Beastwars

Lore & Background

The early history of Beastwars can be said to have begun in 1986 when Matt Hyde started his first band, Microwave Babies, while attending Saint Bernard's College in Lower Hutt. That band disbanded in 1988. Hyde then moved to Australia, and then London. Aaron Carson in Auckland invited Hyde to try out for his new band, The Larry Normans. Around the same time Nathan 'Nato' Hickey was an up and coming bass and guitar musician. Hickey was introduced to Clayton Anderson, a guitarist in metal bands. This is about the time Hickey began playing drums. Hickey had also discussed forming a band with James Woods, and brought him along. At some point Hyde met Hickey, and the beginning of Beastwars was underway.

Reader's Guide

Beastwars emerged from the New Zealand metal scene with a sludge metal sound that drew comparisons to Soundgarden, Mastodon, and Unsane. Their 2011 self-titled debut album gained recognition not only for its music but also for Nick Keller's cover design, which won the 2011 New Zealand Music Award for Best Album Artwork or Packaging. The album was also nominated for Best New Zealand Rock Album at the same ceremony, losing to Ignite by Shihad, and was shortlisted for the 2012 Taite Music Prize. The band opened for notable international acts including Mastodon, High on Fire, Fu Manchu, and Kyuss, and performed at the 2012 Auckland Big Day Out festival alongside Soundgarden, Röyksopp, and Kasabian. Their second and fourth albums, Blood Becomes Fire and IV, were shortlisted for the Taite Music Prize in 2014 and 2020 respectively. In July 2023, the band announced that guitarist Christian Pearce would replace Clayton Anderson. A limited release custom-brewed beer bearing the band's name was commissioned in 2011.

Did You Know?

• The band's debut album won the 2011 New Zealand Music Award for Best Album Artwork or Packaging, designed by Nick Keller.
• In 2011, a limited release custom-brewed beer was commissioned bearing the band's name.
• Guitarist Christian Pearce replaced Clayton Anderson in July 2023.

Origins & Formation

The story of Beastwars stretches back further than most fans realize. Matt Hyde first picked up music in 1986, forming a group called Microwave Babies while a student at Saint Bernard's College in Lower Hutt. That project dissolved in 1988, and Hyde spent the following years drifting through Australia and London before Aaron Carson, working out of Auckland, invited him to audition for his new outfit, The Larry Normans. Meanwhile, a young Nathan "Nato" Hickey was making a name for himself as a bassist and guitarist. A chance introduction to Clayton Anderson, a guitarist already embedded in the local metal scene, pushed Hickey toward the drums. Hickey had also been talking with James Woods about starting a band and brought him into the fold. When Hyde and Hickey finally crossed paths, the pieces fell into place. The band officially took shape in 2006, though they did not take the stage as a full four-piece unit until 2009.

Debut Album & Critical Acclaim

When Beastwars dropped their self-titled debut in 2011 on Destroy Records and Universal Music, the New Zealand music press took immediate notice. Reviewers drew parallels to heavyweights like Soundgarden, Mastodon, and Unsane, placing the band in conversation with some of the most respected names in sludge and stoner metal. The album's visual identity also made waves: designer Nick Keller's cover art took home the 2011 New Zealand Music Award for Best Album Artwork or Packaging, a rare win that highlighted the band's commitment to a cohesive aesthetic. At that same ceremony, Beastwars earned a nomination for best New Zealand Rock Album, though they ultimately fell short to Shihad's Ignite. The record's critical momentum carried forward, earning a shortlist spot for the 2012 Taite Music Prize, one of the country's most prestigious cultural honors. For a band still in its early years, the debut had already established Beastwars as a force to be reckoned with in the domestic scene.

Live Career & Industry Milestones

Beastwars quickly proved themselves as a formidable live act, earning support slots for international heavyweights including Mastodon, High on Fire, Fu Manchu, and Kyuss. A standout moment came in 2012 when the band performed at Auckland's Big Day Out festival, sharing the bill with marquee acts like Soundgarden, Röyksopp, and Kasabian—a testament to their growing stature in the domestic music landscape. The band's cultural footprint extended beyond the stage as well. In 2011, a limited-edition custom-brewed beer bearing the Beastwars name was commissioned, a nod to the group's deep roots in New Zealand's craft and counterculture scene. Recognition from the Taite Music Prize continued to validate their artistic output: Blood Becomes Fire made the shortlist in 2014, and their fourth studio album, IV, earned the same distinction in 2020. These repeated nods from New Zealand's most respected music prize underscored a band that consistently pushed creative boundaries while remaining grounded in its home scene.

Discography & Evolution

From their 2011 debut through The Ship//The Sea in 2025, Beastwars have released a steady stream of studio albums that chart the evolution of their sound. Blood Becomes Fire (2013), The Death of All Things (2016), and IV (2019) each marked a new creative chapter, with the latter two earning Taite Music Prize shortlist spots. In 2021, the band revisited their origins with a 10th Anniversary Remaster of their self-titled debut, while also releasing the Cold Wind/When I'm King single. Their live discography includes Live at San Fran (2020), capturing the raw energy of their performances. The most recent studio effort, Tyranny of Distance, arrived in 2023, followed by The Ship//The Sea in 2025. Personnel shifts have also shaped the band's trajectory: in July 2023, guitarist Christian Pearce was announced as the replacement for Clayton Anderson, signaling a new era while honoring the musical foundation Anderson helped build over nearly two decades.