March saw a bunch of releases and events across the country within the alternative and metal scene!

This month on Ground Up Marcel and Brynn touch on some of the interesting happenings within the scene: Orange County's IGNITE playing on South African shores for the first time, new releases from Moondaygun, The Fismits, The Medicine Dolls, And Sunken State, as well as chat in depth about bands and their output.

Video Edited by: Marcel Smuts

#SouthAfricanMetal #SouthAfricanBands #SouthAfricanPodcast #SludgeUnderground

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After two decades of silence, Plum made their comeback in 2025, and they’re louder, wiser, and ready to reclaim their place in South Africa’s alternative scene.

In this episode, Nasiphi sits down with Warren to unpack the band’s return, the underground legacy they left behind, and the fire that brought them back together. From wild 90s gigs to their current and future plans, this is Plum like you’ve never seen them before!

#PlumReturns #SouthAfricanBands #BandComeback #MusicPodcast #SceneStories #RockInterview #PlumBand

Plum's Latest Single: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HBkvplt1Rwhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HBkvplt1Rw

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This week on Sludge Underground Marcel talks to Brett from ‪@igniteband‬ leading up to the bands debut appearance in South Africa. Join in as they chat about the band meeting Fuzigish's Malcom at Punk Rock Holiday in Slovenia, the bands over 30 year run, and stories from a band that's played in over 50 countries in its lifetime.

Let us know who you'd like to see come to South Africa next!

Edited by Marcel Smuts.

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February was jam packed full of highs and lows across the South African alternative and metal scene, we're breaking it all down!

On this episode, Marcel & Nasiphi recap the month's biggest stories: The cancellation of Calabash, the success of Emalyth Fest, and the latest releases from Sonder The Africanime, Mouse, and Lucy Kruger. We're also joined by Myke Taylor of Devilnest/Your Cynical Sanity, who gives us a recap of their Durban show featuring heavyweights DOOMTRIGGER & No Closure.

It doesn't end there, we'll be looking ahead to the Wacken Metal Battle Africa kicking off this weekend, and share our thoughts on what it means for the scene going forward.

#SouthAfricanMetal #SouthAfricanBands #SouthAfricanPodcast #SludgeUnderground

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Step into the mind of Sunken State frontman Dwayne Hees in this unfiltered episode of Sludge Underground.

We look at his journey, having grown up in an Afrikaans household in Rustenburg, starting out as a vocalist before even touching vocals, and his pre-Sunken State days with links to MoshMallow bassist Reinhardt. Dwayne talks about how he met Mat Swanepoel and how Sunken State's OG lineup was formed.

The episode also looks at Dwayne's nuanced views of cancel culture within the South African alternative scene, his side projects, and Sunken State's future. Lastly, we finally reveal the identity of the mystery person Dwayne doesn't like.

Whether you're here for the music, stories, or tea, you cannot afford to miss this episode.

Video by Nasiphi Zwane
Thumbnail by Myke Taylor

#SunkenState #MetalVocalist, #SouthAfricanBands #SludgeUnderground #MysteryReveal

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What really happens after Wacken Open Air? In this episode, we dive deep into the challenges South African bands face after representing the country in Germany, and why breaking out internationally isn’t as straightforward as it seems.

🎤 We put YOUR questions directly to Sash, giving you the answers you’ve been waiting for. Plus, we explore what Emalyth and the Wacken Metal Battle South Africa have lined up for 2026, and what it means for the future of heavy music in South Africa

If you’re passionate about metal, South African bands, and the global stage, this is a must-watch!

#WackenOpenAir #SouthAfricanMetal #MetalBattleSA #Emalyth #HeavyMetal #MetalCommunity #Wacken2026 #GlobalMetal #MetalHeadsUnite

Keesh's Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oR3xMtHhU4k&list=PLHezfwZCdiMd_UZ8l1CgtMJMoXLLXSIkT

WMBSA DOCUMENTS

What is the Wacken Metal Battle:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1P0V6o-kJxx2O1xkucQLA9hqpudgq0Qd9/view?usp=drivesdk

WMB Africa Band Guide
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1huLACewL-HLXcbTWUJ8YihZfzNiYOXTB/view?usp=drivesdk

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Marcel catches up with ⁨@PAGES_DOOM⁩ to chat about the recenet release of their album No More Can Be Done. Diving into themes of existential dread, geopolitical despair, environmental decay and raw emotion.

Join in as we chat about the bands evolution, the importance of physical media, and how art as a meduim makes it's way into their music.

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Join the boys as they look back at the best South African band releases and events of 2025. From memorable gigs to standout music releases, they highlight their favourites and share a glimpse of what's coming in the remainder of 2026.

#SouthAfrica #SouthAfricanPodcast #SouthAfricanBands #SludgeUnderground

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