LifeMusicMedia

Photographer: Naomi Rahim

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[Photo: Naomi Rahim]

Melbourne singer-songwriter Michael Paynter played The Prince Bandroom for the launch of his new-ish EP, Love The Fall. Paynter took to the stage with gusto and vibrancy, eager to please his audience. His performance style was positive and honest, banter humble yet friendly, whilst his vocals were as much at home on ballads “Crave” and “Novocaine”, as they were on pop-rock tracks such as “Love The Fall”. Notable mention should be made of his frantic rock cover of Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel”, which maintained the energetic momentum of the show.

[Photo: Naomi Rahim] (continue reading…)

Review: Natalie Salvo

The Drums are a young band from New York City who – like The Strokes before them – received a lot of hype very early on. But as their debut EP, Summertime! And now eponymous debut album have proved, this indie pop quartet are more about basking in the sunlit glow of a California beach than being inspired by yellow cabs or shopping on fifth avenue. The guys ooze retro cool and like Peter Hook’s bass playing in Joy Division and New Order, their sound makes an immediate impact gaining your attention quickly with its old-yet-fresh style. But it seems this

quality is also the group’s pitfall because when spread out over 12 songs, it becomes too repetitively simple and the buzz does tend to wear off a little. Like summer itself, you miss it when it’s gone but after enough humid 40+ degree days you can’t wait for winter or at the very least, autumn.

“Best Friend” combines pure catchiness with some interesting atmospherics including tinny guitars and virtually no bass. The result is the most upbeat track to ever feature lyrics like, “You’re my best friend and then you died”.

“Me and the Moon” is all about the eighties in spades and it really could’ve featured in a montage in The Breakfast Club film. Big single, “Let’s Go Surfing” meanwhile, is a deep wave party and whistling frenzy that is all breezy wipe-outs meets Peter, Bjorn and John. With lots of sunshine, ice-creams and lolling about on a particularly balmy evening, it’s easy to see why this has proved so popular.

Elsewhere there are Beach Boy harmonies (“We Tried”) and light and fluttering synths (“Skippin’ Town”). At times the “four best friends” seem to be taking inspiration from the bubblegum pop and ballads of the fifties (think of that slow dance sequence in Grease) while at other times its more sixties jukebox or Happy Days where you could almost see the guys lugging around a tea chest bass. The other key influence is of course the eighties, whether it’s mainstream twee pop and big hair or the Smiths-like lyrical pessimism boosted by driving guitar hooks. It seems all the bases are well and trully covered, and it should come as no surprise that Jonathan Pierce (vocals) and Jacob Graham (guitar) bonded over the Mancurian group’s masterpieces.

With fistfuls of energy and every “hit single” trick card pulled out and used to their advantage (e.g. handclaps, harmonies and reverb), The Drums have produced 12 gleaming, indie pop tomes full of watery reverb that talk about sorrow but sound like joy. Gorgeously slick, it’s one solid debut that is equal parts wonderful and wearisome.

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– The Drums

Review: Lana Harris Zakk Wylde is known as one of the metal world’s best guitar players, particularly when talking shredding abilities. He was Ozzy Osbourne’s guitarist for two decades, and didn’t let decadence overcome discipline – as well as working and touring with Ozzy, he completed an album a year from 1999-2006 with his side project, Black Label Society (BLS). BLS have their guitars firmly wedged in heavy metal/ hard rock – think Alice in Chains, a bit of Ozzy’s influence apparent in the vocals. But now Wylde’s no longer with Ozzy, and Order of the Black is the first album release by BLS in four years.

Taking the time out seems to have done Black Label Society a lot of good – the album is blow-your-speakers-out fantastic. A wah and soloing infused ‘Crazy Horse’ has BLS banging out a blistering introduction to Order of the Black, and the pace continues on ‘Overlord’ and ‘Praise of the Dead’. ‘Black Sunday’ again shows off Wylde’s guitar skills, opening with amazing shredding before pounding your ears relentlessly. ‘Southern Dissolution’ and ‘Godspeed Hellbound’ blast out energy, harnessing pounding chords in driving metal and showing BLS at its fattest, hammer to the skull best.

What lets this album down slightly is the slow, ballad style numbers which have been placed regularly between the heavier tracks. While they have their own charms, if you like that style of song (and Wylde does have some talents in this area, ‘Time Waits for no-one’ has a great solo in it, and ‘January’ invokes from the heart elements best known in the blues tradition), the placement of fast-fast-slow song repeated across the album makes for a bumpy ride, the slower tracks destroying the otherwise relentless forward momentum of an album that draws your hand towards the louder, louder, louder button on the stereo.

The diversity achievable by Black Label Society isn’t just present in the slower tracks: there’s tiny patches of classical and flamenco guitar woven into the mix. These provide insight into the true depth of talent BLS are drawing from and are amusing. But the real power of Order of the Black isn’t the great guitar playing and diversity. It’s the attitude – the strength and determination that blasts from the chunky riffs populating the hard and heavy tracks on the album. On these songs, Black Label Society are truly masters of the black.

