Notching Up The Victories With LIAM GUINANE From WINDWAKER

As with every other year, anticipation surrounding the first
line-up announcement for Good Things 2025 was almost at a fever
pitch. Social media experts and promoter wannabe’s all shared their
projected line-ups, but most were well off the mark.
Good Things is possibly one of the hardest festival line-ups
armchair critics get to sink their teeth into, with the diversity
and seemingly flippant mashing of genres meaning pretty much any
band from any genre could make the final cut. And this year was no
exception.
When TOOL were announced as headliners, a large number of punters
were already scrambling for tickets, but a quick scan through the
rest of the line-up proves the eclectic tastes of organisers and
the variety of live music on show for fans of most
persuasions.
Rock? Tick. Weezer, Garbage.
Pop Punk? Tick. All Time Low, New Found Glory.
Punk? Tick. Refused.
Metal? Big tick. Machine Head. Knocked Loose, Lorna Shore.
Amongst the impressive international bands on display is a large
contingent of Australian bands who will be representing at Good
Things. One of whom is Windwaker, who have just released the
crushing new track Victory Lap. 
The Melbourne-based metalcore outfit are deservedly riding a tidal
wave of success following the release of last year's genre-bending
album Hyperviolence. The album catapulted the band into the ears of
a global audience, in the process earning them a nomination at this
year's APRA Awards alongside touring opportunities both local and
abroad. The album - which was the first featuring Liam Guinane as
lead vocalist - showcased the evolution within Windwaker's sound,
tearing at the foundations of sonic tapestries to reveal a
convoluted yet accessible underbelly that was as refreshing as it
was unique.
The flow on effect from that album has seen Windwaker lead the
charge of Aussie acts at Good Things 2025, with Liam sitting down
with HEAVY to go over a whirlwind last 18 months. The band have
previously played festivals such as Download, UNIFY and Knight
& Day, but we state the obvious by remarking that no matter how
often it may happen, Liam would never get sick of seeing the name
'Windwaker' on the poster.
"No, I want to see it more often," he laughed. "I'm so stoked to be
part of this line-up. We've played Good Things once before, but I
think this is probably my favourite line-up of theirs put together.
That's not just because I'm on it, I think it's just a great round
of bands."
We ask about the mentality backstage between Australian bands and
their international counterparts, and if it ever seems like an 'us
against them' type of situation.
"It can be," Liam laughed again. "It's case by case with every
band. Some keep to themselves and do their own thing, while there's
others that are very friendly and talk to you. It's always
different. I think the artist area is where a lot of the mingling
happens. When you're backstage, as such, everyone is acting like
security guards for their gear (laughs), and they're just
staunching everybody. For the most part, everyone is really nice,
but you're right, the Aussies gravitate to the other Aussies. I
guess it's just a bit of a natural thing that happens."
In the full interview, Liam talks more about the eclectic
assortment of artists and genres and why he prefers a festival like
that rather than one with a more common mixing of genres. We talk
about the high number of Australian bands playing and how it
represents local music on a global stage, his tips for surviving
Good Things, what songs from Windwaker to listen to in preparation
for the show and what we can expect from their set.
Talk turns to Windwaker's new single Victory Lap and it's
sensational music video, whether it is a standalone single or part
of a bigger picture, what direction future music may take and
more.

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