Marilyn Manson is back, back with a new album, his first in three years, a new band in tow and a sound that may surprise many, if not all, well maybe not all, some… The album opens with ‘Killing Strangers’, an odd, almost groovy type track full of buzzing guitars and that typical Marilyn Manson vocal you’ve known to love […]

It’s always exciting to me when a band is touring Australia for the first time, there’s just that anticipation, not only from the concert goers, but I’d be assuming from the band, the questions of ‘oh my god, I wonder if anyone will turn up?’ and ‘Do people even know us there?’ and for the punters, ‘Man, I hope I’m […]

I’m quite partial to a concept record, one that sets up and tells a story and keeps you wanting to know what’s going to come from the beginning through to the final song, what it all entails and just why this was the story to tell. Wednesday 13 is back with a new album, this time with a concept and […]

I like the works of Black Veil Brides. I like that they make rock and roll that has a major throwback feel to the metal of old, and by old I mean the 80’s with the look, the hooks and the imagery. It’s what I like and I’ve never had an issue with bands like this out there flying the […]

When the Foo Fighters announced they were going on hiatus after they finished touring for ‘Wasting Light’, many were surprised, not sure of what that meant or how long it would actually last, but thankfully not too long as when the band decided they were ready to come back, well, why not do it in a big way… A series […]

OK, so I’ve never had the opportunity to review an instrumental show so tonight, what better way to pop my cherry than with arguably one of, if not the best guitarists you’ll ever hear. Joe Satriani. Within seconds of taking the stage, the entire audience is mesmerised, this cat can play, and I mean play. If this first song is […]

From the second this album begins simply with a violin, it’s a somber beginning, a mood is set with a two minute introduction called ‘Convocation’ and I listen and get taken away, taken away to a place that just feels nice, it gives me the feeling that Yellowcard have grown up, and I can’t wait to hear what this, their […]

It’s always funny to me when I know of a band but have never actually heard anything they’ve done, and after I do listen to them I kick myself and think why did I take so long to listen?! Why? So here I am today with Antiskeptic and their new album ‘Stare Down The Ocean’… you’ll see after reading this […]

In 2012 The Tea Party reformed, to a big Australian tour, recorded a live DVD and they were back. Went off to write and record an album and 1, 2, skip a few here we are two years on seeing The Tea Party again. This time in a theatre and I’m looking forward to seeing them here, as I feel […]

If there’s one thing I love about these small exclusive type shows it’s that the lucky 1,100 or so here are here as fans, they know these songs, they love this band and compared to an arena where you’ll get the casual ‘oh I’ll go and check them out’ type person, here we have fans who snapped up these tickets […]

To set this album up, all I need is one word… Slash. You get me? Ok, read on. I personally always enjoy it when the title track of an album is the one that leads it off, it makes the point known, it sets up exactly why the album is named after it and here we are, ‘World On Fire’ […]

It was exactly a year ago to the day that Anberlin were in Sydney on tour, and I was reviewing them at the Hi-Fi. Tonight for the final time, here I am at The Roundhouse to say goodbye to this band that Australia and myself loves so much. I managed to catch the last few songs from Breakaway who from […]

Even well before the doors open at The Roundhouse tonight there are so many people lined up, eagerly waiting to get inside to this sold out show staring the perfect pairing of You Me At Six and Tonight Alive. I know that I’ll be standing at the back tonight as there’s no way I’m getting anywhere near this pit tonight. […]

After their amazing run in February for Soundwave, Biffy Clyro have returned to our shores twice in one year to give those that may have missed them then the chance to marvel at one of the most amazing live bands I’ve ever witnessed. Calling All Cars get the job of warming up the crowd tonight and doing their best to […]

When some bands stop making music you can eventually be ok with that and deal with it, but when a band such as The Tea Party decides that they’re going to stop making music, well in my opinion that’s just not cool. What is cool is a big break and a return, a return in the way of a massive […]

