Beastwars
New Zealand sludge metal band formed in 2006.
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Beastwars are a sludge metal act hailing from New Zealand. The group came together in 2006, with their first performance as a quartet taking place in 2009. The band’s origins stretch back to 1986, when Matt Hyde formed his initial outfit, Microwave Babies, as a student at Saint Bernard's College in Lower Hutt; that group dissolved in 1988.
Hyde subsequently lived in Australia and later London. Aaron Carson, based in Auckland, invited Hyde to audition for his new project, The Larry Normans. Around the same time, Nathan “Nato” Hickey was emerging as a bassist and guitarist.
Hickey was introduced to Clayton Anderson, a guitarist active in metal bands, and around this period Hickey began playing drums. Hickey also discussed forming a band with James Woods and brought him into the fold. Hyde eventually met Hickey, setting the stage for Beastwars.
Their 2011 self-titled debut album earned favorable reviews in New Zealand and drew comparisons to acts such as Soundgarden, Mastodon, and Unsane. The record also garnered attention for Nick Keller’s cover art, which won the 2012 New Zealand Music Award for Best Album Artwork or Packaging for the 2011 album. The band was nominated for Best New Zealand Rock Album at the same ceremony but lost to Shihad’s Ignite. The album was also shortlisted for the 2012 Taite Music Prize.
Beastwars have opened for Mastodon, High on Fire, and Fu Manchu. In 2012, they played the Auckland Big Day Out festival alongside international headliners including Soundgarden, Röyksopp, and Kasabian.
A limited-edition custom beer bearing the band’s name was commissioned in 2011. Their second album, Blood Becomes Fire (2013), and fourth album, IV (2019), were both 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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Beastwars?
Beastwars is a four-piece sludge metal band out of New Zealand, assembled in 2006. They played their first show as a full quartet in 2009.
Where is Beastwars from?
The band is based in New Zealand, with members connected to both Auckland and Lower Hutt. Hyde's earliest musical days were at Saint Bernard's College in Lower Hutt before he relocated overseas.
More in Sludge metal musical groups
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Beastwars (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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