Category Archives: Review

Annihilator – “Annihilator” [CD Review]

Review: Ben Hosking

  With the seemingly never-ending list of 1980’s bands reuniting over the last 10 years or so, all trying to recapture some of their former glory; it’d be easy to dismiss Canadian thrash legends Annihilator as just another in the line. However, founder member Jeff Waters and company never actually left and have been producing quality metal the entire time; unlike many of their fallen brethren.

That said, this – their 13th studio album to date – easily qualifies as their finest effort in the last 20 years or so. A self-titled album, ‘Annihilator’ is brimming with speedy, precise riffage that

effortlessly melds old-school thrash with more modern technical metal that will surely have you damaging neck muscles in the bedroom, car or public transport.
Continue reading Annihilator – “Annihilator” [CD Review]

The Holidays, Ernest Ellis, The Honey Month @ The Cubbyhole, Brisbane June 4, 2010 [Live Review]

Review: Stephen Goodwin

The Holidays   Winter has arrived. In name if not entirely in earnest. Tonight, though, The Holidays are doing their utmost to defy the chill in the air, raising both temperature and spirits with a strong showing of their summery party tunes.

But first.

Continue reading The Holidays, Ernest Ellis, The Honey Month @ The Cubbyhole, Brisbane June 4, 2010 [Live Review]

Black Dahlia Murder, Unearth, State of Integrity @ The Hi-Fi Brisbane 2nd June 2010 [Live Review]

Review: Hannah Collins

THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER
[Photo: Stuart Blythe]
  Over the isle of aggressive emo’s I trek, an uphill struggle lasting only 20 metres. Past a few youngins’, already heavily intoxicated before the headliners even arrive at the scene. It’s about 8.45PM, and a fight breaks out at the venue entrance… Black Dahlia Murder, have certainly attracted some eccentric hoodlums.

There are 5 bands on the bill in total, which may make for long night. Arriving too late to catch Gold Coast born; deathly brutal “Widow the Sea” (debut album coming soon) and most of the next set by Newcastle’s “The Storm Picturesque”, currently on a small Victorian tour. Both groups are relatively adolescent in relation to the depth of both their musical compilations and touring experience, but with a little time, they may just be a couple of names to watch out for…

Continue reading Black Dahlia Murder, Unearth, State of Integrity @ The Hi-Fi Brisbane 2nd June 2010 [Live Review]

The Break – “Church of the Open Sky” [CD Review]

Review: Lana Harris

  Ah, the beach. Golden sands, blistering sunshine and pounding waves are all an integral part of Australian culture, so it’s perhaps surprising that we haven’t heard more surf rock acts spring up locally. Instead, the genre is much more heavily associated with American waves, Hawaiian surf shacks or perhaps the laid back vibes of San Francisco.

Well, The Break are out to change that. They’ve taken rockers who are a part of Australian culture (drummer Rob Hirst, guitarists Jim Moginie and Martin Rotsey, from Midnight Oil) added in

an American who recently moved to Hobart (ex Violent Femmes bassist Brian Ritchie) and created a surf rock record that should see Australia in general, and The Break in particular, usher in a resurgence of this laid back style of music. Continue reading The Break – “Church of the Open Sky” [CD Review]

Live Review : Rickie Lee Jones @ The Tivoli, Brisbane 31st May 2010

Review by Hannah Collins
Rickie Lee Jones
Rickie Lee Jones… um… who? She’s not on the regular radio rotation, nor is a household name, yet she’s been filling the air with her amicable sounds for the last 30 years. Her initial self titled album debuted at #3 on the US Billboard top 200; she’s received over 5 Grammy nominations and has featured on the cover of Rolling Stone.
Continue reading Live Review : Rickie Lee Jones @ The Tivoli, Brisbane 31st May 2010

Delerium – “Remixed: The Definitive Collection” [CD Review]

Review: Ben Hosking

  It has always been equally intriguing and amusing to this reviewer that a pair of individuals as intense and creative as Rhys Fulber and Bill Leeb should be most widely known for a dance/pop project. However, this is exactly the case for the Canadian pair long known in metal and industrial circles for their work with projects like Skinny Puppy, Front Line Assembly and Rhys’ regular contributions to groups such as Fear Factory.

