community, volume, and connection. Designed as a family-friendly, all-ages event, it remains a rare space where generations of heavy music fans collide under one roof—or sky.
HEAVY sent out a list of questions to each band so we know what to expect before they set the stage on fire (not literally!), with PYSTOPIA taking the bait today. But first, get to know the band a bit better…
If you haven’t copped an earful of Perth’s hidden gems Psytopia yet, you are seriously missing out on some of the finest heavy sonic weaponry coming out of Western Australia. These absolute weapons have been grinding away in the underground since 2016, and they are not here to play nice.
What we have here is a beautiful, skull-crushing collision of modern metalcore and old-school, blistering thrash metal. It’s got that raw, independent, unsigned energy that makes the Aussie heavy music scene the best in the world. Their sound doesn’t just hit you; it bloody well flattens you. We are talking massive, neck-snapping riffs, explosive drum patterns, and a live intensity that turns local venues like Lynott’s Lounge into absolute war zones.
Every time these guys step onto a stage, they leave everything out there, showing exactly why the heavy alternative scene in WA is thriving. They blend melodic hooks with pure, unfiltered aggression in a way that just begs you to throw down in the pit. Keep your eyes firmly on this space, because Psytopia are building something massive.
PYSTOPIA Q&A
HEAVY: DARK DOWN SOUTH OPEN AIR celebrates its third year as the only open air metal festival in WA this November. How excited were you to get the call up?
PYSTOPIA:Super excited to be a part of it. Open air metal festivals have such a great atmosphere, great vibes in clean fresh wide open space has that feeling of freedom, breeze in your hair, in your face, the sun, the moon, the light and dark, the loud in the quiet, the green of the grass, the smells, the sweat, the joyous screams, laughs and squeals.
HEAVY: How important are festivals like this to the Australian music scene?
PYSTOPIA: We believe they are very important. Important for the musicians and the communities of fans. As mentioned its a different format with a different vibe than the usual venues in the cities. Is great opportunity for local acts to hone some outdoor playing skills and experience, potentially rub shoulders and share a stage with international and interstate acts but most importantly its a the experience for the punters who come along to enjoy the entertainment from the music they love in the outdoors, wherever it maybe.
HEAVY: Have you ever been to DDS as a punter or playing?
PYSTOPIA: Unfortunately not yet but that changes this year.
HEAVY: If so, best memories of the day, or if not, what are you most excited for? .
PYSTOPIA: Am most excited to be playing the show. Yes its cliché but performing is a buzz that’s hard to beat. Actually I think this maybe our first outdoor show.
HEAVY: It’s a long day of music. What will you be doing to make sure you will still be standing come your set time?
PYSTOPIA: Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
HEAVY: Give me your Top 3 Festival survival tips.
PYSTOPIA: Hydrate, hydrate and hydrate ha-ha.
HEAVY: Which band – other than yourself – do you think will get up to the most mischief on the day?
PYSTOPIA: Could be anyone lol….you just gave me an idea about pranking someone while onstage….dont tell anyone…
HEAVY: Run us through your typical live show and what punters can expect.
PYSTOPIA: Lots of chugs and head banging.
HEAVY: If you could get one band on the line-up to cover one of your songs who would it be and what song would they cover?
PYSTOPIA: I would say Undeniable because we share a drummer so they would be halfway there anyway, and would be title song from first EP Web Of Delusion.
HEAVY: How can fans find your music to get amped up for Dark Down South?
PYSTOPIA: Well apart from the usual streaming suspects I would suggest keeping your ears out for some new release song/s about a week before the DDS gig November 20/21! You heard it first here! Has been in the pipeline way too long, featuring the new line up with our new singer and rythym guitarist.
Tickets HERE
