Category: International Releases

Thirty Seconds To Mars – Love Lust Faith + Dreams

Thirty Seconds To Mars – Love Lust Faith + Dreams

Genius isn’t a word I throw around much. I could simply review this album with that one simple word ‘Genius’, as I feel like it is. I’m now into my fifth listen through the album and not because I needed to get into it to review it, but because it’s simply THAT good. I don’t know what it is about […]

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Frank Turner – Tape Deck Heart

Frank Turner – Tape Deck Heart

Frank Turner in the last few years has grown in popularity to become one of England’s hottest artists and has become renowned for not only his amazing song writing but also for his amazing live performances that are now captivating fans worldwide. With this, his newest album Tape Deck Heart, Frank has moved away from his usual ‘England’ based content […]

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Authority Zero – The Tipping Point

Authority Zero – The Tipping Point

In 25 words or less: “This is a solid album full of catchy, fist pumping songs that you should check out…” You may or may not have heard of Authority Zero, I’m in the later of that statement, but I was surprised to find out that they have been a band for the best part of almost ten years and […]

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Bring Me The Horizon – Sempiternal

Bring Me The Horizon – Sempiternal

In this day and age its almost inevitable, the album leak, I don’t like it, think it’s completely unfair, all I know is that artists take a lot of time and money creating an album for their fans and when those months of labour and love are just given away well you can kind of see how that’s a little […]

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Bon Jovi – What About Now

Bon Jovi – What About Now

Ok, so everyone that knows me personally knows that I’m a huge Bon Jovi fan, have been for 25 plus years and I’ve seen it all. Been through the good times and bad times with the band and stuck with them every step of the way. Each album as they’ve ‘grown’ or ‘evolved’ with the day and ages sound to […]

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Coheed and Cambria – The Afterman: Descension

Coheed and Cambria – The Afterman: Descension

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 […]

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Wednesday 13 – The Dixie Dead

Wednesday 13 – The Dixie Dead

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 […]

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Steve Lukather – Transition

Steve Lukather – Transition

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 […]

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Continents – Idle Hands

Continents – Idle Hands

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 […]

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CRASHDÏET – The Savage Playground

CRASHDÏET – The Savage Playground

“Some say we are the poison, I say we are the cure” – CRASHDÏET are indeed the cure for those of you (like me) who are repulsed by the highly manufactured, disposable and predictable music acts that abound the airwaves in this day and age, CRASHDÏET bring back that unbridled danger and rebellion essentially absent these days from the world […]

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Adler – Back From The Dead

Adler – Back From The Dead

In 25 words or less: “One of 2012’s greatest surprises packets which slays anything ever released by any of his former GNR cohorts.” One of the surprise rock albums released in recent months would have to undoubtedbly be Back From The Dead from Adler, featuring drummer Steven Adler, of course of Guns N Roses and Adlers Appetite fame.  Enlisting frontman […]

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Black Veil Brides – Wretched and Divine: The Story of The Wild Ones

Black Veil Brides – Wretched and Divine: The Story of The Wild Ones

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 […]

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Toxic Rose – Toxic Rose (EP)

Toxic Rose – Toxic Rose (EP)

Having first heard a couple of teaser tracks (which don’t appear on the EP) from Sweden’s Toxic Rose way back in February 2012, their debut EP has certainly been one of most anticipated of 2012.  For the likes of myself who keep both eyes and ears tuned into the Swedish/Stockhkolm rock scene, then the Toxic Rose members would already be […]

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Tango Down – Identity Crisis

Tango Down – Identity Crisis

In 25 words or less: There’s no Identity Crisis going on here, Tango Down,will appeal to anyone with a love of 80’s influenced hard rock with a melodic twist. In the 6 or so years of their existence, New York based hard rockers Tango Down are one of those bands that I’ve had awareness of, but for whatever reason I […]

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Beverly McClellan – Fear Nothing (Tour Edition)

Beverly McClellan – Fear Nothing (Tour Edition)

Despite rising to prominence through the US version of The Voice TV show – which if I didn’t watch the Australian version, then obviously I wouldn’t have watched the US version – I first heard the name Beverly McClellan through Steve Vai and her vocal contributions to his latest album The Story Of Light and specifically the track John The […]

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Doro – Raise Your Fist

Doro – Raise Your Fist

The undisputed queen of metal, Doro, marks her arrival on new record label Nuclear Blast with the release of new album, Raise Your Fist, which sees her close in on nearly 20 album releases in around 30 years, whether that be as Warlock or Doro. Title track Raise Your Fist can be best described as a fist-pumping anthem, basically, I […]

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Royal Republic – Save The Nation

Royal Republic – Save The Nation

In 25 words or less: “You gotta let your hair down, you gotta do it alright, HEY, HEY!! Royal Republic first came to my attention when they hit Australia last year as part of the touring Soundwave juggernaut.  Seeing them live before I’d really heard them in recorded form, the Swedish rockers firmly and squarely came across as a band […]

