Greg Trull is the vocalist for seemingly-eternal metal band Dreadnaught, which this year is celebrating its 23^rd birthday.

Of course, things have changed a lot since 1992, when young people wearing all-black and sporting long hair and goatee beards were as regular a sight as today’s hipsters.

Fashions changed, trends changed, and music came and went in waves.

But despite the ebbs and flows, metal has maintained its fanbase, especially for stalwart bands like Dreadnaught, which has played alongside some of the world’s most famous heavy acts such as Testament, Strapping Young Lad, Nevermore, Paradise Lost, Nickelback, Pitchshifter, Prong and Cathedral.

“I think there’s always going to be some young kid out there who hears from bands like Slipknot...there’s always going to be a young kid who feel it’s me against the world, which you do at that age. And I think metal is the perfect soundtrack for that,” Trull said.

“Some people grow out of it...but most people I know who are into metal and heavy music, they stay there for life.”

He noted Ballarat had a stable metal fanbase – the band has regularly visited over 20 years.

Trull said he thought the secret to Dreadnaught’s longevity was not following fads. The Melbourne-based band has just released its first album in six years – Caught The Vultures Sleeping.

“We’ve obviously got older people who are into the band, but we always seem to find new fans as well,” Trull said.

“With Dreadnaught, we’ve always done what we wanted to do instead of following trends, we do what’s right for us. Some bands write the same album every time – we’re not into that.”

The band’s new album features seven-string guitars and includes mellower tracks such as Set Fire to the Plan as well as the band’s signature fast and heavy pieces.

Dreadnaught will kick off its Caught the Vultures Sleeping tour at Ballarat’s Karova Lounge on Friday, supported by Wildeornes, Strict Vincent and Feast Of Crows. For details, visit www.karovalounge.com