Not every display needs to cost a fortune to feel premium, and Dell’s S2725QC is a perfect example of that philosophy in action. This 27-inch 4K monitor doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but then again, it doesn’t have to. Priced at A$449.90, it delivers a smart blend of sharp visuals, a high refresh rate, and USB-C…
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With the advent of streaming, music has never been more accessible. The assumption might’ve been that artistic creativity would thrive in a technological era unburdened by label demands, industry cynicism or trend-chasing. Commercial interests however, continue to outpace creative ones. Rather than fostering experimentation, the streaming system has rewarded immediacy. Playlist-friendly singles and algorithm-driven exposure…
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On a wintery Sunday night, Brisbane’s jacket-clad masses shuffled out of the bitter cold and into the welcoming warmth of a sold-out Princess Theatre. Despite the layered attire and a looming workweek, the crowd arrived ready to move. With UK five-piece Ezra Collective in town, that almost felt like a prerequisite. Wrapping up their whirlwind…
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On a rainy Friday night in Brisbane’s Woolloongabba, excitement was building for the long-awaited reunion of Australian indie outfit Cloud Control — a return seven years in the making. Formed in the mid-2000s in the Blue Mountains and breaking through with their acclaimed debut Bliss Release in 2010, the band had been on hiatus since…
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On a brisk Brisbane evening a line formed down the block for the opening night of Open Season 2025, one of the city’s most exciting winter festivals. Despite the time reading 7:30pm on a Sunday, punters huddled in the Princess Theatre’s courtyards and bars with a buzz in the air. The occasion? The first Brisbane…
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When most artists choose to get introspective, they tend to wear their hearts on their sleeve. Hein Cooper, however, opts to open the door to the garage, set up the mic, and let the world listen in. Written, recorded and produced entirely by Cooper in his mum’s garage over six months, My Own is the artist’s…
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After nearly two decades, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion has returned, not with a sequel or a reboot, but with a remastered glow-up that breathes new life into one of Bethesda’s most endearing RPG titles thus far. This updated version, rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5 by the team at Virtuos, doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but…
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It’s rather uncommon for a band approaching two decades in the business to release a self-titled album. It might seem even more uncommon when that same album happens to be their fourth studio release. Lucius, however, the American four-piece led by Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig, is far from common. The band’s self-titled fourth album,…
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Alienware’s AW3225DM might not arrive with the fanfare of its QD-OLED sibling, but don’t mistake it for a budget compromise. This 32-inch, curved VA-panel display strikes a sweet spot between performance and price, offering immersive visuals, quality build, and ergonomic design at a surprisingly affordable $699.60AUD. Certainly not the cheapest offering, for those seeking a…
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Brisbane’s live music scene is gearing up for one of its biggest seasons yet, with Open Season 2025 set to deliver an electrifying mix of world-class performances, homegrown talent, and unforgettable live experiences this winter. Running from May to July, this citywide festival—now in its fifth year—has expanded once again, with The Tivoli and The…
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While busy touring the globe, Lime Cordiale have announced their most ambitious tour to date. The group are set to reimagine their indie-pop anthems with a symphonic twist, teaming up with some of Australia’s leading orchestras, starting in August of this year. Lime Cordiale with the Symphony Orchestras will see the Leimbach brothers bring their…
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After a huge year that’s seen him top the charts and sell out venues around the world, US artist Teddy Swims is bringing his I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy Tour to Australia and New Zealand in October 2025. With his full band Freak Freely in tow, the GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter will play arenas across seven cities,…
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If pushing toy diggers, trucks, and loaders in a sandpit consumed hours of your childhood, and you’ve been waiting for a more immersive, engaging driving simulator, RoadCraft might just be your next obsession. Developed by Saber Interactive, this upcoming title blends the meticulous off-road navigation of SnowRunner with an ambitious infrastructure-building component, letting players reshape…
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Last Friday, Melbourne/Naarm-based singer-songwriter Annie-Rose Maloney released her highly anticipated debut album, Circle Walking. Aptly described as “alt-folk/country-ish,” Maloney has captured the alt-folk world’s attention with previous singles “Lost In Coburg,” “Hold Me” and “I Run From Pain”. With a promising but ultimately short catalogue, the former cricketer, current high school teacher, and now singer/songwriter…
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Sid Meier’s Civilization series has long been the gold standard in turn-based strategy, offering players the thrill of guiding an empire through the ages and watching history unfold, one turn at a time. With Civilization 7, developer Firaxis Games reimagines many aspects of the franchise, introducing improvements to combat, a fresh take on diplomacy, and a…
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On Friday afternoon Brisbane’s Bruce Highway became jammed on all sides, as swarms of ticket holders descended on the city while CBD commuters fought to get out. Congesting every conceivable entry towards Milton’s Suncorp Stadium, fans were queuing early for the first stop on country mega star Luke Combs’s record breaking stadium tour of Australia….
