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 years 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 MSBI.
Tickets and more information: https://necrosonicfestival.com/
MSBI (short for Marco Sanchez Brain Intrusion) is an unpredictable, chaotic underground heavy metal band from Brisbane, Australia. Built entirely on pure volume, unhinged energy, and total system malfunction, they carved out a notorious reputation in the mid-2000s local heavy scene.
The band is known for their 2006 cult release, The Daze Of Epileptic Elegance EP, which combined aggressive riffs with bizarre, avant-garde elements like Tibetan singing bowls and darabukas. After a long hiatus that saw members move on to other local acts like Killer’s Creed, MSBI has officially resurrected for an exclusive, highly anticipated one-off reunion show at Brisbane’s massive Necrosonic Festival at the Mansfield Tavern.
HEAVY: NECROSONIC 2026 is almost upon us. How far out from August 22 will you allow yourself to get excited?
MSBI: We’re already there. Honestly, the whole band is more excited than a fat kid in a cupcake shop. The hype is real.
H: What does it mean to your band to be playing NECROSONIC?
MSBI: Last year, Greg, Michael, and I (Skip) attended as punters. It had been a long time since we’d been at a metal gig together, and the energy of the venue, the bands, and (of course) Kent’s good looks gave us a fever that hasn’t broken. When Kent reached out and asked us to play, it was a unanimous “yes.”
This is likely the last show MSBI will ever play, and the lineup is a total bucket list of amazing bands we’ve either toured with or admired from afar. Since original member Steve (guitar) couldn’t make it, and there’s a chance that Daniel our og drummer, may not be able to play the entire show, we’ve recruited close friends and scene veterans Dave McInlay (Fled, What Went Wrong, Dead Hoarse) on drums and Dave Jenkins (Simple Mick) on guitar. They are killing it, and we’re on track to deliver the best MSBI set to date.
H: How important are festivals like NECROSONIC for the Australian music scene?
MSBI: They are the lifeblood of the scene, but you have to have the right people at the helm. MSBI has been honoured to play at various festivals run by Kent over the years. I truly believe there would be no metal scene in Brisbane if it weren’t for the groundwork laid by Kent- Antz and Ward 69. They paved the way for others to follow that same DIY ethos, which is why the scene is still so healthy today.
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?
MSBI: I’ve got three specialist doctor appointments booked before the show, plus weeks of cross-country, CrossFit, and cardio to make sure we don’t collapse. Once set times are locked in, I’m also booking a full-body remedial massage so I can hopefully walk off stage and through my front door without needing an ambulance.
H: Give me your Top 3 Festival survival tips.
MSBI: The 2:1 Ratio: Two beers, then one water. Start this early.
Graze Constantly: Keep it light and healthy throughout the day. Follow lunch with a coffee exactly one hour later (the Mansfield Tavern has the best festival catering in the business).
The Switch: Eventually, move from beer to spirits with caffeine—but keep that 1:1 water ratio going.
H: Which band – other than yourself – do you think will get up to the most mischief on the day?
MSBI: That’s a tough one. It’s a toss-up between Lynchmada, Five Star Prison Cell, or F.U.C.
H: What one song would you tell festival goers to listen to of yours if they haven’t heard you play before?
MSBI: Roll this thesis up and smoke it.
H: Will you be taking requests on the day?
MSBI: Absolutely. MSBI is well-established as Brisbane’s premier Barnesy-Farnesy cover band. Ask away.
H: Run us through your typical live show and what punters can expect.
MSBI: The last time we played was 16 years ago, so we definitely hurt more now! But an MSBI show usually involves members performing naked, dressed as superheroes, or playing through broken limbs. We come from the hardcore scene, so expect high energy, heavy crowd interaction, and a lot of flailing bodies.
H: What’s your latest release?
MSBI: Our only release was the 2006 EP, The Daze of Epileptic Elegance, which we’ve finally put on all streaming platforms. However, we are currently writing a brand-new track to debut at the festival. It’ll be our last hurrah and our final impact as a band.
H: Finally, what plans does your band have for the rest of 2026 into 2027?
MSBI: Like any other group of mid-40s washed-up punk rockers, we’ll probably sit back and talk about “what could have been.” But if the new song isn’t out by the show, we’ll head into the studio to record it professionally, release it, and then retire with a smile, looking back fondly on this amazing ride.
