Metal band Thy Art Is Murder return to Townsville soon as part of regional tour

From Kirwan’s Orchid Society hall to Wembley Stadium, Aussie extreme metallers Thy Art Is Murder are stopping into NQ before conquering the world. Find out the details.

Thy Art is Murder - Harrison Mills, Andy Marsh, Tyler Miller, Kevin Butler, Jesse Beahler - is looking forward to returning to Townsville at the end of June. Picture: Supplied.

Just months before they perform in front of UK’s packed Wembley Stadium Australian extreme metal maestros Thy Art Is Murder will once again light up the mosh pit here in Townsville.

The band has a long association with Townsville, stretching back from the early days when sweaty crowd surfers were colliding with ceiling fans in Kirwan’s Orchid Society hall, to headlining a show at The Warehouse as part of their Brutality Across Australia 2025.

Speaking on the eve of the band’s tour of China, where they hoped to finally visit the Great Wall, guitarist Andy Marsh reflected on how the music scene had changed since their inception.

“Going back 20 years, everything was so grassroots and local, and it’s slowly becoming far more corporate,” Marsh said.

Thy Art is Murder have built a reputation as an impressive live band. Picture: Supplied.

“There’s a lot of big players that control the flow of music and the promotion of gigs and tours, and it’s all that power has become quite centralised.

“Whereas back in the day, there was a different promoter in every different city, and it was normally just a kid or a friend of yours that wanted to try putting on shows that they enjoyed. I don’t see that happening so much anymore.”

Formed in Sydney in 2006, Thy Art Is Murder regards themselves as a death metal band, but to many, they are pioneers of the heavy metal subgenre known as deathcore.

He was grateful to Byron Bay band Parkway Drive for making the rest of the world take notice of Australia’s thriving heavy music scene, creating “a lot more international access” for bands like theirs.

In between visiting as many local swimming holes and bakeries as possible, Thy Art is Murder are pumped up to deliver an entertaining show for North Queenslanders.

Thy Art is Murder is close to selling out their show in Townsville. Picture: Supplied.

“There’s none of the BS that comes with a lot of the biggest shows in the capital cities … you rock up, get fed a pub feed, get some beer, and then you play a gig,” he said.

“There’s not much more that you could ask for.”

They looked forward to showcasing fresh material from their latest album Godlike, where fan favourite song Blood Throne went “pretty hard”.

Marsh said they were also enjoying having the luxury of time to consciously plan what kind of influences, inspiration, and elements they wanted to bring to the forefront on their next album.

“Those are the sorts of things that we’re starting to discuss now. It’s a pretty interesting process … (and) it’s not always so simple as blending genres,” he said.

Thy Art is Murder has been drawing huge crowds as they tour around the world. Picture: Supplied.

“You have to do it in a way that’s conducive to how we like to play music, and also what fits in the wheelhouse of the band.”

Thy Art is Murder will be supported by Hate Complex, Mélancolia, and Thanartist when they play in Townsville on June 28.

To get your ticket, visit: thyartismurder.oztix.com.au.

Originally published as Metal band Thy Art Is Murder return to Townsville soon as part of regional tour