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Few performers have redefined artistry across recording, live performance and fan service quite as profoundly as Jack White. From the eccentricities of Nashville’s brick and mortar Third Man Records, live shows with no setlist, crew members dressed in full suit and tie and publishing full gig audio and photos after the fact, White has cemented…
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As one of the first monitors to leverage Samsung’s next-generation 4K 240Hz QD-OLED panel, the Alienware 4K QD-OLED (AW3225QF) arrives with plenty of hype, and for good reason. This 32-inch, curved display builds on Alienware’s previous QD-OLED models, combining impressive technical specs with thoughtful design choices and stellar desktop appeal. It not only meets the…
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The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus comes from a workhorse line, designed for users who need an affordable daily laptop without compromising on utility. With its latest iteration—the Inspiron 14 (5441)—Dell has taken something of a gamble, swapping out its traditional Intel or AMD silicon for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon platform. While the move to ARM chips…
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When Nintendo announced remakes of the long-dormant series Famicom Detective Club, it seemed like a nostalgic one-off experiment and no sure thing that the revamped titles from yesteryear would work in the present gaming landscape. Fast-forward and it would appear that those remakes were just a prologue, with more in store for fans. Enter Emio…
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Positioned as a spiritual successor to the Persona and Shin Megami Tensei series, Metaphor: ReFantazio is the latest offering from Japanese studio Atlus, trading in school halls for castle walls. Boldly delving into heavy themes of inequality and the corrupting influence of power, Atlus has certainly crafted one of the standout RPGs of the year….
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Prior to the release of Tiny Habit’s debut album, All For Something back in May, I was a total newcomer to the indie-folk trio from Boston, Massachusetts. After reviewing the album however, I started scouring the internet for tour info, regularly checking the Australia Post app for my “coke bottle clear” vinyl and pestering anyone…
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In the interests of full transparency before diving into this review, I must admit: I’m a massive fan of Savage Garden. The band’s two monumental albums were often blared from the tape player of my parent’s VN Vacationer Commodore, embedding themselves into the soundtrack of my childhood and bookmarking every road trip in the early…
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Full disclosure: I am not a religious person, but Thursday night at Brisbane’s Riverstage I may have experienced something akin to a conversion. Through a few small miracles and a touch of divine intervention, James Blunt’s first Australian stop on the Who We Used To Be tour was easily one of the best shows of the…
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The lineup for Always Live is here, with the brainchild of Australian music icon Michael Gudinski continuing to be a game-changer for Victoria’s live music scene. This year’s roster is no exception, with the addition of American rock icon Jack White, who is set to deliver two unforgettable shows in December. Since we first posted…
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Hailing from the outer suburbs of Naarm/Melbourne, self-described emo-folk artist Bec Sykes has been steadily crafting a discography of lo-fi indie gems, from 2020’s breakout Edithvale to 2021’s Getaway and 2022’s At Least. Each release has sharpened her ability to deliver immediately endearing tunes, building quiet anticipation for a full-length project that could expand on…
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Following the massively positive reception of Hogwarts Legacy last year, one of the lingering questions among fans—particularly sports and mini-game enthusiasts like myself—was simple: where’s the Quidditch? Despite being a key part of the books and films, Hogwarts Legacy skirts this glaring omission with the headmaster cancelling the season due to an injury from the…
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There’s always a gamble when picking up a game aimed at younger audiences—wondering if it will transcend the typical “kids’ game” boundaries to captivate players of all ages. Classics like Super Mario, Spyro, and Crash Bandicoot have found this balance, creating worlds that invite a younger and older crowd. However, new releases often raise the…
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The poison chalice of rock and roll superstardom is the seductive, yet false, promise of eternal youth. Like lightning in a bottle, the volatile mix of youth and adolescent rebellion—capturing the pulse of a generation at precisely the right moment—feels unstoppable. Immune to time. But inevitably, that image cracks, and even the greats confront the…
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With the release of the much-anticipated EP Boy’s In Love, Melbourne/Naarm’s Keelan Mak returns to the forefront of Australian pop armed with a fresh brand of club-ready pop tunes primed for summer listening. Proving a worthy successor to 2022s Brave Face EP, the strong introductions from singles “Drift” and “Straight with Me” were excellent showcases…
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