Five Star Prison Cell “Matriarch” LP Review
Review: Lana Harris
  – Matriarch
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Based in Melbourne, Five Star Prison Cell began destroying young people’s hearing in 2005. They’ve since completed an impressive array of tours including supporting Bloodduster in Oz and Dillinger Escape Plan in the US. Matriarch represents the third album for the four piece line up which includes vocalist Adam Glynn, guitarist Mark Holain, bassist Cameron MacDonald and drummer Marc Whitworth.
Their sound is often described as ‘math metal’ (which refers to the group’s use of complex rhythmic structures and structuring songs using unusual time signatures), and the tracks contain a lot of syncopated sounds. But beneath these labyrinthine twists and turns in the songs is enough |
good, strong riffage to impress upon those of less technically inclined the fact that Five Star Prison Cell also makes tracks you can bang your head to easily.
As soon as the album starts, you are hit on all sides by the power of drummer Marc Whitworth. He drills the sounds into your mind from every direction simultaneously, forceful, but more layered and interesting than just a wall of sound. The momentum he starts during opening track ‘I Curse This Vessel’ just keeps building until ‘Modus Operandi’, which appears just before mid way on the album. This was the stand out track, a mountain of sound, a blistering explosion that would crack apart even five star cell walls. As it finishes, its hard not to wonder where it could go from there, how the pace could be maintained. Then ‘Paramountain’ begins, and the band takes a step back, providing a space in which to rebuild and change direction, a space whose intro is narrated in Greek.
Having made some room, the second half of the album provides for more appreciation of other band members. This is particularly evident on ‘Loss of Gravitas’ which is a tremendous display of the power of Glynn’s vocals, an exploration in low range growls amidst strong screaming, and also on ‘Forlorn’, which brings MacDonald into the spotlight and strange as it sounds, provided some groove elements to the track, demonstrating the band’s commitment to creating interesting music by doing things differently. Although lyrics throughout are not easily distinguishable, an exception is found in the final track ‘Lamia’ on which the amusing sentiments can easily be deciphered (but they’re not really suitable for printing!). Matriarch was an enjoyable album and one which those not versed in the sub genres of metal can still enjoy as a good dose of satisfyingly heavy music.
– Matriarch – Five Star Prison Cell
Related:
Dillinger Escape Plan + Maylene and the Sons of Disaster @ The Hi Fi, Brisbane 25 May 2010 [Live Review]
Review: Dillinger Escape Plan @ The Metro Theatre – Friday May 21, 2010
Interview: Ben Weinman – The Dillinger Escape Plan
Audio Interview: Ben Weinman – The Dillinger Escape Plan *The Audio version*
The Dillinger Escape Plan – Australian Tour – May 2010 (TOUR DETAILS)
– Buy: The Dillinger Escape Plan from iTunes
Ekka 2010 Concert Series with The Grates, The Beautiful Girls, Vanessa Amorosi and more!
Ekka Concert Series presented by B105, Triple M and Radar
Make sure you don’t miss this year’s headlining performances, which are all included in the price of your Ekka Ticket!
This year’s music line-up offers 5 BIG nights of indie pop and rock that will pump up the volume and get feet a-tapping! The Ekka has been a launching pad for many local acts which have gone on to receive national and international acclaim. This year’s line-up is a combination of acts who have already achieved overseas fame and up-and-coming bands on the cusp of an international music career. Continue reading Ekka 2010 Concert Series with The Grates, The Beautiful Girls, Vanessa Amorosi and more!
Fashion: Cotton & Wool Parades at The Ekka 2010
Cotton & Wool Parades presented by The Courier-Mail
Are you a dedicated follower of fashion?
This is an absolute must see for all fashion lovers! Entry to each parade is also included in the price of your Ekka Ticket!
