Australian indie mainstay The Cat Empire are back with their highly anticipated 10th studio album! Known for their infectious blend of jazz, ska, funk, and rock, new release Bird in Paradise delivers the same vibrant energy and genre-defying sound that has made them a fan favourite for over two decades. Bird in Paradise follows on…
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…
Often forgotten as one of Sergio Leone’s masterpieces, Once Upon a Time in America (1984) was released in theatres as a 149-minute gangster epic. Upon release it was swiftly cast aside as a miss in Leone’s otherwise stellar career. If you have seen it, you would know of the decades that pass in mere minutes…
Perth-based alternative rocker RinRin has just dropped new EP Angels, a six track strong celebration of her signature fusion style of hyper-pop punk and metal. The musical project of singer-songwriter and guitarist Qarin Hipe, RinRin pulls influences from the likes of BABYMETAL, Poppy, and Bring Me The Horizon. Angels is a prequel of sorts, gathering recent releases…
Formed during the pandemic, L.S. Dunes made their debut at 2022’s Riot Fest shortly before releasing their album Past Lives, which was well-received by fans and critics. The band is made up of lead vocalist Anthony Green (Circa Survive , Saosin and The Sound of Animals Fighting), guitarist Frank Iero (My Chemical Romance), guitarist Travis…
Slowly Slowly have cemented themselves as one of the most dynamic forces in the Australian rock scene, and their fifth studio album, Forgiving Spree only further proves this. Forgiving Spree is Slowly Slowly in all their glory, showcasing their signature emotion al depth, intricate musicianship, and a maturity that reflects their evolution as a band. With a sprinkle of…
Dear Seattle release their third studio album, TOY, today- and it’s without a doubt their best yet. Forming in 2013, the group has made a name for themselves among the Aussie indie rock scene, and if you’re an avid gig-goer, then chances are you’ve caught them live a few times, whether it be a headline…
Beloved nu-metal Melbournians, Ocean Grove, dropped their fourth studio album, ODDWORLD, this past Friday, and it’s been well-received by fans and critics alike. After the departure of vocalist Luke Holmes in 2019 and his subsequent return for this record, the band has embraced a decidedly eclectic sound. This album, true to its name, feels like…
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…
New York pop-punkers State Champs have been making waves since 2010 and on Friday, they finally released their much-anticipated fifth studio album. For a group that’s been churning out anthemic, sing-along tracks since their debut The Finer Things, this self-titled record feels like a natural progression. It’s a blend of looking back to their roots…
You just love seeing artists make massive leaps forward from one album to the next. Here on her second album Stop and Smell the Lightning, Annie Hamilton has done just that. An album filled with vast arrays of whirling sounds and samples, both human and not, Stop and Smell the Lightning is hard to describe,…
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…
Every so often, an artist emerges that makes you wonder if your Spotify Discover knows you at all. For me this week, that’s Soccer Mommy; the Swiss-born, Nashville-raised moniker of artist Sophie Allison. Releasing her fourth album Evergreen this week, I find myself baffled that her sweetly melancholic indie sound has somehow evaded my radar…
Four years after their stellar debut album Paid Salvation in 2020, Hobart-based A. Swayze & the Ghosts return this Friday with their sophomore album Let’s Live A Life Better Than This. The ten track album is a wonderful evolution, combining the elements of the band’s self described kraut-rock, garage rock, modern psych, and folk influenced…
When you find out one of Australia’s best vocalists is about to drop a new album, you drop everything and do whatever you can to listen to their songs. When this artist has been responsible for some of your favourite songs over the past 15 years, it makes it that much more exciting. Here, on…
Naarm/Melbourne’s The Last Martyr have just dropped EP Requiem, packed with soaring, soul-stirring metal. Mixed by Chris Lalic (Windwaker, Days Like These), it’s an explosive collection, an apocalyptic exploration of what happens when we disrespect and disregard Mother Nature. Frontwoman Monica Strut explains: “The Requiem EP is about the human species’ journey towards, throughout and…
