“The whole idea of this record is like a very communal based thing like engaging people as listeners and it’s a record for a listener rather than a record for musicians or about a singer in the band or the band itself.  The idea of being able to read it as a headline sort of connected the community to the […]

Tonight, it’s time to get a little heavy in my Sidewave week, so it seemed like the right thing to do to go and check out the perfectly matched trio of Miss May I, Cancer Bats and Bullet For My Valentine for a night of loud, just loud… Miss May I make their way to the stage and ambitiously call […]

Oh another Sidewave? Don’t mind if I do… This time we’re heading up to Soundwave headliner status with Linkin Park, and along for the ride tonight on this awesomely paired show is Stone Sour. This is shaping up to be a big night and I for one can’t wait to see both of these monster bands who I have had […]

The wrath of Soundwave continues. In the midst of Sidewave week here we are at The Manning Bar in Sydney tonight to see Danko Jones, Fozzy and Loaded and I’m set for what I know will be a rockin’ night. Danko Jones are up first tonight, this three piece from Canada are in Australia for the first time and doing […]

Here we are again this time, this year Soundwave is bigger and better than ever before as headlining you have the one and only Metallica. In an amazing turn of events the day before it was torrential rain but today is absolutely marvelous! I know, right, so let’s keep our fingers crossed that the day remains perfect. In with absolutely […]

As I walk through Sydney Olympic Park tonight there are many a barrier, food van and ride sitting there in preparation, readiness for Soundwave on Sunday, but as we keep walking and the crowd start making their way in to Allphones Arena tonight they are off to see a show nine years in the making. Yes, it has been nine […]

“To write songs for the people and the people can like it, instead of writing something about drugs or chicks, that’s not Journey’s thing, it was more about beautiful ballads, great rock songs with a cool message for the people, they were a band for the people, still is.” As a band for forty years now, with some of the […]

“We’re looking forward to coming, sucks that we had to cancel last time but we’re ready to come this time and we hope the shows will be good and it will be a fun time. I think this line-up is actually better, it’s probably the best line-up I’ve seen in a long, long time since I’ve been touring, so it’s […]

In summary: A perfect companion and conclusion to The Afterman storyline concept. Musically and lyrically heartfelt and one to definitely check out. Following on from 2012’s ‘The Afterman: Ascension’ here only a few months later Coheed and Cambria bring us part two of this opus in ‘The Afterman: Descension’ and if it’s anything like the first then this will be […]

“So this is an absolute beast that’s coming on the road and we couldn’t be more proud, we feel like we’re back with a vengeance and we’re really hungry, this is a hungry animal and I’m really proud of the band, I couldn’t be more excited, I’m so stoked to be coming over there.” From Press Release: If you have […]

“I know we haven’t been down there before and it’s going to be awesome for everybody, man, for us, for the fans that haven’t seen the band ever down there. We’re just looking forward to it; we’re going to be at the top of our game so we hope everyone can stand the brutality.” When you’re given the title of […]

“We just do our own thing and that’s what we’ve done, and we try to keep turning the screw a little musically on the new music that we write and we like to be a little different and we’ve got ourselves a nice little following around the world and Australia’s next.” From tour press release: When names like Guns N’ […]

“We grew up and started as a live band and that’s all we’ve ever wanted to do with music, writing and recording is awesome, but playing live is what we love doing.  Just expect six massive smiles on some stupid Welsh heads.” From Bio: Originally formed in South Wales in 2003, THE BLACKOUT have gone on to shift over 60,000 […]

In summary: The Dixie Dead is a ‘feature’ of heavy riffs, gruesome lyrics, awesome melody and many a toe tapped. What more can you ask for? From the opening of ‘The Dixie Dead’ with its haunting musical introduction and the premise of ‘Death Arise – main titles’, this concept from Wednesday 13 on his newest studio release gives you the […]

“Obviously you’re only as good as your last album, so we’ve improved and adopted a little less is more on this album, the songs only have what the songs need and we’ve matured a lot…” Bullet For My Valentine have been ripping it up now for almost fifteen years.  In that time have released three albums and helped pave the […]

