Category Archives: Review

Live Review | The Rise Of Brotality Tour @ The Hi-Fi, Sydney – September 14, 2014

Review by Scott Singh
the ghost inside
Not many people can say they’ve spend a good chunk of their Sunday night listening to a diverse group of metal & hardcore acts. Luckily, the faithful who venture out to The Hi-Fi in Sydney don’t have that problem. Bands from three nations united to put on an impressive display of talent and vigor. It proved to be one of the best nights held at The Hi-Fi.

First up and unfortunately for the last time, Heights appeared on stage to let loose a relentless barrage of deep growls and prolonged chugging. The band gave off an aura of indifference, really not giving a damn for the stage, the setting or the venue. It was their last time to perform for their fans and they made sure the night would be owned by them and them alone.
Continue reading Live Review | The Rise Of Brotality Tour @ The Hi-Fi, Sydney – September 14, 2014

Live Review | Cannibal Corpse + Hour of Penance @ Metro Theatre, Sydney – September 11, 2014

Words and Pics: Ben Hosking
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When Cannibal Corpse last played Sydney two years ago at the Manning Bar, punters were left bruised, broken and scarred. If the line up for tonight’s show at the Metro is anything to go by, there’s sure to be a room full of battered corpses by the end of the night.
Continue reading Live Review | Cannibal Corpse + Hour of Penance @ Metro Theatre, Sydney – September 11, 2014

Album Review | FLYING COLORS – “Second Nature”

Review by Peter Coates
FCAlbumThe second album from progressive rock “supergroup / side-project” Flying Colors is released in Australia on October 3rd 2014 and perpetuates the initial basis for the band, formed in 2012, of seeking to combine virtuoso progressive rock musicians with a melodic pop singer / songwriter, and see what happens.

The musicians are all enormously experienced and influential heavyweights from the modern and progressive rock world, featuring Steve Morse (Deep Purple / Kansas / Dixie Dregs) on guitars, Neal Morse (Spock’s Beard / Transatlantic) on keyboards, Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater / Transatlantic / Adrenaline Mob / Winery Dogs) on drums, and Dave LaRue (Dixie Dregs / Satriani / Vai) on bass – with Casey McPherson (Alpha Rev) providing the songwriting and vocals.
Continue reading Album Review | FLYING COLORS – “Second Nature”

Live Review | Devildriver + Whitechapel @ The Hi-Fi, Sydney – September 6, 2014

Words and Pics: Ben Hosking – www.hoskingindustries.com.au
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With a line waiting out front that stretched around the corner and up the street, there was no question tonight’s show with US metal bands Whitechapel and Devildriver was going to be a brutal one. While it’s unfortunate that most of those people would miss the opening act due to the HiFi’s super slow entry process (to the extent that the tour manager would have to delay Whitechapel’s start time until everyone was allowed in well past 9pm), Whitechapel and Devildriver no doubt made every single punter in the full room forget about any annoying delays.
Continue reading Live Review | Devildriver + Whitechapel @ The Hi-Fi, Sydney – September 6, 2014

Live Review | The Amity Affliction + Architects + Issues + Stray From The Path + Deez Nuts @ Hordern Pavilion, Sydney

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Arriving at The Hordern Pavilion I found myself meeting a swarm of dark cladded fans, sporting their war paint indicating that the night would be anything but peaceful. But who can blame them? With a line-up that boasts a solid blend of homegrown talent and international stars, what awaited everyone was a fierce display of talent and memorable performances.

With 5,000 die hard fans trying to getting into the show, the beginning of the night seemed slow and to tie that in with compulsory check-in for bags. The stage was almost bare when Deez Nuts arrived. Throwing their unique blend of Rapcore with heavy undertones, the boys played to faithful fans who made damn sure that they would witness the whole set and while things started to pour outside, the heated atmosphere inside the venue opened up the opportunity for a warm-up moshpit.
Continue reading Live Review | The Amity Affliction + Architects + Issues + Stray From The Path + Deez Nuts @ Hordern Pavilion, Sydney

Photo Gallery + Review | Diego El Cigala @ Concert Hall QPAC, Brisbane – August 22, 2014

Photos and words by Jose Eduardo Cruz
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Continue reading Photo Gallery + Review | Diego El Cigala @ Concert Hall QPAC, Brisbane – August 22, 2014

Live Review | Tina Arena @ Brisbane Convention Centre – August 24, 2014

Review by David French
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Tina Arena’s latest “Reset” tour is by all accounts quite a risk for the singer. She decided to finance it herself and with it take greater control, providing the vision and co-creating the whole tour from the ground up. This was well worth the gamble taken given the overwhelming reaction from the audience that filled the Brisbane Convention Centre on Sunday night.

