After five consecutive sold-out events, Melbourne Dethfest is set to return in 2027 with its largest edition to date, relocating to The Croxton in Thornbury for an expanded two-stage format. Leading the first announcement is Swedish death metal institution Bloodbath, who will make their long-awaited return to Australia as the festival’s first confirmed international headliner.
Since launching in 2022, Melbourne Dethfest has steadily established itself as one of Australia’s key gatherings for extreme metal, bringing together international heavyweights and some of the country’s strongest underground acts. Previous editions have featured artists including Exhumed, Rotting Christ, Jungle Rot, Left To Die and Allegaeon, alongside Australian bands such as King Parrot, Disentomb, Abramelin, KING, Anoxia, Munitions, Golgothan Remains, Stargazer, Denouncement Pyre, Faceless Burial, Mammons Throne and Carcinoid.
For 2027, organisers are expanding the festival once again, with more than eight hours of live music spread across two stages at The Croxton. Bloodbath headline the first announcement, while two additional international artists are still to be revealed alongside a lineup showcasing the breadth of Australia’s extreme metal scene.
Formed in Stockholm in 1998, Bloodbath have long been regarded as one of modern death metal’s defining bands, combining members from some of Sweden’s most influential heavy acts with a catalogue that has helped shape the genre over the past two decades. Their return to Australia marks one of the festival’s biggest international bookings to date.
The move to a larger venue reflects the continued growth of Melbourne Dethfest, which has sold out every year since its inception. With further lineup announcements still to come, the 2027 edition looks set to continue the festival’s focus on celebrating both established international names and Australia’s thriving extreme metal underground.
Go HERE for tickets.
