Biography
Beastwars are a Wellington sludge metal band who placed themselves at the forefront of New Zealand heavy music throughout the 2010s. The group formed in 2006 around drummer Nathan Hickey, who had watched bassist James Woods play in his noise rock band Beretta and loved “his monstrous bass sound.” Hickey recruited guitarist Clayton Anderson at a gig — “through just being pissed at a bar” — and the three enlisted vocalist Matt Hyde, a veteran of Wellington and London bands including Microwave Babies and Zen Grenade. The band played their first show as a four-piece in 2009.
Their self-titled debut album (2011, Destroy Records, DESTROY006) charted at #15 on the New Zealand Albums Chart. The NZ Herald described the record as “a mongrel mix of Kyuss, Neurosis, and the mighty Godflesh” — “pummelling intensity, beautiful brutality, and sonic paranoia.” The band’s maxim, “Obey the Riff,” and their allegiance to producer Dale Cotton (Audioworkshop, Dunedin) — who they credit as an unofficial fifth member — defined their working method across the first trilogy of albums. Blood Becomes Fire (2013, DESTROY009) reached #2; The Death of All Things (2016, DESTROY012) reached #5. The trio was conceived as a deliberate thematic arc — surviving the apocalypse, going into battle, dying in victory — and the band considered The Death of All Things their final statement.
Pummelling intensity, beautiful brutality, and sonic paranoia.
NZ Herald, on the debut album
In October 2017, Hyde was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. The music community rallied: a benefit concert was so well-supported that Hyde donated half the proceeds to Leukaemia NZ. Hickey flew back from London upon hearing the news. One week after Hyde completed chemotherapy in January 2018, the reunited band booked ten days at Blue Barn Studio in Wellington to record IV — “a thank you to all the fans that supported him and as a way of reconnecting with each other.” IV (2019, Destroy Records, DESTROY015) debuted at #1 on the Official NZ Albums Chart, a remarkable achievement for a heavy metal record.
A far darker, heavier and unforgiving beast… a deeply emotional album that pulls on the heartstrings and warms the soul.
Angry Metal Guy, on IV
Clayton Anderson departed in July 2023 and was replaced by guitarist Christian Pearce. Tyranny of Distance (2023) followed — a covers album spanning 40 years of New Zealand songs, re-imagining tracks by The Gordons, Superette, Snapper, Nadia Reid, The 3Ds, and Marlon Williams. The Ship // The Sea (2025, Destroy Records), their sixth studio album, was recorded partly at Studio 11b in Mount Maunganui, with water as its central motif.
Members
- Matt Hyde (vocals, Microwave Babies, Beastwars)
- Clayton Anderson (guitar, Beastwars)
- James Woods (bass, Beastwars)
- Nathan Hickey (drums, Paselode, Grand Prix, Fly My Pretties, Beastwars)
- Christian Pearce (guitar, Beastwars)
Discography
- Beastwars [LP/CD] (2011, Destroy Records, DESTROY006)
- Blood Becomes Fire [LP/CD] (2013, Destroy Records, DESTROY009)
- The Death of All Things [LP/CD] (2016, Destroy Records, DESTROY012)
- IV [LP/CD] (2019, Destroy Records, DESTROY015)
- Tyranny of Distance [LP/Digital] (2023, Destroy Records)
- The Ship // The Sea [LP/Digital] (2025, Destroy Records)