From the first note of the dramatic opening you could sense the artistic freedom and the packed audience made up of all ages, shapes and sizes were truly ready to embrace Ms. Arena and have fun.
Continue reading Live Review | Tina Arena @ Brisbane Convention Centre – August 24, 2014

Photo Gallery + Live Review | Courtney Love @ Newcastle Panthers – August 22, 2014

Review and Photos by David Jackson – Winding Creek Photography – for LifeMusicMedia.com
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As the tattoo on her right arm so vividly displayed the words “let it bleed” this is what Courtney Love gave the audience in Newcastle on Friday night. It flowed not as a viscous fluid but in the form of a rampaging rant via a journey back in time. Although Hole is gone you could not help but draw a comparison. From the all-male four piece band to the constant trip back to the days of Hole with her saturated song list constantly exacerbating this successful stage of her career. I have no doubt this is what the forty year old plus audience came and were looking for. Taking to the stage wearing black stockings and knee high boots, gone was the trashy lingerie however Love’s underwear was strategically positioned over her pants. Resting her leg on her fold back, orange Rickenbacker positioned ready to strike, the band opened up with “Wedding Day” from Love’s new album “Died Blonde” then jumped right into a well-received Hole reunion with “Miss world” followed by “Plump”. “Hello Newcastle, your small not like the other Newcastle” referring to our English friends, this echoed with a smile from Love’s mouth. Sitting on a speaker smoking one of her famous “lucky strikes” Love let loose with “Honey” teasing the audience grinding on the speaker.
Continue reading Photo Gallery + Live Review | Courtney Love @ Newcastle Panthers – August 22, 2014

Photo Gallery + Review : Anathema at Metro Theatre, Sydney – 22 August 2014

Words and Pics: Ben Hosking
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Spiritual. Transcendental. Spellbinding. Miraculous. That’s the best way to describe Anathema’s first Sydney concert in their 25-year history. There’s electricity in the air and from the first bars of Untouchable Part 1, everyone can feel it – including the band themselves who are visibly stoked at the reception.
Continue reading Photo Gallery + Review : Anathema at Metro Theatre, Sydney – 22 August 2014

Live Review : Anathema at The Hi-Fi, Brisbane – 21 August 2014

Review by Wanda Hill
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Anathema played their first ever Australian show to a welcoming and receptive audience at the HiFi Bar in Brisbane’s West End on Thursday night. Any doubts about their Australian fan base would have been quickly swept away as the crowd soaked up the power and intensity of their music and joined them in singing along with songs recently released as well as from albums produced many years ago. Yes Anathema, you have many fans here, and we hope you won’t wait so long to visit us again.
Continue reading Live Review : Anathema at The Hi-Fi, Brisbane – 21 August 2014

Album Review | JOE BONAMASSA – Different Shades of Blue

Review by Pete Coates
JB-DSOBJOE BONAMASSA – Different Shades of Blue
Release Date – 12th Sept 2014
J & R Adventures Records

Joe Bonamassa has produced an extraordinary range of blues and rock music in his career – whether as a solo artist, or in the blues rock fusion work of Black Country Communion. The common threads of all his work lie in the distinctive voice, and the pure but often slightly scuzzy guitar riffs, with the clean solos reminiscent of Gary Moore and Carlos Santana.
Continue reading Album Review | JOE BONAMASSA – Different Shades of Blue

Live Photos + Review | Tim Hulsman @ Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice, Sydney – July 30, 2014

Photos and Words by Peter Coates – Inside Edge Photography

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One of six children raised in a rigidly devout Jehovah’s Witness family, Tim Hulsman’s father was a respected elder in that community, responsible for counselling and advising “the flock” and for ex-communicating members who were deemed to be straying or worse, ‘unrepentant sinners’. Any music other than hymns and religious music was heavily regulated in the Hulsman home and Tim’s parent’s deeply-held belief was that music “will lead you astray.”
Continue reading Live Photos + Review | Tim Hulsman @ Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice, Sydney – July 30, 2014

Live Review | Jeff Lang @ Thornbury Theatre, Victoria – July 5, 2014

Review by Ben Connolly
jeff langThere are moments in almost every Jeff Lang gig which absolutely grab you in the guts. Often it’s while the “disturbed folk” progenitor is wrangling an impossible guitar lick to within an inch of its life; sometimes it’s when he’s fiercely locking into a groove with his long-term collaborator Danny McKenna and sailing on the precipice; others it’s when the starkly rich lyrics arrests you in your tracks.
Continue reading Live Review | Jeff Lang @ Thornbury Theatre, Victoria – July 5, 2014

Live Review | The Bronx + High Tension + Born Lion @ The Metro Theatre, Sydney – June 20, 2014

Review by Scott Singh
bronx_4719-LFriday night at The Metro Theatre showcased a diverse range of acts that provided mixed vibes of the rock, which left everyone with coarse voices and drained bodies. The trio of bands who performed each owned their set and left a distinct mark on the crowd, showing off their signature sounds.

Born Lion were first to take the stage. This local band already had a gathering of local support waiting to rock along with these party goers. Stylised as harsh rockers with dynamic stage chemistry, their faithful head-bangers took the front of the crowd to feed off the energy that was released by the band.
Continue reading Live Review | The Bronx + High Tension + Born Lion @ The Metro Theatre, Sydney – June 20, 2014

Live Review: The Beatle Boys @ State Theatre, Sydney – June 21, 2014

By Natalie Salvo
Beatle BoysIt was fifty years ago today that Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. Not quite, but it has been that long since The Beatles did their first and only tour of Australia. The tribute band, The Beatle Boys would recreate their 1964 set as well as play another full set of classics, favourites and some obscure songs at the State Theatre. It proved to be one fun night and respectful tribute to the Fab Four.

The first act went for just 35 minutes but this was how long a headline act would typically perform for in 1964. The concert started with video containing black and white archive footage from the Australian tour when Beatlemania was in full force. From there, The Beatle Boys (John Kater as Paul, Christopher Lee Frazer as John, Rodney Auld as George and Michael Brady as Ringo) launched into the chugging pop of “I Saw Her Standing There”.
Continue reading Live Review: The Beatle Boys @ State Theatre, Sydney – June 21, 2014