WILDHEART

Photo Credit: Sean Puxty

Q1. For readers who might not be familiar with you, would you please provide some background on yourself—where you’re from, when you formed, etc.?

Wildheart are a melodic hardcore/metalcore band with members based in Brisbane and the Gold Coast in Australia. We have been a band for almost 7 years now, but really started making a name for ourselves as a live act with our debut album “Global Crisis” in 2021. Prior to forming as Wildheart, a number of us played in bands together across a couple of different genres, playing local shows around Queensland and Australia. Our lyrics and our message focus on First Nations issues such as land rights, discrimination, and racism - being fronted by proud Yugambeh man Axel Best - and we also delve into a number of other topics such as mental health, environmentalism, and political inaction in times of crisis. 

Q2. Who are some of your primary influences?

Wildheart draw influences from a number of melodic hardcore and metalcore bands, both nostalgic and relatively newer bands in the scene. Some of our main influences include bands like: Counterparts, Architects, Stick To Your Guns, In Hearts Wake, For The Fallen Dreams, and The Amity Affliction. 

Q3. Talk to us about the new record Searching for Life Beyond Tragedy: what was the writing and recording process like, what themes and sounds do you explore on the record, etc.?

This record - along with the stand alone single we released in May titled “Death Is All That’s Left” - is quite possibly the heaviest material we’ve ever written together as a group. This could be reflective of the current political and global climate that we find ourselves in, but really we knew we wanted to see this record be a continuation of our previous advocacy in the previously mentioned topics. It was also really important to us that we return to some of our more introspective themes in our lyrics and our songwriting where we could write more melodic songs, focusing on topics that we had written about previously such as mental health. Tracks like ‘Withered’, along with Axel Best’s own struggles with mental health and anxiety, really empowered us to shine light on that; that we all have a role to play in dispelling stigmas associated with mental health and talking about it openly and honestly. 

Q4. Do you have any plans to tour in support of the record?

We recently performed in Melbourne and Brisbane on the East Coast of Australia in celebration of the upcoming release of the record. These shows were so amazing and we were so grateful for the support we saw! We would love to get out on the road and perform these songs live for people, it will just be a matter of seeing where our mental health is at the beginning of next year, as well as the rising cost of living doesn’t make touring any easier for touring musicians in a band of our size.

Q5. Is there one song or perhaps a couple songs in particular on the record you’d highlight for any specific reason(s), or perhaps as identify as “quintessential Wildheart” if someone unfamiliar with your music was going to dive in?

‘Evergreen’ is probably all of our favourite track, and reflects the anger at inaction on the very things threatening our planet; war, climate change, corporate greed, global catastrophes. It is super heavy, yet showcases our growing ability to write a damn catchy chorus! Oh, and a tempo change pit call into the end breakdown for good measure. 

Q6. What was it that made you want to pursue making music in the first place?

Honestly, just the idea creating art and working with like-minded people has always been a driving force for wanting to create music. I remember as earliest primary school playing in school bands and meeting some truly inspiring musicians growing up, and the flame has always just kind of burned from there.

Q7. What’s in the water down there in Australia that there are just so many outstanding metalcore bands past and present?

I know right! If we could leave you with some suggestions to check out you may not have heard of, be sure to listen to: Volatile Ways, Belle haven, Keepsake, Vacant Home, Satellites Were Set Alight, Chapel Hill, and Saving Face.

Q8. Do you have any parting words for the readers? 

If we could leave one message with readers/listeners, it would be that whilst things can often feel hopeless, that despite all the terrible things happening in the world, there is hope for a better future. We are just a local heavy band, but if we can convince one person to engage with say politics for example and make choices towards a better future for everyone, then it will have been worth it.