[MUSIC INTERVIEW] AHLES – Between Dreams And The Waking World Interview

September 9, 2025September 9, 2025 Dave Ahles, Alix Bandiera, Australia, Born From The Ashes, David Griffiths, Dragonsmead, Ian Ahles, Monash Lal, Praetorian, Puncture Wound, Subculture After Dark, Will Towne

AHLES is a progressive metal outfit from Brisbane, Australia.

This quartet is the brainchild of guitarist-vocalist Ian Ahles, who has had a prolific music career in the Australian heavy metal scene over the past twenty years (Praetorian, Dragonsmead, Born From the Ashes) coupled with an academic background in classical guitar.

AHLES’ line-up is completed by drummer Alix Bandiera (Born From the Ashes, Puncture Wound), and classically-trained musicians Monash Lal and Will Towne (Riverside Guitar Ensemble).

With this unique line-up combining both metal and classical influences, AHLES aligns the technicality, finesse and musicanship of both styles with emotive songs.
November 2024 saw AHLES’ first live appearance supporting Peru metallers HYENA, followed by the release of debut single Will Nothing Grow?

Now comes AHLES’ full-length album ‘Between Dreams and the Waking World’.

‘Between Dreams and the Waking World’ is in parts, the collaboration of Ian Ahles (guitar/vox) and
Alix Bandiera (drums) reconnecting after their former band Born From The Ashes dissolved in 2010, the
seven years of intense classical guitar training Ian undertook in the years between, as well as Alix’s
progression as an elite death metal drummer. Classical music informs the progressive elements of the
songs on the album with Ian meeting both Will Towne (guitar), and Monash Lal (bass, flute) while
studying at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music. But the backbone of the album is very much metal,
with elements of death and thrash metal coming to the fore. Complex time changes and polyrhythms sit
comfortably amidst crushing grooves and acoustic instrumentation. Lyrical themes alternate between a
critical lens on societal conflict and the deeply personal, often within the same song. A large palette of
sonic colour and shade combine into a cohesive tapestry into a unique and original debut album.

This week Dave Griffiths sat down for a chat with the band this week to find out more about the album. You can take a listen to the interview right here: