Necrosonic Festival returns to Mansfield Tavern on Saturday, August 22 2026 and the full lineup has been revealed to the masses! With dual headliners Rivers of Nihil (USA) and our very own Psycroptic, alongside exclusive reunions, one-off performances and long-awaited resurrections ~ this year’s ritual is the most formidable yet.
With a massive deference to Australian talent, this year’s line-up is: Rivers of Nihil, Psycroptic, Gravemind, Lynchmada (Exclusive ‘One Last Time’), Segression (30 Year Reunion), Minus Life (Resurrected – Exclusive), Pestilential Shadows, Five Star Prison Cell (Resurrected), Wxrldfxcker, Witchskull, Dreamkillers (Special EP Set), Helm (Resurrected – One-Off Show), M.S.B.I. (Resurrected – One-Off Show), Barriers, Meth Leppard, Permafog, Destruktor, Gutless, F.U.C, RUN, John Lee Spider, The Matador, Body Prison, Growth, Grotesque Bliss, Vyrion, Neomantra, Nembutolik, Slaughtercult and Bruxa.
HEAVY has thrown down the challenge and sent a Q & A sheet out to all bands, with any that don’t return one completed having to buy us a beer at Necrosonic. So while we are quietly hoping we get minimal replies, a couple have gotten back to us already, and today we feature GROTESQUE BLISS.
Tickets and more information: https://necrosonicfestival.com/
Grotesque Bliss is an Australian death/doom metal trio formed in 2022 on the Gold Coast, Queensland. The band functions as an underground supergroup, featuring vocalist and bassist Bjorn from Temple Nightside, guitarist Chris Burton from Paramæcium, and veteran drummer Matthew Southcombe.
The trio specializes in primitive, suffocatingly slow music rooted in themes of decay, sadness, and death. Following two initial rehearsals, they released a self-titled demo in 2024. In 2025, German label Iron Bonehead Productions gave the recording an expanded international release on vinyl and CD. Padded out to a full-length format, this version notably features a harrowing cover of My Dying Bride’s classic track, I Am the Bloody Earth, anchoring listeners deep within a bleak, ritualistic abyss.
Q & A
HEAVY: NECROSONIC 2026 is almost upon us. How far out from August 22 will you allow yourself to get excited?
GROTESQUE BLISS: We’ve been looking forward to this from the moment we were asked to play.
H: What does it mean to your band to be playing NECROSONIC?
GB: As punters attending the last couple of years and thoroughly enjoying the festival, we’re privileged to be part of it. Playing in the front bar will be fun, as you know, once you’re in there, it’s a nice confined space, which we like compared to the main room.
H: How important are festivals like NECROSONIC for the Australian music scene?
GB: Very important. All these more extreme fests that are starting to become permanent annual fixtures on the Australian metal scene are more than just bands playing; it’s a time to catch up with old friends, etc. It seems like each state has their own style when it comes to events like necrosonic, which is a good thing.
H: It’s a long day of music. What will you be doing to make sure you will still be standing come your set time?
GB: Fortunately, we are playing around 3.30 pm so the wait is minimal. Then we will be free to catch some killer bands we haven’t seen for a while.
H: Give me your Top 3 Festival survival tips.
GB: Pace yourself, wear ear protection and watch Grotesque Bliss.
H: Which band – other than yourself – do you think will get up to the most mischief on the day?
GB: Definitely not us, but definitely Destruktor.
H: What one song of yours would you tell festival-goers to listen to if they haven’t heard you play before?
GB: It’s not one of our doomy songs but probably God of the Godless.
H: Will you be taking requests on the day?
GB: No time for that. Maybe requests to get off the stage. Haha
H: Run us through your typical live show and what punters can expect.
GB: The heavy atmosphere of death doom.
H: What’s your latest release?
GB: Our latest release is our 2024 self-titled demo released through Iron Bonehead Productions, which we will have on LP and CD for sale on the day.
H: Finally, what plans does your band have for the rest of 2026 and into 2027?
GB: We plan on recording our first album later this year. Two more shows coming up, From the Grave fest in Sydney in September, and then next April playing Never Surrender fest in Japan.