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Rick Springfield – Songs For The End Of The World

Rick Springfield – Songs For The End Of The World

In 25 words or less: Songs For The End Of The World is about as brilliant as you could hope an album of melodic pop/rock to be! To the vast majority, the mere mention of either Rick Springfield or Richard Marx is usually met with comments referring to anything but their phenomenal musical and importantly song writing talents.  But for […]

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Jimi Jamison – Never Too Late

Jimi Jamison – Never Too Late

In 25 words or less: “You too may find this to be Jimi’s finest moment in what has been a pretty remarkable career to begin with.” Whether it be from his time fronting Survivor across three album releases in the mid to late 80’s  or releasing a bunch of solo albums in more recent years, one of which contained one […]

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Coheed and Cambria – The Afterman, Ascension

Coheed and Cambria – The Afterman, Ascension

In 25 words or less:  “This album sees the band at perhaps their most musically accessible.” Coheed and Cambria are one of those bands that I’ve just never gotten into, more so to do with the “concept album” attachment to each of their releases, rather than necessarily not finding anything to like in a musical sense, although in saying that, […]

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Torpedohead – Greetings From Heartbreak Key

Torpedohead – Greetings From Heartbreak Key

In 25 words or less: Straight ahead, high octane rock n’ roll with massive hooks, sing-along choruses and blazing guitar solo’s, you know, all the fun, essential stuff, that’s what I’ve come to expect from Torpedohead. At May The Rock Be With You we take great pride in uncovering awesome rock from all corners of the globe to share with you, […]

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Soundgarden – King Animal

Soundgarden – King Animal

In summary: “This to me is what an album is about, it takes you back to a time and a feeling, and it was kinda cool.” Here we have a band that have had for far too many years between drinks, ‘King Animal’ is the first album from Soundgarden in get this, sixteen years!  This album sees the Seattle Grunge […]

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Khaos – Khaos Rising (EP)

Khaos – Khaos Rising (EP)

Originating from parts unknown, we introduce you to Khaos.  So when I say parts unknown, well Khaos represents one of those musical collaborations made possible with the advent of modern technology these days – four people in four cities, come together to make one album, well in this case, a 5 track EP.  Khaos consists of Chandler Mogel, who I […]

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All Time Low – Don’t Panic

All Time Low – Don’t Panic

Where I liken to where All Time Low are at here in 2012 is very similar to where a couple of my all time favourite three word pop punk bands have recently been at…those being New Found Glory and Bowling For Soup.  You see sometimes these bands are damned if they do and damned if they don’t.  Feel compelled to […]

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Bowling For Soup presents One Big Happy

Bowling For Soup presents One Big Happy

What I’m about to say, probably makes this review pretty pointless, but I reckon that if Bowling For Soup was to release an album full of farts, spoken word poop jokes, or barks courtesy of the bands unofficial 5th member, Sherman the dog, I would still proclaim it to be the greatest thing ever released.  Thinking about it, BFS have […]

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Hotel Diablo – The Return To Psycho California

Hotel Diablo – The Return To Psycho California

Well f$%k me swinging, if you will pardon my French, where the friggin’ hell did these guys come from?  Ok, matter of factly Hotel Diablo are from Hollywood, but hitting you smack between the eyes with a blazing red album cover, these guys have delivered one hell of a killer hard rock record from seemingly out of nowhere.  But if […]

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Two Gallants – The Bloom And The Blight

Two Gallants – The Bloom And The Blight

A band with which I was not previously familiar previously, Two Gallants return after a five year hiatus with their aptly titled fourth album, The Bloom and the Blight.  Friends since they were five (maybe that’s their first meeting on the album cover?), the San Francisco natives Adam Stephens (guitar and vocals) and Tyson Vogel (drums and vocals) have obviously […]

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Devin Townsend Project – Epicloud

Devin Townsend Project – Epicloud

In 25 words or less: I’ve listened to Epicloud now well over 10 times and I’m still completely overwhelmed with each listen, but I keep coming back for more, finding more and enjoying it more. Devin Townsend, when I first heard him on the Steve Vai album Sex & Religion, to me it was a godlike musical pairing and I’ve played that album […]

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Impera – Legacy Of Life

Impera – Legacy Of Life

Calling Impera a “supergroup” may be taking things just a little too far, but for those with their ears and eyes firmly entrenched in the European hard rock scene, that you can rightfully dispute.  Impera is the brainchild of drummer J.K Impera (Bruce Kulick, Graham Bonnet and John Corabi), on vocals there’s Matti Alfonzetti (Jagged Edge, solo), guitarist Tommy Denander […]

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Anberlin – Vital

Anberlin – Vital

In summary: “Well done Anberlin, you’ve made one heck of a record.” Reviewing albums on first listen is always like flirting with disaster, what if it’s no good, but by no good what if it turns out to be a ‘grower’ and I’m not doing it justice by only reviewing it off the first listen?  These are the things to […]

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