In 25 words or less:  ‘The Brightest Light’ is fresh, it’s new, it’s diverse, it’s rockin’ and King Cannons may just be your new favourite band. I’ve been excited about this pending release from the second I heard ‘Take The Rock’ from King Cannons’ debut EP back in 2010… yeah, that long I personally have been waiting for this debut […]

In 25 words or less: Rick Springfield rules! Tribute albums – now aren’t they always an interesting proposition, there sure have been some shockers released over the years, others just unnecessarily bastardise some true classic songs, then there’s the flip side….who are these albums for the listening pleasure of?  In the case of the cynical out there reading this, you […]

Third albums are generally an interesting enough prospect in themselves for both band and fan, but combine that with some lineup changes, releasing said third album via a new record label and on the back of all six band members making the commitment to basically drop everything and head to Sweden with the determination to come back with a career […]

“Legacy is a high octane concoction of 80’s influenced hard rock, AOR, modern metal and New Wave Of British Heavy Metal…full of fist pumping whoaaaaaaa, whoooooaaaa’s” Well aren’t these boys from Essex, UK who call themselves The Morning After and deliver a totally 80’s influenced amalgam of hard rock, AOR, modern metal and New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, an […]

“When it comes to Hartmann it’s all about earthy melodic rock songs with a dollop of blues and modern rock elements” Hartmann – Balance, this being the fourth album now from the former At Vance frontman Oliver Hartmann.  More than just that claim to fame however, Oliver Hartmann possesses some mighty vocal chords which has seen him contribute them to […]

It’s been interesting following the fortunes of Norway’s Wig Wam who initially blasted onto the scene back in 2005 with their entry into the Eurovision song contest with In My Dreams.  Similarly over in Sweden, there was The Poodles who followed a similar trajectory.  Both bands have struggled to shake their Eurovision moniker and quite frankly, also to be taken […]

“Delivers everything you would expect from an album featuring a Rambo like guitarist with a machine gun guitar.  There’s loads of gargantuan guitar work, some massive fist pumping anthems” Kane Roberts – for some he may be best known as probably one of the most identifiable members of Alice Cooper’s band, the hulk like guitarist with an arsenal of machine […]

“World Of Pain shows that Angel King are more than adept at delivering some pretty hot sleaze rock songs, but just not a whole albums worth.” Unfortunately, when you come from Sweden as Angel King do and when you have the tag of glam/sleaze rock, immediately the expectations of those from this corner of the world in Australia are sky high. […]

Eve 6, yes this is the same band that back in 1998 had a radio hit here in Australia with Inside Out, the song that saw the at the time teenagers “wanting to put their tender heart in a blender”.  For me, Eve 6 is best defined by their second album Horrorscope which in the year 2000 was as close […]

In 25 words or less: Millencolin fans out there, I’m sure most of you have already bought this already….if you haven’t, what the hell are you waiting for?  First things first, Happy 20th anniversary to Millencolin, you crazy Swedish punksters!  In celebration of their 20 years, the guys have just released The Melancholy Connection, which is essentially a follow on from the 1999 […]

Sydney couldn’t have been more beautiful tonight, with the Vivid festival lighting up Circular Quay and people flocking to watch the lights covering the buildings, there were even more people in the area this evening to head in to the iconic Sydney Opera House to catch Train and Matt Nathanson in probably my favourite pairing of the year so far. […]

“From seriously the most dependable artist in my entire collection, I applaud Richard Marx for yet another exceptional release.” Whilst this observation hasn’t been completely lost on me over the years, sitting down to write this review, I was reminded that when it comes to albums I’ve owned, Marx’s bazillion selling Repeat Offender album would sit somewhere amongst the first 10 […]

“Dominated by melodic rock right to the very end, this is the album that many Hardline fans have most likely been waiting for since Double Eclipse.” Whilst the lineup of Hardline has changed much over the course of the bands 20 odd year history and 4 albums, there has been one constant – the unmistakable vocals of Johnny Gioeli, surely […]

“I can’t explain why it only took the opening 10 seconds of Wishing Well for Daniel Pearson to have me completely hooked, but it did.” Isn’t music just a wonderful thing, or more specifically, aren’t our own personal reactions to music an even more wonderful thing?  Like I often do, do you often sit and wonder why sometimes your ears and […]

The Delta Riggs have been kicking around now for the best part of around 5 years or so, and on this, their latest EP, this really shows, for this is one heck of a great rock ‘n’ roll release from one very tight, highly capable band.  With fellow bands like Stonefield and My Dynamite currently blazing the trail of Aussie […]

