Interview: CAVS and Haydn Green on the live reinvention of Memento; “You can’t really hide when you’re on the drums.”

More than a quarter of a century after Memento announced Christopher Nolan as one of cinema’s most audacious storytellers, the fractured psychological thriller is being pulled apart and put back together once again – only this time, rhythm is rewriting the equation. For the latest presentation from Hear My Eyes, Michael “CAVS” Cavanagh, drummer for…

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KALEO return to Australia for the Way Down Under We Go Tour in 2027

We fell in love with KALEO when they made their Australian debut at Bluesfest back in 2016. It was hard not to. Frontman JJ Julius Son‘s enormous, booming voice seemed purpose-built for a festival stage, while the Icelandic band’s muscular blend of blues, rock, and folk made them one of the festival’s discoveries.  They’ve remained firmly…

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Interview: Connor Finch on second chances and finding his place for Bookish‘s second season; “Normality is overrated.”

For Connor Finch, the key to understanding Jack in Bookish has always been deceptively simple: he’s a working-class kid who learned to survive because nobody gave him much of an alternative. Created by and starring Mark Gatiss, the richly atmospheric detective drama returns to post-war London, where eccentric bookseller Gabriel Book once again puts his…

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The Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro earbuds provide decent ANC and audio, along with incredible microphone quality

We’ve reviewed a few Anker Soundcore products over the years and have been generally pleased with the results. I ended up using the Soundcore Space Q45 Headphones long after my initial review back in 2022, as they were some of my favourite headphones at that point in time. While I much prefer over-ear headphones for…

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Mafia: The Old Country – Man of Honor is an expansion worth returning for

Mafia: The Old Country holds a special place in my heart, mainly for its decision to return to its roots, with a setting based in Sicily. With Sicilian heritage myself, and having been to Sicily only a month after the release of the game last year, it still stands as one of my favourite games…

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Trophy Eyes celebrate a decade of Chemical Miracle with a national tour this October and November

It’s hard to believe that the quintessential local emo record by one of Australia’s most beloved punk bands turns 10 this year. To celebrate this milestone, Trophy Eyes will be performing Chemical Miracle in its entirety around the country this October and November. The Newcastle quartet have also announced they will release a 10-year anniversary…

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Windwaker announce new album smile, you’re on camera and national tour

Melbourne metalcore favourites Windwaker have become a leading force in Australia’s heavy scene and the year is shaping up to be a big one for them. The band recently announced that their third album smile, you’re on camera will be out 23 October via Fearless Records and Civilians. To celebrate the release, Windwaker are embarking…

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The iconic Mundi Undi Run goes all out in 2026

One of the reasons why the Mundi Mundi Bash is so popular is due in part to the sense of community and camaraderie on show. This year, the Bush Choir and the Mundi Undi Run raised some $150,ooo for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).  This year, some 1,600 festival-goers joined the fun and raced…

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Perisher Front Valley - Old Mate Media

Complete Perisher Ski Resort Guide: Everything you need to know

Australia may not be world-renowned for its snow, but when it comes to skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing and even just building a snowman, the name Perisher still manages to stand out. The Perisher Ski Resort isn’t just the biggest snowfield in Australia, at 1,245 hectares (3,076 acres) of carveable terrain, it’s the biggest in the southern…

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The sun comes out for day two of the Mundi Mundi Bash

By the second day of the Mundi Mundi Festival, the rain had stopped, the sun had come out and the ground started to dry out underfoot. Thousands of festival goers joined in for an iconic rendering of Tina Turner’s “Simply the Best” in what could be one of the world’s largest choir. Decked out in…

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Rain didn’t dampen the spirit of the Mundi Mundi Festival

In the week before the Mundi Mundi Bash, torrential rain meant that the organisers had to made some fast and difficult decisions. To ease congestion, early bird tickets holders could arrive earlier and set up camp. However, due to the muddy conditions, many were turned away. Still, over 10,000 people still set up camp ready…

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Miss Kaninna has something to say, and she’s saying it loud on BLACKPRINT

Miss Kaninna’s BLACKPRINT mixtape is immediately unapologetic. From the opening seconds of “Chat My Shit”, she declares “I’m Indigenous so you know you gon’ be feelin’ this.” It’s clear straight away that this isn’t a mixtape interested in quietly introducing itself, but rather it kicks the door in. Across six tracks, BLACKPRINT feels like a…

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Jorja Smith finds liberation on the dance floor with What Are The Odds (2026)

UK artist Jorja Smith is back on the scene with her new album What Are The Odds. It marks her third studio album and her first as a fully independent artist. She’s a distinct voice in the UK scene, with her signature warm and smoky vocals. This album takes what Smith has done so well…

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Xenoblade Chronicles 2 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is a magnificent epic that finally gets the upgrade it deserves

After Xenoblade Chronicles X took the Wii U in a more systemic, player-driven direction, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 marked a return to narrative focus. Now, with its Switch 2 upgrade, it’s worth revisiting whether this ambitious RPG still holds up. After the release of Xenoblade Chronicles – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition last month, it seems we…

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New Music Discoveries: Gang of Youths, Fontaines D.C., Dopamine, and more

It has been a colossal week for new releases, and this week we’ve had a hard time whittling our choices down to ten new tracks to add to our Discovery Playlist, available on Spotify and Apple Music. Our Track of the Week goes to Gang of Youths, who make a magnificent return with “Things Take…

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Unpacking the newest gameplay features in NBA 2K27