Review: Lana Harris

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Black Label Society – Order of the Black LP

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– Black Label Society

– Zakk Wylde

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Related Products:

BUY this DVD Black Label Society – The European Invasion: Doom Troopin’ – Live Black Label Society is the brainchild of guitar-great Zakk Wylde. Hard and heavy, big on riffs, and even bigger on the solos, BLS is the bastard child of Black Sabbath, only pumped up on steroids. Having graced the world’s stages for the last 18 years, both as Ozzy Osbourne’s right hand man as well as fronting BLS, Zakk Wylde has established himself as one of the few remaining guitar heroes. EUROPEAN INVASION captures BLS live on their sold-out European tour last year–one of the most anticipated tours of the year, and they didn’t disappoint. Witness the full Paris show as well as four tracks from the Astoria in London. Bonus footage includes an hour-long on-the-road documentary, three promo videos taken from the Billboard top 20 album MAFIA, and the making-of documentary for the promo video “Suicide Messiah.”

Interview: Ben Hosking

There aren’t many guitarists out there displaying as much originality and commitment to their craft as John 5. Long known as the axeman behind such artists as Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie, he’s also played with such luminaries as Rob Halford, David Lee Roth and Paul Stanley. When he’s not touring with Zombie, he’s playing session work with artists from a wide range of styles including Ricky Martin and recording his own solo albums; such as his latest effort, ‘The Art of Malice’ which is available now.

Listen to the Audio Interview
JOHN 5 chats with Ben Hosking from LifeMusicMedia.com – Interview by LifeMusicMedia

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Related Post:
Read our John 5 “The Art of Malice” CD Review here…

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– John 5

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The All Music Guide calls John 5’s fourth album a total and utter shred-fest to show off his scorching chops. Our note-for-note transcriptions will challenge any guitarist to see if they can masters John’s licks. 10 songs, including: Cleansing the Soul * The Lead Sprinkler * Pear of Anquish * Pity Belt * Scavenger’s Daughter * Sounds of Impalement * and more.

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Related:
Photo Gallery: Alice Cooper “Theatre Of Death” @ Brisbane Convention Centre 22 August 2009

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Review: Natalie Salvo

– Junip

If ever there was a group that embodied the spirit of quality over quantity, then Junip’s it. The trio – made up of José González (vocals, guitars), Elias Araya (drums) and Tobias Winterkorn (keys) – have released a few singles and EPs; taken a 5-year break (where the former toured his solo work); and are now on the verge of releasing their debut album, Fields. It took a lot of effort to get here (although it was by no means the longest spell – Guns N’ Roses anyone?) but in this case people will declare it was a labour of love well worth the wait. González and Araya have been making music together since they were 14, having started creative life as

a hardcore group. In 2010 they’ve taken a different musical route, improvising together to find song sketches and in particular, looking for beats and guitar patterns that stood out for their overall groove and melody. The result is 11 nu-folk and pop songs borne out of patience, perfectionism, inspiration and sheer bloody mindedness.
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Review: Natalie Salvo

Goodnight Owl – EP – Goodnight Owl

Goodnight Owl started life in a bedroom, graduated to various recording studios and a church in Melbourne, and the result is a folktronica quartet content on blurring the lines between musical genres. Peel away the layers and you have five songs on a self-titled debut EP that have too many ambient noises and electronic beats to be strictly pop, yet also boast too many tender, heartfelt moments to be strictly the former. The group have been likened to The Postal Service, Sigur Ros, Bon Iver and Band of Horses and they admit their music can take you in one of two directions. Like being faced with a road less travelled,

on the one hand there is the promise of the embrace of the dawn while the alternative is an adventure into the dark
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Review: Lana Harris

What deal did Jez Mead make with the devil to get that voice? He certainly didn’t trade his finger picking abilities (his mastery of the guitar is evident in this diverse mix of tracks), but the man surely gave up something for a voice that soars across octaves, that swings from gravel to whisper to a full blown resonance that seems to take up real, tangible space in the room. Beard of Bees is Jez Mead’s fourth recorded offering to the world, and a record that uses his vocal gift (no matter how it was acquired) to deliver a striking set of songs. Let’s begin at the end: the last song on this album

was the best. A gorgeous, chilled out track called ‘Crooked’ was a resplendent way to finish, with slow chords and soulful crooning and Jez humming low and full, a honey coated vibration that left goose bumps in its wake (and was not the only track to do so). ‘Devil’ (featuring Julia Stone as Mead’s duet partner) is similarly slow and haunting, a love song which includes such lyrical blues gems as ‘Devil wants my blood for making whisky’. (continue reading…)

New Jersey quintet SENSES FAIL are set to tour Australia this August 2010, fresh out of the studio with producer Brian McTernan (Thrice, Circa Survive). The band’s long-awaited return will happen nearly 7 years after their first visit when they performed on the Taste of Chaos tour. Senses Fail will be performing songs from their entire catalog, including their most recent Vagrant Records release ‘Life is Not a Waiting Room’, which came out in October of 2008. 7 Australian dates, 5 eager members, and a brand new live DVD scheduled to hit stores later in the year (details to come); this tour will lively demonstrate all of the passion and fury the post-hardcore band is renown for serving.

