Beastwars

{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2015}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}

{{about|the heavy metal music group|their eponymous album|Beastwars (album)|the entertainment franchise|Transformers: Beast Wars}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name =

| image = Beastwars 2016.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Matt Hyde, Nathan Hickey, James Woods, Clayton Anderson

| image_size =

| alias =

| origin = Wellington/The Hutt, New Zealand

| genre = Sludge metal, stoner metal

| years_active = {{Start date|2006}}–present

| label =

| associated_acts =

| website = http://beastwars.bandcamp.com/

| current_members = Nathan Hickey
Matt Hyde
James Woods
Christian Pearce

| past_members= Clayton Anderson

}}

Beastwars is a sludge metal band from New Zealand.

The early history of the band can be said to have begun in 1986 when Matt Hyde began his first band, Microwave Babies, while attending Saint Bernard's College in Lower Hutt. They disbanded in 1988. Hyde then moved to Australia, and then London. Aaron Carson in Auckland invited Hyde to try out for his new band, The Larry Normans. At around the same time Nathan "Nato" Hickey was an up and coming bass and guitar musician. Hickey was introduced to Clayton Anderson, a guitarist in metal bands. This is about the time Hickey began playing drums. Hickey had also discussed forming a band with James Woods, and brought him along. At some point Hyde met Hickey, and the beginning of Beastwars was underway. The band was formed in 2006, and played their first show as a four-piece unit in 2009.{{Cite web|title=Beastwars - AudioCulture|url=https://www.audioculture.co.nz/people/beastwars|access-date=2020-10-19|website=www.audioculture.co.nz|language=en}}

Their 2011 self-titled debut album received positive reviews in the band's native countryScott Kara, [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment-reviews/news/article.cfm?c_id=1502967&objectid=10723570 "Album Review: Beastwars"], The New Zealand Herald, 5 May 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2011Nicola Russel, [http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/4999888/Meet-Wellington-metal-act-Beastwars "Meet Wellington metal act Beastwars"], Stuff.co.nz, 13 May 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2011Ricardo Kerr, [http://www.undertheradar.co.nz/utr/review/CID/462/N/Beastwars.utr "Album Review: Beastwars"], Undertheradar.co.nz, 29 April 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2011 and invited musical comparisons to Soundgarden,

Mastodon, and Unsane, amongst others.Patrick Hajduch, Scott Morrow, [http://alarmpress.com/37825/blog/columns/morrow-vs-hajduch-beastwars/ "Morrow vs. Hajduch: Beastwars"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111227171032/http://alarmpress.com/37825/blog/columns/morrow-vs-hajduch-beastwars/ |date=27 December 2011 }}, Alarmpress.com, 24 August 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2011[http://www.heavyplanet.net/2011/06/new-band-to-burn-one-to-evening-buzz_28.html "New Band To Burn One To (Evening Buzz): Beastwars "], Heavyplanet.net, 28 June 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2011 The album also gained recognition for Nick Keller's cover design, winning the 2011 New Zealand Music Award for Best Album Artwork or Packaging. The band received a nomination for best New Zealand Rock Album at the same ceremony, but ultimately lost out to Ignite by Shihad.[http://www.nzmusicawards.co.nz/2011/11/03/vnzma-2011-winners/ "VNZMA 2011 Winners"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110012710/http://www.nzmusicawards.co.nz/2011/11/03/vnzma-2011-winners/ |date=10 November 2013 }}, nzmusicawards.co.nz, 3 November 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2011 The album was also shortlisted for the 2012 Taite Music Prize.{{cite web|title=Taite Music Prize 2012 |url=http://www.indies.co.nz/taite-music-prize/153-taite-music-prize-2012/600-the-taite-music-prize-2012-announcing-the-finalists.html |publisher=IMNZ |accessdate=25 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418183652/http://www.indies.co.nz/taite-music-prize/153-taite-music-prize-2012/600-the-taite-music-prize-2012-announcing-the-finalists.html |archivedate=18 April 2012 |df=dmy }}

The group has opened for Mastodon, High on Fire, Fu Manchu and Kyuss and in 2012 performed at the Auckland Big Day Out music festival alongside notable international acts such as Soundgarden, Röyksopp, and Kasabian.Dave Borgioli-Jones, [http://www.nzrock.com/interviews/beastwars-interview/ "Beastwars Interview Nato (drums)"], nzrock.com, 7 December 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2011[http://auckland.bigdayout.com/ "2012 Auckland Big Day Out Lineup"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207131912/http://auckland.bigdayout.com/ |date=7 February 2012 }}, Big Day Out. Retrieved 30 January 2011 In 2011, a limited release custom-brewed beer was commissioned bearing the band's name.[http://www.amplifier.co.nz/news/76321/beastwars-announces-tour-and-custom-brewed-beer.html "Beastwars Announces Tour And Custom-Brewed Beer"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003061355/http://www.amplifier.co.nz/news/76321/beastwars-announces-tour-and-custom-brewed-beer.html |date=3 October 2011 }}, Amplifier Magazine Official Website. Retrieved 30 January 2011, 2011

Their second and fourth albums, Blood Becomes Fire and IV respectively, were shortlisted for the Taite Music Prize in 2014 and 2020.{{cite news |title=Taite Music Prize 2014 |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/nat-music/audio/2593626/taite-music-prize-2014 |access-date=17 February 2025 |publisher=RNZ |date=24 April 2014}}{{cite news |last1=C. |first1=C. |title=Taite Music Prize 2020 Finalists Announced |url=https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/17035/Taite-Music-Prize-2020-Finalists-Announced.utr |access-date=17 February 2025 |publisher=Under the Radar |date=12 March 2020}}

In July 2023, the band announced that guitarist Christian Pearce would join the band to replace Clayton Anderson.{{cite web |title=BEASTWARS - Announce 5th Studio Album 'Tyranny of Distance' |url=https://nzmusic.org.nz/news/artist/beastwars-announce-5th-studio-album-tyranny-of-dis/ |website=NZ Music |access-date=26 July 2023}}