Melbourne four piece The Hiding have recently released their debut EP, which given the comparative success of the anthemic, textured style of pop rock that they play, it’s an EP with a potential massive reach not only here in Australia, but undoubtedly the USA.  Million Miles Away opens the EP with it’s boundless energy and electro rock tinges, whilst 6 […]

In 25 words or less: “It is the music of H.E.A.T that provides the soundtrack for the utopian world that I, Scott A Smith, Esquire lives, here in 2012.” When I first discovered Swedish melodic rockers H.E.A.T back in 2008 on the back of their self titled, debut release, there was something so magical for me personally in what H.E.A.T […]

In 25 words or less:  Great songs, perfect harmonies, and an overall well-made modern country rock record. You should know by now that we cover a wide range of Rock music here at May The Rock Be With You, and one of my personal favourite genres is the new breed of ‘Country Rock’. Gone are the days of the traditional […]

Buckcherry – Paramount, Huntington, NY, USA 18 May 2012, by Paul Miles Photo Gallery:  http://rockshots.paul-miles.com/Music/Buckcherry-Long-Island-NY/23117936_PHWQFm As the train from Manhattan pulled out and headed towards the leafy town of Huntington on the north shore of Long Island, I cast my mind back to the previous times I had seen Buckcherry play: a few shows around Japan back in 2008, then the […]

In summary: Love them, hate them or just like them a little bit, Trixter make fun rock songs, so just listen to this and enjoy it for what it is, a cool rock record. Frontiers Records is renowned for reinventing artists and giving these 80’s and 90’s bands in essence a second shot at what they love, and that’s making […]

In 25 words or less: “A friendly, accessible, enjoyable album that is perfect to just relax to and zone out.” The newest album from Keane has just been released and only being familiar with previous hits I’ve never sat down and listened to a full album but I’m looking forward to doing so this time around if the opening track […]

In 25 words or less: ‘Prog, Metal, Thrash, Rock, Doom, take your pick, you’ve got it all here…’ In the what seems to be an ever growing list of bands we’ve not heard of contacting us, we give you Tribune and their new album ‘Elder Lore / The Dark Arts’, so let’s see what we’re in for. This band from […]

Being a hometown show for Calling All Cars, I rocked up to the Hi-Fi Bar on a wintery Melbourne, Friday night, expecting to be greeted by a reasonably packed house, so was somewhat amazed upon entry to find the Hi-Fi Bar pretty damn empty.  For those who turned up later on, shame on you for missing Perth band Arts Martial […]

In summary: “It’s exciting to me to hear new music from a new band, regardless of who is in it and how they came together, this feels like a new band to me and one I hope that will continue to make albums down the road.” From the opening riff of the title track ‘Apocalyptic Love’ you hear that tone, […]

The Dirty Pearls – Gramercy Theatre, New York City 5 May 2012, by Paul Miles Photo Gallery: http://rockshots.paul-miles.com/Music/Dirty-Pearls-Gramercy-Release/22860566_nhs5DF Rarely do I get pumped for an album release gig these days, but I’ve seen The Dirty Pearls a few times now and I feel hooked. Having paid their local dues, with a good tip, these kings of the New York City rock […]

Reviewed by: Paul Miles Date: 22 April 2012 Venue: The Bowery Electric, New York City, USA Website: Spread Eagle Facebook Full Photo Gallery (click link): http://rockshots.paul-miles.com/ As heavy rain and gusty winds buffeted New York City all day, a crowd of rockers ignored a flood watch warning and ventured down to The Bowery Electric in Manhattan’s East Village to see […]

Welcome to the wettest night in possibly the last 100 years in Sydney which sees an entirely drenched crowd filling the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney with definite plans to see the legendary Cold Chisel tonight. Trust me, not even the flame trees can dry these dripping punters… (I know, bad pun, but they get better.) Lanie Lane was our support […]

In 25 words or less: “This is the best album that The Black Crowes never released and for that, I am thankful that I now have a follow up to Shake Your Money Maker.” Being Melbourne based myself, I’m somewhat shamed to say that I’ve only been witness to one My Dynamite live performance, in what must be their 3 […]

Relocating from their native Perth, to Melbourne, the undisputed “rock capital” of Australia, Gasoline INC may have endured some relatively hard times navigating their way through the maze of the newly adopted Melbourne scene, but undoubtedly their new EP The Wanted One should be the beacon that lights their way.  Ok, so did that beacon comment sound corny?…well, I was […]

In 25 words or less: “With enough rock chops to mix it with the hard rockers, they have enough catchiness and hooks for those who simply appreciate catchy rock.” Sydney rockers Neon Heart have been plying their craft for a few years now and on this their second EP, they deliver five tracks of some pretty addictive kick ass rock.  […]