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

The Seize

One Question Interviews • December 31, 2025

Cesar Ruiz (The Seize - vocals) SPB: How do you typically choose your album art? Ruiz: Album art has started with lyrics. When I’m writing, I’ll have these images in mind that represent the feelings or themes within the songs. Those ideas usually become the starting point for the cover. … Read more

Chairmaker

One Question Interviews • December 30, 2025

Neil Erskine (Chairmaker) SPB: If Chairmaker had a physical form like a place, a thing, or a smell, what would it be? Erskine: There is a very specific chair - but you've got to read Banks' Use of Weapons. No spoilers.   Read more

Ugly Stick

One Question Interviews • December 29, 2025

Ugly Stick SPB: Describe in your own words the “Columbus Sound” and what it means or has meant to you and your musical output. David Holm (vocals and guitars): As it pertains to Ugly Stick I would say it's kind of an amalgam of punk rock, country, and classic rock. … Read more