Category Archives: cd

CROW reform and release new album ‘Arcane’

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A good 10 years since disbanding, Sydney’s iconic rock band CROW has … hallelujah … reformed!

Fronted by dual vocalists/guitarists/songwriters, Peter Fenton and Peter Archer … and backed by the fine talents of drummer John Fenton and bassist Jim Woff, CROW makes a long-awaited return with its ORIGINAL line-up.

For those who need a reminder, throughout the 90’s, CROW released three critically acclaimed albums – the Aria nominated ‘My Kind Of Pain’ plus the much respected ‘Li-Lo-ing’ and ‘Play With Love’. A favourite to many on the live circuit, a CROW performance could be a “shambolic affair” one minute, and then utterly breathtaking the next… an audience’s interest was never left wanting at a CROW show. They toured with the likes of Jeff Buckley, Nirvana, Sebadoh, Pavement and Sonic Youth amongst others, and were touted as the ‘best band in Australia since The Birthday Party’ (Juice Magazine 1998). After a number of band member replacements, in 1998 they parted ways…much to the disappointment of their legion of fans and the industry alike.

Fast track to 2009, CROW were asked to play as part of the ‘That Was Then, This Is Now’ series at Sydney’s Factory Theatre with HOSS. Re-igniting the fire in their belly, and re-kindling a passion for the CROW sound, the band played a couple more shows before going onto record a new album, their fourth, at Sydney’s Cad Factory in Marrickville. Mixed by Jim Moginie (Midnight Oil), ‘Arcane’ sees the band back in truly excellent form…some will argue “Best form”. In the immortal words of Mr Moginie, “Arcane by Crow is a bloody good record…Bands that retire early or fade off into the glorious Australian sunset prematurely can return with a vengeance, in this case a song led recovery and not a once round the block cash in/ hypefest. Dark and soulful music such as this, intelligently done and strongly and imaginatively delivered will always win the hearts and minds.”

In Peter V Fenton’s words, “We are immensely proud of this record. It feels more a culmination to us than a mere return to the service of rock! The songs are alongside some of the best that we have ever released and personally, we feel, as a band, stronger and more in tune with each other than ever.”

CROW – ARCANE is out June 18 through Nonzero/Shock Records.

Stay tuned for tour news…

www.myspace.com/crowcrowcrowyourboat

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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] →

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TERRY BROCK 2nd solo album “Diamond Blue”

Napoli, June 2010 – Frontiers Records will release on August 27th in Europe and September 14th in the USA “Diamond Blue”, the anticipated second solo album from the gifted singer Terry Brock. Best known as current vocalist in the Melodic Rock titans Giant, Terry has also recently announced to rejoin Strangeways, the legendary British AOR band that launched his name in the spotlight in the late 80’s, for the recording of a brand new album. Continue reading TERRY BROCK 2nd solo album “Diamond Blue” →

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Jez Mead “Beard Of Bees” out soon

  Mead is your quintessential musical journeyman, travelling the country from the east to the west coast and everywhere else in between, gigging at pubs, clubs, venues and festivals. Another gig, another town – such has been the troubadour life of Jez Mead for the past 10 years. Playing his own brand of blues folk fusion with an acute pop sensibility, Mead clocks up the clicks (50,000 last year alone), listens to endless old school cassettes and has amassed life experiences that all have been translated into an album of ingenious purity and startling beauty.

Continue reading Jez Mead “Beard Of Bees” out soon →

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Blue King Brown Return with “Women’s Revolution” featuring Queen Ifrica

  There are few self-managed independent Australian acts that can state, they’ve toured with the likes of Santana & Lauryn Hill, been broadcast live worldwide performing at Al Gore’s 2007 Live Earth and toured across the world captivating crowds, filling rooms & rocking festivals, from Sydney to LA, NY to London, Tokyo to Montreal, Berlin to Melbourne.

Continue reading Blue King Brown Return with “Women’s Revolution” featuring Queen Ifrica →

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Dean Carroll Launches Single & Supports ASH GRUNWALD – June/July 2010

Dean Carroll – who performs under the guise of Earth Worker – launches his new single titled ‘Who’s Coming Along’ which is taken from his debut album due out towards the end of the year. The single will be available for free download via his official website www.earthworker.com.au and Dean will hit the road to launch it supporting ASH GRUNWALD on his New South Wales dates.

Dean Carroll was born December 23rd in Windsor, Sydney. Dean spent his infant years under the strict seven year schedule of classical piano directed and influenced by his Mother and older sister. From here Dean rocked his way through high schoolon guitar and bass guitar writing classic alternative hard rock and Metal. It was here Dean started teaching himself to sing and play anything he wanted. Years past and Dean found himself in five years of service singing for Sydney four piece Metal Core outfit. This gave Dean all his songwriting, singing and industry experience which finally led him to the writing of Seeds of Light his debut solo album due out Summer 2011.

Dean spent the best part of six months travelling Australia busking and writing the album – which is still blessed with riffs and melodies he’s held onto since 2007.

Originally beginning his journey down in southern NSW Perisher Valley, dean ventured back up the east coast of Australia all the way to Cairns and then across the desert and north to Darwin. With nothing but his guitar and Didge Dean survived and lit the way he envisioned his song writing to become.

Dean has now independently recorded and produced his debut Full Length Album ‘Seeds of Light’ which will be released and distributed by New Justice Records Summer 2011.

