Tonight, a night of old school classic rock with two bands that really are miles apart in terms of style so it will be quite interesting to see how the balance is tonight and not only with the bands but also for the fans that will be here tonight. I personally am more excited for Journey; I mean I have a ‘Dont Stop […]

Sydney. Thank you for your amazing last day of summer and your ridiculous rain that currently sees me in a cab stuck in traffic on my way to the Factory Theatre to catch Motion City Soundtrack, The Early November and hopefully Deaf Havana, but that all depends on how fast Mr Cab Driver can get me there. Ok. I made […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

“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 […]

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 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

“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 […]

  Photos: You can check out more photos of the live action right here….. http://lensofrock.photomerchant.net/galleries/queenscliff-music-festival For 16 years now, the tranquil 1850’s seaside settlement of Queenscliff in Victoria, Australia has been home to one of our premiere music festivals, the Queenscliff Music Festival.  Consistently assembling an amazing array of some of Australia’s biggest acts as well as the finest up and coming […]

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 […]

Self described as “that old guy with a beard”, Jamie Hay is a name that would be well familiar amongst those into the local Aussie punk rock scene, with past bands including Conation, A Death In The Family, Fear Like Us.  For some, myself included, your very first introduction to “that old guy with a beard” could very well be […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]