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Photographer: Stuart Blythe
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[Photo: Stuart Blythe]

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Biffy Clyro @ The Hi-Fi, Brisbane 18 May 2010
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By: Ben Hosking
[Click here to listen to the audio version of this interview]

In a scene where many bands tend to follow the latest musical trend and the industry doesn’t know which way is up, The Dillinger Escape Plan stand clearly out from the crowd.

Formed in the late 1990s, the group has gone from strength to strength thanks to an unwavering self-reliance and unique ability to churn out some of the most twisted, ugly riffs available. Founder member and guitarist of the New Jersey band Ben Weinman (BW) talks to LifeMusicMedia’s Ben Hosking (LMM) about band dynamics, society’s relationship with technology, illegal downloading and their new album ‘Option Paralysis’.

LMM: How’s the tour going?
BW: Pretty good. Everybody’s a little sick, but we’re holding it together.

LMM: Too much partying or more a case of ‘one guy gets sick, we all get sick’?
BW: I think it’s the latter, man. We’re all on a bus together, so when one person starts hacking up a lung, it just spreads like wildfire.
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- Maylene & The Sons of Disaster at iTunes

Interview / Dallas Taylor April 2010. Interview By: Hannah Collins Dallas Taylor (DT), the longest standing member of southern rock/metal band Maylene and the Sons of Disaster talks to LifeMusicMedia’s Hannah Collins (LMM) about divine justice, family, touring and their new album “III”

LMM: I’m sure you’ve probably told this story a million times, but can you tell it once more? That is, how you guys got the name “Maylene and the Sons of Disaster”? And what it does actually mean to you all?

DT: Well it’s taken from the story of “Ma Barker” who was a mob boss in the thirties. She really thought she was doing the work of God but they’d go around robbing banks and killing people or whatever she thought Gods work at the time was. It was almost like a spiritual thing for them. So the whole name thing is taken from that scenario and the message behind it. What you do in life comes back to you. What comes around goes around, you know? For instance, in her life, all of her sons were eventually shot and killed. It’s Divine Justice, how you treat people and how you live your life really effects what comes back to you in the long run. (continue reading…)

Photographer: Charles Williams
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[Photo: Charles Williams]

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Hoodoo Gurus w/ The Break + The Gun Street Girls @ The Hi-Fi, Brisbane 29 April 2010

– Buy: Click here for HOODOO GURUS from iTunes

– Buy: Click here for THE BREAK from iTunes

– Buy: Click here for GUN STREET GIRLS from iTunes
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Few artists in rock history can carry off the single moniker, and carry it with gravitas. SLASH is one of that rare breed. Since emerging with Guns N’ Roses, SLASH has been one of the world’s most sought after guitarists. Michael Jackson, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Quentin Tarantino and so many other fellow icons have sought his services in order to make the good sound great. Critics and fans alike still debate the greatest rock riff of all time with “Sweet Child O’ Mine” consistently taking top honors. Time Magazine placed SLASH second only to Jimi Hendrix amongst the greatest guitarists of all time.

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By: Ben Hosking [Click here to listen to the audio version of this interview] Jeff Martin (JM) spent 15 years fronting iconic Canadian rock group The Tea Party before leaving the country to escape the band’s ‘acrimonious’ split. While holed up in Ireland he embarked upon a successful solo career and met percussionist Wayne Sheehy – a chance meeting that later spawned The Armada, with multi-instrumentalist Jay Cortez. Now an Australian resident, Jeff embarks upon a fresh tour of Australia in May, where he plans to road test some of his new material that will be recorded later this year. Ben Hosking from Lifemusicmedia.com (LMM) caught up with the enigmatic musical gypsy to chat about his upcoming live Armada CD/DVD set, the tour, potential Tea Party reunions and his friendship with Jimmy Page.

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– Buy: Miami Horror at iTunes- Click here

Miami Horror and the Bacardi Express LMM: When you heard about playing on the Bacardi Express Tour, you thought? MH: At first I wasn’t too aware of what would be involved. It wasn’t until we had to do some pre-press shots/interviews last year on the train that I realised how great an experience it would be and became very excited. The train is amazing and all the people we have met so far that are involved have been lovely.

LMM: What are you most looking forward to on the Bacardi Express tour?
MH: We’ve all been talking about the jam room and DJ booth. We are hoping to learn some classic songs to jam with the other bands. Hopefully we can jam some Supertramp.

LMM: Absolutely loved your music clip “Sometimes”, where did the inspiration for that come from?
MH: Originally we had a concept similar to a movie called “Logan’s Run”, but we let Moopjaw (Director/producer of “Sometimes”).
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