Year: 2020

In collaboration with Australian company Elenium Automation, Etihad Airways will begin trialling an innovative new technology to help identify travellers with medical conditions before they fly, potentially including the early stages of COVID-19. Rolling out at the end of this month for trialling throughout May at the airline’s hub airport in Abu Dhabi, Etihad will…

Back in 2016, we premiered the music video for Alex L’Estrange‘s “Nothing To Hide“. Now, almost four years later, L’Estrange is back, with the stunning “Social“. It’s a dreamy slice of (almost) Britpop, with shades of Blur and The Lightning Seeds. After losing his day job due to the COVID-19 crisis, L’Estrange found himself wandering…

Although Justin Hemmes had announced the closure of his considerable restaurants and bars due to COVID-19 just a few weeks ago, his Merivale empire is now switching to delivery with the of launch a “Merivale at Home” platform. This will allow diners to take advantage of a new at-home dining service that delivers some of…

During these unprecedented times, when staying at home is of the utmost importance, us here at The AU Review are going to be doing everything we can to help readers live their best lives, indoors. As with many other media companies who typically focus on getting folks out and about, we’re shifting to adapt to…

There has been much discussion about ways we can help support struggling small businesses across the hospitality and retail sectors in the face of COVID-19. Now that the government has, necessarily, shuttered all non-essential venues, cash flow has all but frozen for Australia’s favourite restaurants, cafes, florists, hairdressers and the like. How do we support…

*Due to the current global crisis the planned 2020 Tribeca Film Festival has been postponed. The AU Review has been in contact with the respective representatives for available films in order to give them the coverage they intended. Much like the recent slate of short films that were intended for this year’s SXSW Film Festival,…

A remake of Resident Evil 3 was only a matter of time. After Resident Evil 2′s critical and commercial success, it made sense for Capcom to continue their hot streak. And so, only a year later, it’s here. Resident Evil 3 proves the franchise is alive and thriving, creatively reimagining and modernising older titles in its…

Based in Sweden, singer-songwriter James Augur fronts folk outfit A Choir of Ghosts. Debut album, An Ounce of Gold was three years in the making, bringing together a series of talented musicians to help form his choir. The end result is stunning, an eleven strong offering of melancholy alt-folk that transports the listener worlds away….

Best not to be fooled by Almost Love‘s incredibly generic title (its alternative UK/international moniker Sell By isn’t much better either) as Mike Doyle‘s interconnected relationship drama plays stronger than it deserves to, thanks in large part to an ensemble cast that are allowed to play to and with their own respective strengths. Set in…

The Last of Us Part II has been delayed indefinitely. The news, while unsurprising, still comes as a blow to fans staring down the barrel of a year spent in Covid-19 enforced isolation. The announcement came through from PlayStation earlier this morning: Update: SIE has made the difficult decision to delay the launch of The…

Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths presents one of the stranger crossover ideas we’ve seen all year. Wizards of the Coast’s ever-popular card game Magic: The Gathering will add a series of cards based on popular Toho Co monsters like Godzilla, Mothra, King Caesar and more. The cards will be a special feature of the upcoming Ikoria:…

After tugging our emotions by re-recording their nostalgic Still Nothing Personal: A Ten Year Tribute, acclaimed pop-punk band All Time Low are back with their latest album: Wake Up, Sunshine. The Baltimore band were formed in 2003, and have had eight successful studio albums and counting. For this new album, lead vocalist Alex Gaskarth describes their…

Adelaide-based duo, TOWNS have released their new single “Stardust”, premiering on Triple J Good Nights just this week. The up-and-coming alternative rock band have displayed exceeding success after releasing their single “Safe To Stay” with over 280,000 streams on Spotify. Whilst embarking on three national tours including runs with Dear Seattle, Bugs, and Eat Your Heart…

This album could not be more aptly titled with everything that is happening around Australia right now. One of Brisbane’s biggest alt-rock bands Violent Soho are releasing their fifth studio album, Everything Is A-OK today. However, in light of current circumstances, things are going to be played out a little differently this time. A national album…

During these unprecedented times, when staying at home is of the utmost importance, us here at The AU Review are going to be doing everything we can to help readers live their best lives, indoors. As with many other media companies who typically focus on getting folks out and about, we’re shifting to adapt to…

