Best Of 2019 Progfest: 5 Bands Not To Miss

Prog has become one of the biggest sub-genres of heavy music in the country over the last few years.

Here are five bands you cannot miss at 2019 Progfest in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane later this month, which is headlined by Germany's legendary post-metal act The Ocean, the UK's djent-groove metal pioneers Monuments and India's finest progressive rock export Skyharbor.

Melbourne prog powerhouse Circles. Their combination of mind-bending, pounding rhythms and rumbling basslines set against butter-melting vocals and razor-edge guitar tones put them at the forefront of the evolution of global heavy music.

With the recent release of 'The Last One' and several major international performances, 2018 has been one hell of a ride for the quartet.


Perth progressive metal lynchpins, Chaos Divine have a plethora of industry accolades and a touring pedigree a mile long.

Leading audiences through a journey of uncompromising arrangements, crushing riffs and soaring melodies, these enigmatic musicians have created a realm of sound and style matched by few and admired by many.


Hailing from Auckland and armed with lush cinematic soundscapes that are deep on emotion but filled to the brim with hooks, City Of Souls are truly captivating.

A true NZ supergroup with members of multi-platinum selling NZ acts, the time is now for Australian fans to discover this incredible band.


One of the most original, commanding and versatile young guitarists on the scene today is James Norbert Ivanyi.

His unique style of technical, modern metal fused with the classic sounds of 1960s and 1970s progressive rock music have seen his fan base transcend generations and genres.


Boasting maturity beyond their years and earning a reputation as a must-see live act with their modern take on late '90s progressive pop laced with sensuality, Sydney’s Glass Ocean are one of Australia's most prominent up and coming acts.

ProgFest 2019 Shows

Melbourne

Sat 26 Jan - The Croxton Bandroom

The Ocean
Monuments
Skyharbor
Circles
Chaos Divine
City Of Souls
Toehider
James Norbert Ivanyi
Glass Ocean
Opus Of A Machine
Bear The Mammoth
Transience
Muchroom Giant
Figures
Khan
Ebonivory
The Valley Ends
Red Lotus
M0DAL1TY
Neo Relic

Sydney

Sun 27 Jan - The Factory Theatre

The Ocean
Monuments
Skyharbor
Circles
Chaos Divine
City Of Souls
Toehider
James Norbert Ivanyi
Glass Ocean
Opus Of A Machine
Lo!
Hemina
Red Bee
Anubis
SEIMS
SNVFF
Hashshashin
Sevsons
Shanghai
Numidia

Brisbane

Mon 28 Jan - The Valley Drive In/The Brightside

The Ocean
Monuments
Skyharbor
Circles
Chaos Divine
City Of Souls
Toehider
James Norbert Ivanyi
Glass Ocean
Opus Of A Machine
Aerials
Kodiak Empire
Hazards Of Swimming Naked
Magenta Voyeur
Flynn Effect
Mass Sky Raid
Sum Of Us
The Stranger
Therein
Seraphic

Sideshows

The Ocean

Thu 24 Jan - Badlands Bar (Perth)
Fri 25 Jan - Jive (Adelaide)

Monuments

Tue 29 Jan - Jive (Adelaide)
Wed 30 Jan - Badlands Bar (Perth)