When one goes to Soundwave there is always the problem of ‘which bands should I see?’ With a lineup as impressive as this years there was always bound to be numerous clashes and overlapping sets. Prior to walking in the gates I had planned on spending the majority of my day at the main stages but within minutes that changed. For starters the stages were actually quite far apart meaning that should I camp a spot at one stage I would miss the band on the alternate stage. Secondly, the crowd at this years festival was huge. A large step up from the more intimate atmosphere that came with the festivals old home at the Melbourne Showgrounds. So with that, I made an early decision to spread my day among the other stages.

Ah, Soundwave. To be pitted against walls of the black-shirt-clad masses and be pummelled with blast beats and breakdowns until the spirit breaks. Or, in my case, burnt to a sunny crisp by 3PM and bounce around between bands until your feet give out. A fun day for sure!

In this issue: Future Music announce more stages, sideshows for Rita Ora, Dragonforce and Sword Sidewaves, Carnival of Surburbia full lineup, another Groovin the Moo sells out, while ATP sister festival shows us their set times!

"Wake Your Mind" stage at the Future Music Festival provided by Cosmic Gate

Guitar Hero gods are back in full flight, with a brand new album full of power metal to present to their fans. The question is, will the new album stand up to the hype and legacy?

Welcome back for another week. As we get slightly further into 2012, the album releases from week to week just keep growing and this week’s edition is the biggest yet!

It's been a bumper few weeks for Australian festivals and announcements; we've picked the cream of the crop so as not to leave you hanging! First off, we turn to the latest news from Heatwave Festival over the whole "D12 not showing up" thing...

Featuring a few of the cancelled Soundwave Revolution refugees and a slew of metal and rock bands (as well as one well-past-their-prime rap-rock band), the lineup for Soundwave 2012 has dropped and boy, it's a big one.