PYREFLY: JOURNEY INTO THE UNKNOWN THROUGH THE EYES OF STICKS

Sydney metal band PYREFLY are only days away from embarking on their first national tour with AVATAR. As the band prepares for this milestone occasion, Headbangers Australia took the time to chat with the band’s drummer, Alanis Bentley aka Sticks, about the upcoming tour, her journey with PYREFLY and what this achievement means to her personally.

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HA: First of all, Sticks, congratulations to you and the band on this milestone national tour. How has the excitement been, and how have preparations been going in the lead-up to the tour?

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STICKS: Thank you so much. This announcement since the tour has been a whirlwind of emotions. I’ve been bouncing between absolute shock and excitement about playing with Avatar. Not only have we grown as a band but even performance wise we have grown and perfected what was an already amazing show. The preparations have been going since we found out. I’m talking about upgrading my kit, adding beautiful new cymbals, adding to my snare collection, the whole works really. Our bass player is even changing his strings which if you know you know. 

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HA: With the band having such strong individual personas on stage, you’re the only member without makeup, but you are known as “Sticks.” For those who don’t know, is “Sticks” part of your own persona within the band, or have you just not found the right on-stage persona yet?

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STICKS: The makeup on the boys looks amazing. Thanks to the incredible Janine for coming up with the designs and having to paint the boys every night haha. I adapted the name Sticks as for a way for the fans to be able to communicate and chant with and for me. You’ll find we all have our own little stage names and it definitely helps get into the right head space. Being able to stand side stage and become this ‘character’ where I don't have any other worries other than catch the stick, hit the drums is an out of body experience. Once I come off that stage my gear is packed I go see my partner and I am now just Alanis. So I do think I have found my ‘persona’, the make up for the boys is a small part of it that I don’t need as Sticks gets often chanted in the pit. 

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HA: What challenges have you faced in the metal industry since joining PYREFLY, particularly in what is still a male-dominated industry? Does achieving something like a national tour with AVATAR mean even more to you on a personal level because of that journey?

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STICKS: You’re not wrong there. Metal is still a very male dominated industry. My music background never started as metal, so joining Pyrefly was my first introduction to anything of this sorts. As a woman drummer regards of genre you get the typical “so nice to carry your boyfriend's gear” and such like that. But what I find humorous is not correcting them. Because it’s years of tradition of men being drummers that lead us to this assumption. So I nod my head, walk on stage, set my gear up, and do my absolute best. Which I have had people actually come up and apologise to me about assuming. There are the creepy sides to this as well. Even just being a woman in general does not mark you safe from gross comments but overall I feel very safe in the metal community and with my band mates around. Achieving something like touring with Avatar is an astounding achievement. We started Pyrefly jamming in random rehearsal studios and garages. From where we started and even myself from a playing perspective I would never have guessed this is where we would be, if i could go back and tell younger me to keep going something will come from this, I wouldn’t. I know what you’re thinking, why wouldn't I? The band is fun. Playing is fun. Once something feels like a job it isn't the same. So I’d rather keep the excitement and the fun with the unknown possibilities and living through each moment like it’s the best thing ever.

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HA: What has been your personal career highlight during your time with PYREFLY so far?

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STICKS: Well everything really is a highlight. Contrary to what people may believe, I am not a standard metal head. I was never a metal drummer. I joined this band with one bass pedal and I have grown to fast blast beats and sample pads, and triggers. On a skill level alone I'm excited to show everyone how I’ve grown individually. Meeting so many skilled and amazing drummers that we have played with me and everyone so happy to share tips and tricks. Thank you all, you know who you are. But if we are talking gigs wise…. Well I guess Good Things was my highlight. To play a stage that my favourite bands have played on was break taking. Seeing what goes on behind a show on this level and all the workers. The all access pass was a cool thing to keep!

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HA: Thank you for chatting with Headbangers Australia, and all the best for the AVATAR tour. To finish, what does PYREFLY mean to you today compared with when you first joined the band?

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STICKS: Thank you for taking the time! Pyrefly is my second family. These boys have seen and been with me through pretty much everything. I couldn’t ask for a better lot of boys to put up with me. I will always play with Pyreflys original drummer Katrina in my heart while also continuing to make Pyrefly my own. What started as a bit of fun has turned into something I wish I could describe. To the future and hopefully one day drumming full time! 

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AVATAR 2026 Australian and NZ Tour Dates

Wednesday 26th August ADELAIDE, Lion Arts Factory *

Friday 28th August MELBOURNE, Northcote Theatre

Saturday 29th August SYDNEY, Manning Bar

Sunday 30th August BRISBANE, Princess Theatre

Tuesday 1st September AUCKLAND, Powerstation *

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* PYREFLY NOT APPEARING

Tickets On Sale Now From: https://thephoenix.au/avatar-2026/

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