Despite – or perhaps because of – this, Delerium has always been an infinitely listenable experience that has pushed the boundaries of the genre; often

encompassing a wonderful darkness. Hopefully they’ve helped regular fans of mindless commercial dance to open their minds to something more creative, layered and ultimately – respectable. Continue reading Delerium – “Remixed: The Definitive Collection” [CD Review]

Mike Patton – “Mondo Cane” [CD Review]

Review: Ben Hosking

  The prolific Mike Patton returns with a project unlike any that have come before it. Sung entirely in Italian, the album ‘Mondo Cane’ features a 40-piece orchestra, choir and band.

Listeners have had hints of Patton’s multi-lingual abilities in the last, such as tunes found on earlier Faith No More releases. However, ‘Mondo Cane’ sees the twisted genius using his talents to pay homage to other songwriters, including his beloved Morricone, who penned the track ‘Deep Down’.

Continue reading Mike Patton – “Mondo Cane” [CD Review]

Danko Jones – “Below the Belt” [LP Review]

Review: Lana Harris

  Danko Jones is a man born to wear leather, and if listening to this album doesn’t convince you, the shiny black outfit he sports on the cover of his band’s latest LP Below the Belt will. This is BIG rock, stadia rock, another-word-that-rhymes-with-rock rock – what else would be expected from a man who names his band after himself? Proving that he’s more than just a leather clad front man, Jones also plays lead guitar, is responsible for writing columns in rock magazines, hosts radio shows and has completed solo spoken word tours.

Continue reading Danko Jones – “Below the Belt” [LP Review]

The Black Keys – “Brothers” [CD Review]

Review: Natalie Salvo
This is a record review about The Black Keys. But you already knew that didn’t you? So while we’re giving you ‘helpful’ but unnecessary statements, “Brothers” is the sixth studio album from the Ohio-based blues-rock duo.

The pair has been rather busy as of late with guitarist, Dan Auerbach dropping a solo album while Patrick Carney produced the aptly titled side project, Drummer. The boys then collaborated with a bunch of rappers for the hip-hop record, Blakroc.
Continue reading The Black Keys – “Brothers” [CD Review]

Live Review – The Dillinger Escape Plan + Maylene and the Sons of Disaster at The Hi Fi, Brisbane 25 May 2010

Review: Hannah Collins

Following on from the destruction that took place at Sydney’s Metro Theatre on Friday 21st, Sunday 23rd of May saw the malicious line up on the The Dillinger Escape Plan tour park their vans and load their gear into the rear of Brisbane’s Hi Fi.
With both headliner, and second support bands touring off the back of their latest releases, they’ve come; ready blow the house away with an arrangement of toxically destructive yet undeniably distinct songs. Maylene don’t’ look like your typical metal band, because they’re not. Neither are Dillinger. Both acts are well known for their pioneering ability to create and mould new genres of sounds, encompassing an array of metal, jazz, blues, rockabilly, punk and screamo. The collection of sounds we’re about to hear are unique only to the bands who’ve created them. Maylene are drilling to the core of traditional rock and metal and intently injecting an air of southern flair, quite familiar to their place of foundation; Burmingham, Alabama. While Dillinger, a much earlier conception, incorporate their own blend of metal (progressive, thrash, hardcore, punk) and jazz fusions to have become, the pioneers of what critics and fans alike now know as “math metal”. With such a partricular combination of artists, the show will surely be, as mind boggling and utterly intriguing as the bands themselves.
Continue reading Live Review – The Dillinger Escape Plan + Maylene and the Sons of Disaster at The Hi Fi, Brisbane 25 May 2010

Evergreen Terrace / Casey Jones / Dropsaw @ The Hi-Fi, Brisbane 22nd May 2010 [Live Review]

Review : Ms Morta
It came to my attention during the duration of tonight’s performance, that to be a musician in the hardcore punk scene, one must master the art of levitation.