Dean will also be touring Australia this coming year and in to the next backing his album and single release sometimes

www.earthworker.com.au

TOUR DATES:

Saturday June 19: Winter Magic Festival, Katoomba, NSW
Wednesday June 30: Baroque Bar, Katoomba, NSW
Thursday July 1: Steel Mantra body mod & piercing, Windsor, NSW
Friday July 2: Fitzroy Hotel, Windsor, NSW
Thursday July 15: Happy Yess, Darwin, NT
Saturday July 24: Happy Yess, Darwin, NT

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The Bank Holidays Release Sophomore Album

  Pop luminaries The Bank Holidays will release their much anticipated sophomore album Sail Becomes A Kite on 17 July 2010 via Lost and Lonesome Recording Co.

Hailing from Perth, The Bank Holidays recorded Sail Becomes A Kite with Martin Roth at ABC Studios Perth, and Steve Bond (The Panics, Snowman) at Cazfair House.

Continue reading The Bank Holidays Release Sophomore Album →

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Angus and Julia Stone – ‘Down The Way’ Notches Up Platinum Sales

Angus and Julia Stone’s sophomore album ‘Down The Way’ is the highest selling Australian Artist album for 2010.

The album debuted No. 1 upon release in March, holding for 2 consecutive weeks and has maintained a position at the top of the charts, this week moving back inside the top 10 and notching up sales of over 70,000 copies in the last two months, certifying it platinum.

The siblings return home next month from playing sell out shows across the UK and USA to headline the ‘Go Between Bridge’ concert in Brisbane. They then jet back to Europe to play festivals in Belgium, Holland and France and Latitude and Cornbury Festivals in the UK. Returning home to Australia again in July to play the ‘On The Bright Side’ Festival in Perth followed by ‘Splendour In the Grass’ and then into their headline national tour commencing in August and running through September. Tickets are selling fast with additional shows being added in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to cope with the high demand! Continue reading Angus and Julia Stone – ‘Down The Way’ Notches Up Platinum Sales →

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CUSTOM KINGS Album Release & Tour – June/July 2010

After numerous side projects, family obligations and working holidays, Melbourne’s much loved Custom Kings have returned to the studio to record their long awaited second album, which will be called Great Escape. Reuniting with long-time collaborator, Steven Schram (Little Birdy, Ground Components) , they booked two weeks at the famed Sing Sing Studios in Melbourne and brought to life a series of songs penned in the couple of years since the release of their acclaimed debut album At Sea. Continue reading CUSTOM KINGS Album Release & Tour – June/July 2010 →

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Reptiles “Come Get Me” EP Launch and Shows – June 2010

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  Melbourne scuzz-punks Reptiles are set to launch their latest EP Come Get Me in Melbourne and Sydney this month.

Catch Reptiles launch at Revolver in Melbourne on Sunday 13 June (Queens Birthday Eve) and at Oxford Arts Factory side stage in Sydney on Wednesday 30 June.

Continue reading Reptiles “Come Get Me” EP Launch and Shows – June 2010 →

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Birds Of Tokyo Announce Self-Titled New Album & 3D Video!

  The release of one of 2010’s most anticipated albums can now be announced with Birds Of Tokyo unleashing their self-titled new album on Friday July 23; along with the album artwork revealed above.

As fans come out in droves to see the band perform new material on their current national single tour, Birds Of Tokyo today also announce the release of their first 3D music video for the bands new single ’The Saddest Thing I Know’.

Using two DSLR cameras (7Ds) side by side, the boys of Birds Of Tokyo discovered a group of creative and innovative film makers who found their own way to create a 3D image, resulting in this unique 3D music video. Continue reading Birds Of Tokyo Announce Self-Titled New Album & 3D Video! →

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Chief Announce Debut Album

  Domino announce the arrival of the debut album from Chief, Modern Rituals, on 13th August 2010.

Two years ago the four members of Chief finished their stints at New York University and returned home to the US west coast, their suitcases stuffed full of soaring melodies, shimmering guitars, lovelorn lyrics and heart-stopping harmonies.

Continue reading Chief Announce Debut Album →

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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] →

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CD Review: Escape The Fate – “This War Is Ours”

Review: Ben Hosking

  Escape the Fate (ETF) just doesn’t know what they want to be. The Las Vegas quartet plays a very American, largely accessible rock/metal blend for the most part. Their tunes switch back and forth between swaggering mid-tempo rockers, unconvincing ballads and even more surprising and bewildering blasts of deep growled passages over menacing riffage.

So just what is it that ETF are trying to achieve? Their vocalist Craig Mabbitt is reminiscent of most of the emasculated faux-metal front men currently in circulation.

You know the kind: a little nasal and still awaiting puberty. This means that they’ll never be fully accepted by the metal or hardcore scenes. Their big choruses and pop sensibilities have helped them to win over 20 million MySpace page views and 400,000 friends; yet they’re far beyond the realms of Australian radio. Continue reading CD Review: Escape The Fate – “This War Is Ours” →

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The Optimen – Official Brisbane Album Launch @ The Step Inn, Brisbane 28 May 2010

Do you want a double pass to the The Optimen – Official Brisbane Album Launch @ The Step Inn, Brisbane 28 May 2010? See below for details!!

The Optimen   It’s been some-time between drinks for fans, but even with the AA meetings and late night phone calls to their sponsors, the Opee’s just can’t control their thirst any longer. For this reason, and also to bring the new album to the live stage, The OPees have announced that their official Brisbane “The Out Of Money Experience” album launch will be Friday, May 28 2010 @ The Step Inn.

Continue reading The Optimen – Official Brisbane Album Launch @ The Step Inn, Brisbane 28 May 2010 →

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