Feature / One Question Interviews
Hope Drone

Words: Matt Tracey • September 18, 2014

Hope Drone
Hope Drone

Karl Hartwig (Hope Drone)

SPB: What is the feeling of the current Australian black metal climate? It seems that Brisbane is shaping up to be a kind of epicentre for the genre, and it would be interesting to hear thoughts from a band of that area. 

Hartwig: I can’t really comment on the Australian black metal climate, as I don’t believe Hope Drone are a part of it or any particular scene. While our influences include black metal, I personally do not feel that Hope Drone is a black metal band, or even a metal band at all, but I am sure the many people who hear us may think differently. We really just exist in our own space playing the few shows we can commit to with bands we like or know. I definitely believe Brisbane/Australia has been proven capable of producing world-class bands though.

Hope Drone
Hope Drone

Related features

Hope Drone

One Question Interviews / What's That Noise? • April 27, 2020

Francis (Hope Drone – drums) SPB: Was the mic’ing of your kit in the studio fairly straight forward, or were there some things you and the engineer did to find the right mics or experiment with sounds? Francis: Personally I wanted to go for a natural, organic Albini-esge drum sound. … Read more

Related news

Hope Drone's Husk

Posted in Records on March 12, 2022

New song from Hope Drone

Posted in Records on August 25, 2019

Negfest 2017 in Sydney and Melbourne

Posted in Shows on March 18, 2017

Related reviews

Hope Drone

Self Titled
OSCL (2013)

Heading over to their Last.fm account, the light hearted description ‘Australian for Deafheaven’ doesn’t exactly seem to serve as an appropriate designation for Brisbane based black metal troupe Hope Drone. Sure, the atypical approach towards standard genre fare is evident, and the lush, wide production on this 4 track release certainly draws parallels. Though it is likely more of a … Read more

More from this section

Serotonin Mist

One Question Interviews • October 24, 2025

Hiroshi (Serotonin Mist) SPB: The Bandcamp page on your new album states: No label, no producer. 100% DIY. Is DIY an important issue for Serotonin Mist (and why)? Hiroshi: I believe that being DIY has both good and bad sides. The good side is that we can control every aspect … Read more

Massa Nera

One Question Interviews • October 23, 2025

Mark Boulanger (Massa Nera – drums/vocals) SPB: What was your first live show? Boulanger: Our first show was on 05/09/16 at The Meatlocker in Montclair, NJ. We played with Wastelands, Without, Yashira, and an insane NJ powerviolence band called Uncle Mark. If you aren't familiar, The Meatlocker is an absolutely … Read more

East End Redemption

One Question Interviews • October 22, 2025

Josh (East End Redemption) SPB: If your band had to be sponsored by a completely random household product (like cereal, dish soap, lawnmower, etc.), which one would it be and why? Josh: We would be sponsored by Turtle Wax car wax because "I wanna pet, I wanna I pet, I … Read more