So when you often hear about a band breaking up, you get the odds on bet that the singer will go on to make an album but you often forget about the other guys in the band, or they disappear into obscurity but it’s really cool to hear this album from former MCR guitarist Frank Iero or Frnkiero for short […]

I’m honestly quite intrigued as to what tonight will bring… so let’s see… The Mercy Kills get the opening slot tonight and do a good job of warning up those that are here in preparation for Courtney. Their songs are a whole lot of rock and roll with a two girl and two guy formula in the band the balance […]

OK, yeah I know, this album has been out for a little bit now, and I’ve listened to it more than a handful of times, but what’s interesting about this album is knowing that it’s the band’s last album, this made it a little difficult to express my ‘feelings’ towards it, so now after some digestion of the idea of […]

If there’s one thing you don’t pick up a Dragonforce record for it’s to be soothed by and to relax after a hard day’s work, instead you put this on when you come home pumped up, you’ve had a killer day and you just want to punch the air. This band is fast, frenzied, melodic and nothing but upbeat! ‘Maximum […]

Just shy of two years ago I saw Hanson at this same venue and it was absolutely chock a block then, and from everything I’ve heard tonight will be no different. Here promoting their new album ‘Anthem’ the boys are back to perform, to entertain, and to once again hopefully shut those people up that may just still be a […]

If there’s one band that unfortunately isn’t well known enough in Australia, it’s Theory of a Deadman, and what’s annoying is they should be all over the place. So it’s great to have their new album ‘Savages’ getting a run down here and fingers crossed that it leads to some airplay or god forbid a possible tour!! Opener ‘Drown’ is […]

There’s just a vibe about this new Fozzy album, like that they feel they still have something to try and prove, and that may not be the case at all, as they’ve really come into their own over the last few years as they’ve made just kick ass rock and roll music, and this album is absolutely no exception to […]

Ha ha I love punk rock, purely for the fact that this eleven track album clocks in in just under thirty minutes, so good, actually by the time I finished this sentence the first two songs had finished… I kid, I kid because it’s Pennywise, they get jokes. What’s interesting about this album is the fact that these songs have […]

When a band has been making music for so long and with a few varied line-ups, I’m always intrigued as to what they continue to come up with, one of those bands is Corrosion Of Conformity or C.O.C. to the cool kids. My mate JD has always raved about C.O.C. (he’s one of the cool kids) and I’ve been aware […]

Let me start this by saying I’ve never been the hugest Rise Against fan, but that’s only because I’ve never truly taken the time to check out their work. I’m sure I’ve seen them live and dig what they do, but when time came for me to have a chat to Joe from the band, I got the chance to […]

New Empire are a band that are very easy to listen to, their songs are full of great musical grooves, killer harmonies and at times just big over the top production. These are things that I like. ‘In a Breath’ is the newest release from this Aussie band and it’s a great return from their last album ‘Symmetry’ which produced […]

Sunday night in Sydney and it’s time to rock! Two of the ‘oh wow I remember them’ bands from the late 80’s / early 90’s in Skid Row and Ugly Kid Joe are in Australia and judging by not only the crowd here tonight but from what I’ve seen at the other cities, people are still interested and that makes […]

Taking Back Sunday are back with their newest album and I’ve been looking forward to this one for a while, as their self-titled album in 2011 was a monster, so will this be in the same category? Let’s see… as ‘Preface’ string us in to lead single ‘Flicker, Fade’ my answer is YES! If the rest of the album is […]

Instantly rockin’ and instantly sleazy, ‘Going To Hell’ opens with the ballsy rocker ‘Follow Me Down’ and to open the bands second album with anything less than this would’ve been a disaster, but if you need to set the scene for an album, consider it set. Its bluesy parts and soulful breakdown show a side to the band that is […]

After postponing this tour from last August, Thirty Seconds To Mars are now back to give Australia the shows they have been waiting for and tonight is Sydney’s turn and it seems the pent up excitement is well and truly there. White Lies from London are here to open up the show tonight and after what felt like a tiny […]