Hobart, Tasmania isn’t exactly known as a hardcore hotspot, but Downward Spiral are doing their part to change that.
The band came together organically through the local scene, built on friendships before anything else. Some members had already been active in Hobart for years, playing in bands and booking shows, while others relocated more recently. What started as hanging at gigs, grabbing food, and “just chill[ing] and chat[ting] shit” eventually turned into something more serious. “The idea for Downward Spiral was eventually born, and here we are now,” the band tells No Echo. “So pumped on doing this band with some of my best mates.”
That foundation shows up in the music. Their demo leans into a no-frills, meat-and-potatoes hardcore sound that hits with intent, built from influences that favor impact over excess. “Anything that makes us wanna stomp through a brick wall,” the band says, pointing to bands like 86 Mentality, Violent Minds, Urban Blight, Hard Stripes, and Knife Fight as key touchstones. The approach blends classic hardcore DNA with newer influences, and they’re already hinting at what’s coming next. “You can expect more on demo #2.”
Downward Spiral 2025 demo’s release also tied the band into a wider DIY network. It came out through The Omission, a Melbourne-based label run by friends, with an additional tape run through Collective Memory. Both labels reflect the same ethos that the band is working from. “Omission are a breath of fresh air in the current climate of hardcore,” they say. “If you hate the hardcore industrial complex, go and check them out.” The connection to Collective Memory came just as naturally, with the band noting that working together “was a no-brainer.”
Operating out of Tasmania comes with its own challenges. As an island state off mainland Australia, it can feel removed from the larger circuit, but that hasn’t stopped the local scene from growing. “The scene here in Hobart is pretty small,” the band says, “but a decent crowd will turn out to most gigs.”
In recent years, they’ve seen more bands forming and more touring acts making the trip, which has helped build momentum.Downward Spiral are looking to be part of that push. “I hope that Downward Spiral will inspire people to deep dive more into hardcore/punk culture, start their own bands, and just get involved in the scene in whatever positive way they can think of,” they say.
For now, the focus is on what’s ahead. The band has been writing new material and is already deep into the next phase. “We have been jamming and working on some new songs these past couple of months for demo #2,” they say. “We are all pumped on the direction that is going, and hope to have it recorded sometime this year.” They’re also contributing a new track and a cover to an upcoming Reckless Release compilation, along with lining up more shows.
Outside of Downward Spiral, members stay active across different corners of heavy music, from dungeon synth to blackgaze, but this band feels like the center of gravity right now.
In a place that can feel isolated from the broader hardcore world, Downward Spiral are keeping things grounded in what matters: community, energy, and doing it with your friends.
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The 2025 Downward Spiral demo is available on cassette via Collective Memory.
Downward Spiral on social media: Instagram
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