Alternative-emo outfit Those Who Dream (siblings Josh and Hazel Meyer) have just dropped their latest EP, Therapy Machine. Mixed in house by vocalist Josh, whose past credits include The Amity Affliction, AViVA, and Chez), and mastered by Ted Jensen (Green Day, Deftness, and Post Malone), Therapy Machine is exactly what we’ve come to expect from…
Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter met way back in preschool with their paths crossing again in 2007, when the two joined forces and started making music under the name Charlie Everywhere. In 2009, they found their own unique sound- a mix of electronic rock and dream pop, blending gritty beats with atmospheric melodies, and changed…
Two years after their last release, the UK’s own Porridge Radio return with Clouds in the Sky They Will Always Be There for Me; an introspective and emotionally charged offering that demonstrates the band’s growth both lyrically and sonically. The album, out this Friday, is as much a testament to Dana Margolin’s evolution as a songwriter…
With Lament crowned Pitchfork’s Best New Album in 2020, Touché Amoré set the bar high for their upcoming release, Spiral in a Straight Line. Forming in 2007, the post-hardcore group has consistently made waves in the scene, earning critical acclaim for each of their four previous studio albums. While they re-recorded and re-released their debut…
Like most, I was introduced to Kasey Chambers through her breakthrough second album Barricades and Brickwalls and the inescapable single of 2001, “Not Pretty Enough.” Fast forward nearly two decades, and Chambers stands atop a mountain of achievements: five number-one albums on the ARIA Albums Chart, 14 ARIA Music Awards (including nine for Best Country…
Change is both uncomfortable and necessary, which is why it’s such a touchy but relatable subject in contemporary music. There comes a point in every band’s career where they must decide whether to continue doing what they know and their fans enjoy, or instead follow their instincts and pursue their own style. Naarm/Melbourne-based alt-rock act…
After five years, Ceres have made a triumphant return with the release of their sixth studio album, Magic Mountain (1996-2022). Although it appeared the band had taken a hiatus, they were, in fact, working on this double album in various forms over the past five years. Spanning a massive twenty-five tracks, this record is a…
Post-hardcore band Drug Church drop their fifth studio album today. PRUDE is an electrifying 28-minute record full of bangers, with a blend of punk rock, post-hardcore and alternative rock. It’s short and sweet, with each track packing a punch. Drug Church’s sound has evolved over the last thirteen years, and I’m confident that PRUDE is…
This past week, Australian indie-pop/rock sensations The Rions dropped their much-anticipated second EP, Happiness in a Place It Shouldn’t Be. The six-track offering arrives just in time for summer, destined to carry on the breeze and dominate airwaves all season long. It’s an energetic, heart-filled collection of groovers, set to become the soundtrack of festivals…
This week English alternative rock stalwarts Maxïmo Park release their eighth studio album Stream of Life via Lower Third Records. Despite logging 20 years in the industry and an impressive eight album discography, Maxïmo Park have crafted a release still brimming with energy. Rooted firmly in the sounds of the late ’90s and early 2000s,…
Elana Stone has been a professional musician for over 20 years, with the multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter’s résumé suggesting she’s vying for the top spot as Australia’s busiest musician. When she isn’t winning ARIA Awards with All Our Exes Live in Texas, lending her talent to Missy Higgins’ touring band, producing, podcasting, writing a musical, or…
As I dive into Bright Eyes’ latest offering Five Dice, All Threes released this week, I must admit the band — and its frontman, Conor Oberst — has long eluded my musical radar. Picking up a Bright Eyes album does feel like starting at the end of a long-running series, three decades in the making….
Following her acclaimed 2020 album Get Well Soon, Perth-based singer-songwriter St South (Olivia Gavranich) returns with an introspective, soul bearing five-track EP Big Sads. Known for her more sleek bedroom pop sound, Gavranich’s previous releases blended moments of shimmering, danceable pop with the occasional heartbreaker. With Big Sads, she’s peeled back the layers producing something…
With the release of their sophomore album Illuminator, American psychedelic rock quintet GIFT showcases a bold evolution in their sound and direction. The band brings together nostalgic electronic pop-rock elements with expansive, synth-heavy production, resulting in a sound that feels drawn from the wells of bygone eras but equally modern and current. Following their 2020…