This year’s Ekka features the return of one its most iconic traditions – the hugely popular Cotton and Wool fashion parades, proudly presented by The Courier-Mail. Presented in the 80s and 90s to massive crowds, the Cotton and Wool Parades thrilled audiences and firmly entrenched them as one of the top three must see experiences at the Ekka. Continue reading Fashion: Cotton & Wool Parades at The Ekka 2010
Charlie Mayfair “Watch My Hands” EP Review
Review: Lauren Sherritt
Ever craved some beautifully crafted music comprised of gently soaring harmonies and dainty whimsy, yet with a mature touch to the sound and lyrics? Well, Brisbane pop-folk band Charlie Mayfair, and its first offering, EP Watch My Hands, may just become your new addiction.
Forming only in January this year, Charlie Mayfair are set to make themselves heard around Australia after bursting out on the Brisbane scene over the past six months.
Continue reading Charlie Mayfair “Watch My Hands” EP Review
Dan Parsons – “Firestarter” LP Review
Review: Lana Harris
 – Dan Parsons |
When writing about music, there’s a variety of words to use in order to avoid saying ‘song’ over and over again. For the most part, these words are interchangeable – the exact meaning matters little. Dan Parsons’ music took exception to this and the word ‘ditty’ just kept springing to mind. The exact meaning of ‘ditty’ is a short simple song, a poem intended to be sung, and this description fits his musical style like a ripped pair of skinny jeans fits indie pop.
The tracks on Firestarter are all short pop numbers, hanging around the three minute mark and taking inspiration from the catalogue of relationship |
experiences that pop loves to work with. Parsons’uses a reflective, ruminative style to shape his words, which invoke images from the time of life found in the space after school, drifting past innocence but having not yet arrived anywhere else.
Continue reading Dan Parsons – “Firestarter” LP Review
STONEFEST 2010 @ University of Canberra – lineup announcement!
**** LINEUP CHANGES ANNOUNCED – CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ****
The Frontier Touring Company, in association with the University of Canberra’s entertainment division UC LIVE!, are thrilled to announce the lineup for this year’s hotly anticipated Stonefest festival scheduled for Saturday 30 October 2010 and held on the University’s grounds.
The addition of Frontier Touring as festival co-promoters is sure to add to the magnitude of the festival. This year sees Frontier celebrating its 30th year of operation and 500th tour. Frontier Touring are extremely pleased to be a part of the venerable Stonefest festival in 2010.
Stonefest has previously hosted an array of highly reputable local and international artists including Cut Copy, The Waifs, Paul Kelly (2007), Faker, Grinspoon, The Dandy Warhols (2008), Josh Pyke, Children Collide, British India, The Living End and Birds of Tokyo (2009). Continue reading STONEFEST 2010 @ University of Canberra – lineup announcement!
PVT (formerly Pivot) ‘Church With No Magic’ Tour – August 2010
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In celebration of their New Name and New Album, PVT (formerly Pivot) announce their 2010 national tour.
‘Church With No Magic’, the follow-up to PVT’s 2008 album ‘O Soundtrack My Heart’, released on July 19th through Warp Records, reflects a literal and sonic transformation for the band. |
From the start, there was an urgency to secure the sound that would become ‘Church With No Magic’. Just one month after they handed over the master of ‘O Soundtrack My Heart’ to the label boss, the three members of PVT were in the studio in Sydney with engineer Burke Reid.
Continue reading PVT (formerly Pivot) ‘Church With No Magic’ Tour – August 2010
Rolo Tomassi – “Cosmology” [CD Review]
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Review: Ben Hosking
For the uninitiated, young UK group Rolo Tomassi (named after a character from the movie LA Confidential) is a scary listening experience. Hell, they’re still a scary listen even after a few rotations of their 2008 debut album ‘Hysterics’. Fronted by diminutive blonde ingénue Eva Spence, the group play what has been affectionately termed as punk-jazz, whilst on occasion thrown in with the mathcore crowds. |
Metallica Announce a 5th & Final Melbourne Show
After multiple instant sell outs and more than 60,000 ticket sales for their first four Melbourne shows, Metallica have agreed to play a 5th and very definitely FINAL show in Melbourne, adding Rod Laver Arena on Thursday September 16 to the 17 sold out shows of their Australia/NZ tour.