Jess Day from Adelaide has a new track out tomorrow, “Signals”, on the back of a run of singles which has well and truly established her as a potent talent. Her debut single “Why is She So Beautiful?” landed her as a triple J Unearthed feature artist,  with the followup releases”Rabbit Hole” and “Affection” both…

Back in January, in what feels like several lifetimes ago, we were lucky enough to get to head along to New Orleans for the annual Folk Alliance conference and festival. One of the Aussie acts performing at the event, Melbourne duo This Way North, were fitting in shows there amongst a longer trip in the…

There are elements of M. Hofmann’s story that will be familiar to many music fans. He picked up a guitar in his early teens. He plied his trade in various band’s over the years, moving up and down the East Coast, having left his childhood home in Tasmania. Songwriting became a habit, and then he…

Brian Fallon has traded in the punk rock of The Gaslight Anthem and his youth for the countrified folk of Local Honey. Though followers of his career, will know he’s no stranger to the acoustic guitar.  Local Honey is Fallon’s third solo album, and his first in two years, following 2018’s acclaimed Sleepwalkers. It’s also…

Indie record stores across Australia, like so many retailers, are doing it tough at the moment due to the COVID-19 crisis. The postponement of Record Store Day, often those stores biggest trading day of the year, until later in the year will only have added to the pressures. Independent record stores, along with our live…

Two games I never finished have been repackaged, remastered and released as a solid double package. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the hell out of my brief time with both Bayonetta (2009) and Vanquish (2010) but it was at a point in my life when video games ebbed out of my radar for a…

With the COVID-19 shutdown bringing the arts industry to a standstill, there are plenty of ways you can help out those affected by the current crisis. The first port of call for the Australian music scene is the Sounds of Silence website – an industry initiative to bring together various industry bodies to collate efforts…

Although they’ve shut doors for now, Glebe’s stalwart Toxteth Hotel is making the most of the situation by using their bottle shop delivery service in the best way possible. That, of course, means kegs filled with their reliable espresso martinis are doing the rounds. Though it’s not just espresso martini on the menu. Kegs of…

With each Star Wars film in the latest trilogy, fans have been treated to a feature length documentary about the making of the film, alongside its home release. They have surprisingly honest and detailed, in particular The Director and The Jedi, which took time to address some of the backlash Episode VIII received. The latest…

Formed in 2016, post-hardcore kids Future Static have been working hard to solidify their place on the Melbourne scene. Fatalist is the second EP from the band, which consists of singer Bri Marsh, guitarists Ryan Qualizza and Jack Smith, bassist Kira Neil and drummer Jackson Trudel. Of the EP, Marsh said: “It’s a bleak look at…

Sydney cheese lovers need not go without one of Salt Meat Cheese’s epic 1 kilo brie spaghetti cheese wheels. The Drummoyne store has now jumped on the delivery chain, adapting to the current COVID-19 situation and current Government restrictions by making the indulgent meal available for anyone to consume in their own home. From every…

Reliably experimental Seattle rap duo Shabazz Palaces are launching higher into space with the charmingly off-kilter “Chocolate Souffle.” The new single, lifted from forthcoming album The Don of Diamond Dreams, is a quick follow-up to recent cut “Fast Learner,” but this time heading deeper into the weird and unearthly with strong flows of electro-funk and…

During these unprecedented times, when staying at home is of the utmost importance, us here at The AU Review are going to be doing everything we can to help readers live their best lives, indoors. As with many other media companies who typically focus on getting folks out and about, we’re shifting to adapt to…

Mixing vintage glamour with outlaw country, California’s Devil Doll have just announced new album Lover & a Fighter. Due out May 1st, the build up begins with “Purse Whiskey“, today’s Track of the Day! Returning from a six year hiatus brought on by a series of medical issues for frontwoman Colleen Duffy, including her diagnosis…

During these unprecedented times, when staying at home is of the utmost importance, us here at The AU Review are going to be doing everything we can to help readers live their best lives, indoors. As with many other media companies who typically focus on getting folks out and about, we’re shifting to adapt to…