“I think I’m more focused and writing better and I think I’m more appreciative of my whole career than I’ve ever been in my whole life.  I’m back on track so that’s the ‘Transition’.  I have mortality staring me in the face.” It blows me away when you can speak to an artist that has been touring almost as long […]

In Summary: You actually feel like you’re along for the ride on this transition, vocally, lyrically and musically, it all draws you in to what ‘Luke’ has created. Some of you may know him by name, some may not, but I can tell you one thing, you’ve heard his work before. Steve Lukather has been touring for the best part […]

From Bio:  For years, the United Kingdom has provided the hardcore scene with quality acts including BRING ME THE HORIZON, GALLOWS, ARCHITECTS, and ASKING ALEXANDRIA to name a few. Following suit, five friends from South Wales formed a metal band, unaware of how quickly their talent would be discovered. It did not take long for their ruthless, cutthroat style to […]

Keith Urban has always been an amazing performer and has made a name for himself by working hard, putting in the years of effort and clawing his way to where he is as one of the most successful modern country artists out there today.  So of course on this tour of Australia it goes without saying that his fanbase has […]

“Is it fair to say that Bodyjar are back and sticking around? – Yeah fuck why not” From Tour Press Release: BODYJAR returned to Aussie stages last year into the warm arms of the Australian music-listening public after a brief hiatus. Smashing out a series of rad shows, the Melbourne lads launched the first ever vinyl release of their classic […]

I think I can sum this album up in three words ‘Holy Fucking Shit’.  Let me explain how I see this band and this album; to me there’s a perfect balance of everything here, to compare and bear with me here, it’s like when Mr Burns had all those diseases but, as they were all there and he had everything […]

It’s been 16 long years since Weezer have graced Australian shores, so tonight already has its first win as there are many eager fans who I know have been waiting since 1996 to see the band again or in some aspects for the first time, and tonight will see the band perform not only a greatest hits / B-sides set […]

Today, the word isn’t bird, it isn’t even Grease, it’s HEAT. It is a scorcher in Sydney today and as I sit here on this magnificent air conditioned train on my journey towards Olympic Park I sit and wonder how I’m going to make it through this tipped to be 40+ degree day? Will I ever get to see the […]

In summary: “Concept style albums seem to be what a number of bands like to do at least once in their career, so… let’s see what this concept is all about.” Concept style albums seem to be what a number of bands like to do at least once in their career, whether it be Queensryche with ‘Operation Mindcrime’ or My […]

So, this is my first Homebake, and in its inception since 1996 I stand here and I’m somewhat disappointed in myself that I’ve taken so long to come out and support this event which over its years has featuring some of Australia’s best acts. This year though is slightly different in the first International edition featuring US legends Blondie. So […]

The Stone Roses will be playing their own headline shows on the back of their appearance on the Future Music Festival 2013 lineup, playing three dates in March in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Widely regarded as one of the most influential British bands of all time, their self-titled album released in 1989 is widely considered to be one of the […]

“We mix all the influences like AC/DC and Rose Tattoo and Judas Priest and Saxon and we make the music we like and all the influences should be in there.  It’s not that difficult, we never talked about how we should sound like, it’s just obvious.  It has to be that kind of style.” Doing the rounds of the Swedish […]

“Where many bands are ashamed of their old work and back catalogue, I commend The Living End for having the balls to come out and do what they’ve done and are doing on this Retrospective tour.” The packed crowd in the Hi Fi tonight are here for one reason as they have been for the last five nights to see […]

Here at MTRBWY, we are a Nickelback friendly zone and I personally do not understand the hatred towards the band. If they were so hated why would they be back playing arenas and here at the first of two nights in Sydney?  Oh yeah, they must be so awful, surely the 13,000 people here tonight feel that way too…  you […]

In summary: “If After The Fall can continue to write songs of this calibre, then hopefully we’ll continue to hear music from them for quite some time.” It’s been what seems like much longer then the three years since we heard from Sydney siders ‘After The Fall’ who you may remember from songs such as ‘Mirror Mirror’, ‘The Fighter’ and […]