Month: October 2025

Ninja Gaiden, as a franchise, might have existed since the NES, but my first experience with it was on the original Xbox back in 2004. In fact, it was one of the first Xbox games I had played. That revival, while fantastic, might have been a little too taxing for a 10-year-old back then, but…

In this increasingly saturated market of gaming and mechanical keyboards alike, it becomes a little hard to pick which one might suit your needs best. Do you prefer clicky switches or softer linear ones? Do you need the numberpad on the side, or would you rather opt for a mini or 60% keyboard for more…

The State Opera of South Australia have reimagined Shakespeare’s story of The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet as a beautiful ode to the power of love. Director Radula Gaitanou has taken Gounod’s distillation of Shakespeare’s play and imagined it as a love story that transcends time and space. It is a story of two young…

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard turned Fed Square into a spontaneous early-night rave, playing a surprise free DJ set that drew thousands into the city centre. Blending their usual psych-rock chaos with pulsing electronic tracks, the set felt loose, loud, and communal, a reminder of why Melbourne loves them still after all this time….

Halo Campaign Evolved has officially been revealed this weekend, serving as a full remake of the original game, launching on the Xbox Series X/S, PC, and, you guessed it, PlayStation 5 in 2026. This is a complete remake built with Unreal Engine 5, and will feature the original campaign, along with new missions, new weapons,…

Owing to its image quality, compact body and nostalgic, tactile experience, Fujifilm’s approachable X-T30 model has been beloved by travel photographers for years. I know several travel writers and content creators who swear by the X-T30 II and readily suggest it to would-be photographers looking to dip deeper into the expensive world of professional photography….

Walking through the doors of The Grand Electric was like stepping back into a 1920s speakeasy. A circular stage dominates the centre of the room, with chairs and tables scattered around it. Above the stage, like the crowning jewel, sits an enormous disco ball, that showers the room in dancing bursts of light. The mood…

One of the largest rooftops in L.A., a prime position tucked away from crowds of first-time tourists, and 220 comfortable, light-filled rooms that look like they’re paying homage to Hollywood’s black-and-white era. This is The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood, which has been pitched as one of the neighbourhood’s most fashionable boltholes since opening in the second…

HQ Group’s Afloat Melbourne has reopened with a fresh new look, bringing the flavours, energy, and vibrance of Rio De Janeiro right to our very doorstep. Launching right into the summer season, patrons will get a taste of Brazil with a rich, flavourful menu including empanadas, coxinha, pastels, dulce de leche flan, and other dishes…

I close my eyes halfway through one of Neil Finn’s good-humoured stretches of crowd banter and can almost swear Rhys Darby was the new lead for Crowded House. The fearless frontman has always charmed with his relatable sense of humour, often quipping with his brother Liam between the band’s many classics. But something about these pop-up…

It’s hard to believe that the original Super Mario Galaxy launched on the Nintendo Wii 18 years ago, but here we are, I guess. While Super Mario Galaxy 2 was released later in 2010, it’s fair to say that most of us who have owned a Nintendo console since then have played either or both…

Halloween is a week away; but we’ve resisted going all spooky with our playlist update this week. We’ve got ten more tracks for you, including two we hosted exclusive premieres for earlier in the week. Melbourne’s Gordon’s Grandson takes home our Track of the Week with his new single “6pm” – a hazy, romantic ode…

Holly is a professional ghost-whisperer, convincing unruly and unwanted spirits to go into the light. It’s honest-ish work – those ghosts are making life difficult for the living, after all – but she’d be lying if she said she couldn’t use a big payday. Enter Callum. Successful paranormal investigator and podcast host. Oh, and Holly’s…

In the twisty, stylish crime thriller Crime 101, Davis (Chris Hemsworth) is an elusive thief whose high-stakes heists have mystified police. He’s planning his biggest ever score – hoping it’ll be his last – when his path collides with Sharon (Halle Berry), a disillusioned insurance executive whom he’s forced to work with, and Orman (Barry…

Film critics making their own films can go a multitude of ways.  Given the expected penchant for critiquing what they do – or don’t – expect out of a genre film, one could assume that their idea of a film would be, at the very least, acceptably serviceable.  For Chris Stuckmann – a YouTube-based film…