The band will take the stage – playing in the round – for more than two hours featuring tracks from throughout their extensive career.
Tickets for this final Melbourne show will go on sale at 9am Wednesday July 7, through Ticketek. Continue reading Metallica Announce a 5th & Final Melbourne Show
The Break @ The Globe, Brisbane June 24, 2010 – Photo Gallery
Photographer: Gerry Nicholls
Click the image to view the photo gallery
Photo: Gerry Nicholls
The Break @ The Globe, Brisbane June 24, 2010
Continue reading The Break @ The Globe, Brisbane June 24, 2010 – Photo Gallery
Clutch – “Live at the 9:30” – DVD Review
 Click here to Buy the DVD. |
Review: Ben Hosking
Perhaps the biggest thing to make or break a live music DVD is the audio mix. Some nail it while so many others fall by the wayside with weak, muddy, uneven or noisy mixes. Thankfully for Clutch – 20 year veterans of the ‘stoner’ rock genre, or whatever it is you may like to call it – it’s immediately obvious that ‘Live at the 9:30’ is going to be a genuinely enjoyable watching experience. |
While it’s so easy to lumber Clutch in with the rest of the stoner crowd, their style boasts too many other elements to keep it restrained to such a narrow pigeon hole. It’s also – more often than not – too energetic and vibrant to properly fit. Existing fan or not, watching this two DVD set will certainly go far to leaving you with an entirely new perception and appreciation of the Maryland four piece. Continue reading Clutch – “Live at the 9:30” – DVD Review
The Jezabels Melbourne Show – July 15, 2010
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After a series of national tours, The Jezabels are pleased to announce a headline show this July at The Toff In Town.
The intimate headline performance will be their first in Melbourne since releasing their second EP ‘She’s So Hard’ independently through MGM late last year. The EP spawned two singles, ‘Hurt Me’ & ‘Easy To Love’ that drew love from radio stations nationally. The Jezabels have spent the last 6 months garnering fans around the country, and are fast becoming a festival staple with recent appearances at Groovin’ The Moo, Soundwave, Field Day, |
Come Together and Mackay’s River Sessions. Continue reading The Jezabels Melbourne Show – July 15, 2010
Grinspoon “Six To Midnight” Tour – new dates added July-Sep 2010
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Overwhelmed by demand to play shows in regional areas. Aussie rockers Grinspoon announce an extensive new run of new dates for their Six To Midnight Tour.
With the tour starting on the 29th of July in Tasmania the show will see the lads weave their way through the ACT, regional New South Wales and Victoria before hitting the last stretch of the tour in South Australia. |
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The hugely successful first leg of the tour in March, saw the band playing at “Sold-Out” venues like The Enmore Theatre and HiFi Bar in Melbourne to a very energetic crowds. Grinspoon are looking forward to the opportunity to engage with their regional fans with their amazing show and unique support line-up. Continue reading Grinspoon “Six To Midnight” Tour – new dates added July-Sep 2010
SOULFLY AND CITY OF FIRE ANNOUNCE OZ TOUR – September 2010
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If you favour metal in its most primal form, then prepare yourself, because this line-up is what you’ve been waiting for. Soulfly will team up with City of Fire and Incite for a triple International tour of the nation, starting September 7.
Most bands slow down with age – not Soulfly. More than 10 years since their self-titled debut album became a genre classic (and achieved Gold sales), they’re back, and they’re bringing their brutal heavy metal assault to the masses, showcasing their seventh album, Omen. Led by former Sepultura frontman, Max Cavalera, Soulfly have become an even fiercer, fierier and more furious metallic monster. Well known for their collaborations with up and coming talent, Soulfly will share top billing with Vancouver five piece, City of Fire, featuring members from Fear Factory and Strapping Young Lad – Burton C Bell, Byron Stroud and Jed Simon. |
Continue reading SOULFLY AND CITY OF FIRE ANNOUNCE OZ TOUR – September 2010