From Philly to Perth: VARIALS Talk New Album, Setlist Dynamics, and Huge Australia Tour With SPITE

The heavy music scene in Australia is about to get a massive injection of adrenaline. In just a couple of weeks, the Spite ‘New World Killer’ Australian Tour is touching down, bringing an utterly relentless lineup to our stages. Joining the bill are two incredible support acts, making this one of the most highly anticipated extreme music events of 2026.

We recently sat down with the guys in Varials for Metal On Tap to discuss shaking off the touring rust, crafting the perfect dynamic setlist, and their crucial mission to spot local wildlife while smashing burgers.

Here is what went down.

Riding the Wave of New Music and Deep Cuts

Fresh off a massive run in the States, the band is gearing up for a quick turnaround to hit Australian shores. Despite the demanding back-to-back schedule, the energy is at an all-time high thanks to the incredible reception of their latest material. Playing new songs—especially with a relatively new vocalist—can be a nerve-wracking experience, but the fans have shown up with overwhelming support.

“The reception has been insane, man,” the band shared. “Like, we’re all pretty emotional. The last few shows just because like sold out… and the fans just screaming the words back to us. It’s rewarding for sure, to say the least.”

Releasing Where The Light Leaves to the masses was described as a mix of intense anxiety and pure excitement. “Once it finally was unveiled to the world, and we were like, ‘Alright, what’s ours is now yours’… it’s kind of just a weird feeling at first. And then you see people talking about it… the best way I explain it every time is just like, it feels like Christmas Eve and Christmas morning.”

They are also incredibly stoked to see fans digging into the deeper album cuts rather than just spinning the most popular tracks. “We’re playing some stuff off the album that’s not like singles. And even those songs have been getting a great reception… it’s meant to be enjoyed, you know, not just the big singles and everything. So like front to back.”

The “Dark Knight Rises” Setlist Strategy

When you are wedged between the crushing deathcore of Spite and the relentless heaviness of Diesect, there is a natural temptation for bands to just play their most aggressive tracks and abandon any melody. Varials, however, are committed to bringing the full emotional spectrum of their music to the live show.

“It’s hard to write heavy songs that sound so wholly different from each other and have their own hallmark vibe for each track,” they explained. “We’re playing the top four frets. So it’s like, yeah, we’re putting some melody in there. I mean, we have so many different influences. It’s really just what we want the band to sound like at that given moment.”

The album itself was crafted with this flow in mind. “It is a journey through all of the feelings that all of us collectively were feeling in that time period of our lives as individuals and as a unit.”

They consciously structure their live set to reflect this, giving the crowd necessary breathing room. “We correlated the setlist… with bricks being dropped on the heads. And then you get to the second portion of the set and that’s when we slow it down. We give everybody a little time to chill out and recoup. And then it tunes back into the third and final push… like, alright, clock back in.”

Even on a bill this punishing, they aren’t afraid to let their atmospheric, “sad boy” elements shine. “We definitely have in our heads, ‘Alright, we might be the band that’s got the slow songs,’ but that’s just us. Let the people experience not just the heavy side of our band.”

Kangaroos, Grill’d, and the Road Ahead

It’s been three long years since Varials last hit Australia. So, what’s on the bucket list for their return?

“I’m trying to see a kangaroo, for sure,” they laughed. (We let them know that the upcoming Newcastle show will probably be their best bet for some local wildlife spotting just up the road). They are also ready to dive into the local cuisine, specifically asking about Grill’d after hearing rumors of a “healthy burger place that’s actually good.”

Crucially, the guys were ecstatic to make sure this run hit as many spots as possible, including a final stop on the West Coast to close out the tour.

“When they were setting the tour up, yeah, that was the main thing. Like we wanted to make the most of it because, you know, it’s not all the time that bands, especially with this lineup, would be able to get down there together.” By locking in that Perth date, they successfully avoided the dreaded “Come to Perth!” comments that usually flood international tour announcements.

Before signing off, the band had a final message for their supporters: “Go listen to Where the Light Leaves. We’re on tour right now… Always at the merch table talking to people, chomping it up. All Australian fans, we’ll see you guys here very soon.”

Make sure you get down early to catch Varials alongside Spite and Diesect this April and May. Check the dates below and secure your tickets before they are gone.