Though it’s been a story told countless times before, you can’t help but still be monstrously excited at the prospect of Guillermo del Toro adapting Mary Shelley’s classic Frankenstein.  His name above the title just feels correct, and not just because the director has been talking about helming his version of the story for close…

PAX Aus 2025 might have come and gone, but the content just keeps on rolling. We got the chance to spend some time with Lenovo to check out all the gear and tech coming out in 2025 and beyond. Let’s dive in. The Legion 9i: Power Meets 3D Innovation At the heart of the booth…

Nanoleaf have become a leader in the lighting game in recent years. Their products are innovative and easy to install. They have managed to pinpoint the perfect product for their customer base. Everyone knows the stylish Nanoleaf shapes and lines that adorn many Twitch streams. The company’s latest venture into floor lighting is just as…

From 20th Century Studios, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere chronicles the making of Bruce Springsteen’s 1982 Nebraska album when he was a young musician on the cusp of global superstardom, struggling to reconcile the pressures of success with the ghosts of his past. Recorded on a 4-track recorder in Springsteen’s New Jersey bedroom, the album…

From 20th Century Studios, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere chronicles the making of Bruce Springsteen’s 1982 Nebraska album when he was a young musician on the cusp of global superstardom, struggling to reconcile the pressures of success with the ghosts of his past. Recorded on a 4-track recorder in Springsteen’s New Jersey bedroom, the album…

Today on the AU review, we’re thrilled to premiere “Kaleidoscope”, the luminous new single from Naarm/Melbourne indie-pop artist Isabelle Skye. The track marks a stunning follow-up to her 2024 debut single “Fairy Dust”, further cementing her place as one of the most intriguing new voices in Australia’s alt-pop landscape. True to its name, “Kaleidoscope” glimmers…

Atlanta punk powerhouse Upchuck are heading to Australia for the very first time, bringing their explosive live show to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne Blending raw punk fury with elements of garage rock, rap, and chaos, Upchuck have carved out a reputation as one of the most vital and unfiltered voices in the new American punk…

Given this day and age where (mostly) everyone is traced to a social media presence and it’s not as easy to get away with saying who you aren’t, the premise of the original 1992 domestic thriller The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, where a sweet-natured mother essentially hires a stranger off the street to watch…

One of the most defining thrillers of the 1990s, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle terrified a whole generation into second-guessing who they invite into their home.  With the release of the 2025 reimagining, clearly a lesson hasn’t been learned, as a new progeny will learn “the help” have other plans for your supposed domestic…

Niagara Falls in Canada just got its first major new attraction in three years. The last – the Niagara Parks Power Station – brought new life to a disused hydroelectric plant, with nightly projections, great exhibits and access to one of the most unique views of the Falls by way of “The Tunnel”. Now, Niagara…

I just want to preface this review by saying I’ve really enjoyed the Little Nightmares series so far. It’s unique, downright creepy and generally clever enough that it warrants checking out at least once. In many respects, Little Nightmares 3 is a decent follow-up in the sense that it’s making the most of its existing…

Last week, Central Coast artist Darcy Piltz released his latest single “Wishing Your Life Away”, a heartfelt blend of grunge, pop-punk and coming-of-age reflection. It now comes with a brilliantly DIY visual to match, and we’re thrilled to be premiering the video ahead of its general release on Friday. The track, mixed and produced by Toby…

Following the electrifying announcement last week that global superstar Kesha will headline the inaugural Mighty Hoopla Sydney on Saturday, February 21st, 2026 on the famous Bondi Beach, the UK’s iconic celebration of pop and queer culture has just dropped its second wave of performing artists — and the lineup is nothing short of fabulous. Joining the party will be Becky Hill;…

Multi-platinum singer-songwriter Conan Gray has announced his highly anticipated 2026 Wishbone World Tour with special guest Esha Tewari, in support of his critically acclaimed fourth studio album Wishbone (Republic Records). The 42-city global run kicks off February 19th, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, bringing Conan’s next era to life across North America, Europe, the UK, Australia, and New…

The Adelaide Film Festival (AFF)  has continued to foster outstanding home-grown movies. With Diabolic, Adelaide director Daniel J. Philips has created an edge-of-your-seat horror thriller based on real-life events from co-writer Ticia Madsen‘s time in a fundamentalist Mormon church. Whilst the forbidden love story was real, the dark malevolent horror is pure blood-curdling fantasy. Walking…