Evergreen Terrace
[Photo: Silvana Macarone]
  Rocking up to The Hi-Fi Bar on this chilly Saturday night the crowd was already a buzz. Newcastle’s Dropsaw hit the stage running with their heavy hardcore sound to start the night. Having just released their 3rd album HARD JUSTICE, they busted through their short set comfortably, pleasing those early punters who wanted to let loose ASAP! It was obvious these boys were stoked to have been the support on such a great bill.

Continue reading Evergreen Terrace / Casey Jones / Dropsaw @ The Hi-Fi, Brisbane 22nd May 2010 [Live Review]

RocketSmiths – “Underground” : CD Review

Review: Lana Harris

  Underground is the new single for Rocketsmiths, a Brisbane based five piece that have been releasing EPs since 2006. With metaphors of the band’s sound leaning precariously towards the more raucous end of rock descriptors (carnie, rockabilly and carnivalesque among them), ‘Underground’ draws on short, punchy riffs and restrained energy to deliver a catchy first single.

The track begins with drumbeats tumbling from the silence and quickly ramps up into a tune that would fit right in with those on The White Stripes’ Elephant record.

Continue reading RocketSmiths – “Underground” : CD Review

Review: Dillinger Escape Plan @ The Metro Theatre – Friday May 21, 2010

Review: Ben Hosking
A video camera appears at the front doors of the Metro Theatre on Sydney’s George Street and the assembled throng erupt with screams and cheers. The footpath is a fast-flowing river of regular folk, looking on curiously as the rag-tag gathering of music fans chant “Dillinger Escape Plan rawk!”

It’s a cold, rainy evening in Sydney’s CBD as hundreds stream into the iconic venue to witness a night of musical and at times, personal destruction courtesy of the US band mentioned above.
Continue reading Review: Dillinger Escape Plan @ The Metro Theatre – Friday May 21, 2010

Live Review: Ball Park Music, Blame Ringo, Tin Can Radio @ The Zoo, Brisbane 21 May 2010

Review: Ben Connolly

  Eclecticism is a menu item at The Zoo for a dreary winter’s night as Ball Park Music launch yet another release. The eclecticism takes a great leap into the abyss of craziness straight up, however, with first band Tin Can Radio’s everything-and-the-kitchen-sink ethos. It’s genre mash-up pulled off almost to perfection, with elements of hip hop and dancehall melded with solid parts of rocking goodness. Instrument swapping and crowd-hyping antics sit comfortably along side

some serious head-banging and hair tossing, as they spend the first half of their short set sadly failing to entice the seemingly shy early crowd from getting down the front and dancing. The lack of response, however, failed to dent lead man Tom Wearne’s enthusiasm as he led his gang through numerous tension building jams and almost orgasmic rhythmic releases. His persistence finally paid off as, almost as one, the crowd came to life mid-set with new song Hot Trash and old favourite And Then Nothing filled the little dance floor with gyrating hips and floppy-haired bops. Ending with a shambolic number which showed the sheer joy of just barely keeping it together, TCR proved again how much of a delicious little secret this scene has been hiding. Continue reading Live Review: Ball Park Music, Blame Ringo, Tin Can Radio @ The Zoo, Brisbane 21 May 2010

CD Review: Blood Red Shoes – “Fire Like This”

Review by: Victoria Nugent

  The latest offering from Brighton band Blood Red Shoes could be given the label of garage rock for a new generation. The duo’s second album, “Fire Like This”, is largely influenced by 90s grunge, and showcases some impressively gritty, heavy sounds, coupled with poppy lyrics and varied vocals. Though some may argue the tracks sound slightly generic, there’s no denying that Blood Red Shoes have their own distinct pattern that works for them.

The two piece band is made up of Steven Ansell and Laura-Mary Carter and formed in 2004 after their previous bands Lady Muck and Cat on Form split up. Taking their name

from a story about Ginger Rogers’ blood stained dancing shoes, the pair released their first album Box of Secrets in 2008, which, like Fire Like This , was co-produced with Mike Crossey. Continue reading CD Review: Blood Red Shoes – “Fire Like This”