NBA 2K27 is right around the corner, and we’re getting plenty of inside looks at some fresh gameplay features from this year’s iteration. From general gameplay enhancements to a new city and MyCAREER updates, there’s plenty to look forward to when the game launches on the 4th of September, 2026. Gameplay This year, players will…

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Jumanji: The Lost Levels is coming to Zero Latency VR later this year

Zero Latency VR provides a wide range of original and licensed VR experiences at several locations across Australia. That range is set to grow again, with the announcement of Jumanji: The Lost Levels, coming to all Australian Zero Latency VR locations on the 4th of December, 2026. Based on the upcoming film, Jumanji: The Lost…

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Interview: Tony composer Jay McCarrol talks finding Anthony Bourdain before he found himself

Before Anthony Bourdain became the unmistakable voice, world traveller and cultural figure audiences came to know, he was a restless 19-year-old trying to work out where he belonged. Matt Johnson’s Tony captures that formative summer in Provincetown, where an unexpected introduction to the chaotic world of restaurant kitchens would quietly set his life on an…

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Film Review: Mutiny; Jason Statham doesn’t reinvent the action movie with latest vehicle – but understands the assignment all the same

Jason Statham has built a remarkably durable career out of knowing exactly what audiences want from a Jason Statham movie. Put him in a confined space, surround him with disposable henchmen, give him a vaguely personal reason to be angry, and eventually someone is going to discover just how creatively an everyday object can be…

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New York City’s Masquerade is a monumental achievement & one of the best theatrical experiences you’ll ever have

The idea of the interactive theatre experience is nothing new. From “whodunit” dinner parties to whatever it is people get up to at those Rocky Horror screenings, there’s always been a market for those of us who want to feel a part of the action. Even sitting front row at a comedy show brings out the more…

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Book Review: J. A. Stevens’ debut novel gives Bridgerton with a bit more backbone

J A Stevens’ debut novel, A Change of Pace, gives every impression that it is the opening chapter of a long running Regency era mystery series. Its lead character, Georgina Pace, feels like a combination of Phryne Fisher and Lord Byron – hopping from bed to bed, flouting convention, and solving a few problems for…

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The Skullcandy Crusher 1080 ANC Headphones provide incredible bang for your buck

Skullcandy are no stranger to a wide range of over-ear and in-ear options across a range of price points, but the Crusher 1080 ANC over-ear headphones now stand as their most premium option on the market. At $399.99, I would certainly consider this a premium pair of headphones, but after using these for a few…

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The Reolink Battery Doorbell (2nd Gen) is a solid addition to your security setup

Over a decade ago, if someone knocked on my door, I would pretend I wasn’t home and peek through the window to see who was there. My first port of call was to hide and make sure the person knocking didn’t see me, because “stranger danger”, obviously. But with security cameras and doorbell cameras flooding…

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Interview: Michael Bisping on proving himself as a leading man in Atlas King; “I feel like this script was written for me.”

Michael Bisping knows a thing or two about taking a hit. But carrying an action film on his shoulders? That presented the former UFC champion with an entirely different kind of pressure. In Atlas King, Bisping steps into the title role as a former fighter drawn back into a world he thought he had escaped….

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Edinburgh Fringe Review: Bryn Woz’s SMUT is a rollercoaster ride through the fictional life of a burlesque superstar

Los Angeles-based performer Bryn Woznicki (aka Bryn Woz) brings her latest show SMUT to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In the one-woman show, Bryn plays burlesque character Entendre Entendre, as she launches her memoir Smut. In the show, she her share stories from the novel, and her life of promiscuity and pansexuality. As you can tell…

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From Club Kid to Wild Horse Nine: The AU Review’s anticipated films of TIFF 2026

Every September, Toronto briefly becomes the centre of the cinematic universe, and in 2026 The AU Review will once again be on the ground for the Toronto International Film Festival, taking in as much as humanly possible across 11 days of premieres, discoveries, red carpets and those inevitable scheduling clashes that force you to choose…

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Australian queer drama Invisible Boys sells to Hulu in the United States

Australian queer drama Invisible Boys is heading stateside, with the acclaimed Stan Original finding a new home on Hulu in the United States. The Disney-owned streaming service has acquired the Australian series through Banijay Rights, which handles its international distribution, giving the homegrown drama access to a significant new audience following its Australian debut on…

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Interview: Jeff Ryan on turning an insult into a comedy-noir with Mooch; “I still think it’s funny.”

Being called a mooch isn’t usually the type of insult one spends a decade transforming into a feature film, but Jeff Ryan has never seemed particularly interested in taking the expected route. Following YouthMin: A Mockumentary and the horror-comedy Mean Spirited, Ryan once again writes, directs and stars in Mooch (read our full review here),…

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“Nobody wanted this album to be about the things that it’s about,”: Mastodon’s Brann Dailor on loss, brotherhood, and Marrow Deep

Heavy metal legends Mastodon return later this month with Marrow Deep, an album forged through loss, brotherhood and the determination to keep moving. Five years is a long time between records, but for Mastodon, the journey to Marrow Deep has been shaped by far more than creative ambition, with the band’s ninth studio album arriving…

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Book Review: Ellena Savage’s debut novel examines inheritance and ambition against a backdrop of literal waste

Ellena Savage’s debut novel, The Ruiners, is exactly the kind of novel that abounds in Australian writing at the moment. Predominately focussing on characters who are over-educated and under-employed, it is a smart, witty novel which zones in on characters at a particular moment in time, all whilst favouring philosophical and intellectual insights over plot…

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