Northlane's new single, 'Dante', is utterly amazing.
The Australian metalcore outfit have amped up their command of melody, creative experimentation, and their lyrical poetry in such a way that what you get is a completely unexpected experience, particularly so soon after the release of their sixth studio album, 'Obsidian', last year.'Dante' signals Northlane have been sitting on a lot of ideas for a while that they're eager to explore. "Absolutely," confirms frontman Marcus Bridge. "With 'Obsidian' as well, a lot of that was written through lockdown.
"We're proud of all of that, but I think it has got a negative air around it. We wanted to get onto the next thing and leave those lockdown memories behind.
"Coming back into the real world, we've experienced a lot more and have a lot more to say. We have a bit more of a positive outlook of the future, so we've got a bit more of creativity to play with."
By maintaining a positive outlook on the time ahead – not just Northlane's and music in general, but the future of mankind (there's a lot of misery in the world presently) – without being too affected is something Marcus says Northlane has grappled with for some time.
"The [new] music we write will touch on things that are negative," he says, "but for us, our outlook is that as long as we're creating the music and doing the things we want to do completely, for us that's a positive to take away, that we're able to have this complete creative freedom and not be restricted by what we've done before and what people expect.
"The songs, there are some positive songs that we've been working on, but as we move forward, it's more a matter of being ourselves and putting out whatever is important to us."
In the spirit of moving forward, Northlane will take 'Dante' and their entire history on the road in February, signalling this new, brighter chapter for the band.
Set to play the major mainland capital cities (including two concerts in Melbourne, with the first already sold out), they'll be brining ERRA, Landmvrks and Banks Arcade in support, each outfit chosen for different reasons.
"ERRA is one of those bands we've kind of zig-zagged and crossed paths with throughout both of our careers," Marcus says, "and they're a band that's always pushing their area of this heavy music sound; they've got that technical vibe and awesome melody.
"Landmvrks, I'm very excited to see play – they've got great music, and Banks Arcade, they're one of my favourite local bands, got a really cool and unique energy. I love this cool hip hop element they've got throughout.
"I feel like with all these bands, they all kind of bring this unique element to their realm of heavy music, so it's going to be a cool tour."
At this stage of Northlane's career, from the realms of their supports, and indeed their peers and touring experiences, Marcus says they still have much they can learn, things they can draw and build on in their own work.
"I think the younger bands in particular, like Banks Arcade, they approach everything with such a different mindset, and I think if anything, just taking notice of that.
"And maybe not getting too old-minded with everything and thinking, 'No, we know best!' – still paying attention to what these younger bands are doing and kind of noticing that they understand how the new world of music works, and not to take that for granted."
Northlane have been added to Great Southern Nights 2024 programme, playing an exclusive show in Wagga Wagga at Tilly's on 15 March.
Northlane 2024 Tour Dates
Fri 9 Feb - The Fortitude Music Hall (Brisbane)Sat 10 Feb - Enmore Theatre (Sydney)
Sun 11 Feb - Forum Melbourne* sold out
Thu 15 Feb - Forum Melbourne
Fri 16 Feb - Hindley Street Music Hall (Adelaide)
Sat 17 Feb - Metro City (Perth)
