A sinister wall of synths and strings shoots from the tiny Sydney Opera House forecourt stage. One of music’s most formidable creatives is cheering himself on as the flickering orange glow illuminates his half-cocked cackle, making him look like a mad scientist as he fiddles away with his equipment and twists his arms into the…
The Jungle Giants took their regional tour to Dee Why RSL on the Northern Beaches of Sydney on Thursday night. It was a fantastic show, and the crowd were well and truly up for it. There were plenty of Halloween costumes, and the band was on fire. There were some uber-fans present, plenty of love…
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…
Thom Yorke is on his debut solo tour of Australia, and tonight was his first Sydney show, at the iconic Sydney Opera House Forecourt. It was a brilliant set to a packed audience, with a number of Radiohead songs thrown into the mix. Bruce was there to bring you these images. Review is on its…
Today Sarah Blasko has released her sixth studio album, the beautiful I Just Need To Conquer This Mountain. It’s a deeply personal and cathartic album, as Sarah reflects on goodbyes and new beginnings. I had a chat with Sarah about the genesis of the album and it’s influences, her upcoming tour and much more. Links for…
We’ve slipped into November and are barrelling towards Christmas at an alarming speed. In between gorging on leftover Halloween treats we’ve added ten more tracks to our Discovery Playlist on Spotify and Apple Music. Along with two singles we exclusively premiered earlier in the week, we also have “Only A Fool”, our Track of the…
For those who love music, beer and skating, this two day free event at Manly Beach this weekend – tonight and tomorrow, November 1st and 2nd – may be just the thing for you. Young Henrys and Volcom are hosting the event at Hotel Steyne, with DJ sets from Dune Rats, The Buoys, Haiku Hands…
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…
One of history’s most highly influential UK rappers is returning to Australia after a painfully long absence. During the peak of his popularity, Dizzee Rascal was a regular in Australia and in remarkably high demand thanks to classic albums such as Boy In Da Corner and Maths + English. And while those projects still hold…
Singer Chit Chat Von Loopin Stab sat down with the AU review to discuss Machine Gun Fellatio’s reunion and recent performances, including a secret gig in Newcastle. The band members, who hadn’t played together in 20 years, felt a sense of nostalgia and rejuvenation, with standout moments like rehearsing with Marshall stacks and the entire…
Hot off the heels of their brand new album Memory of a Day (read my review HERE), we caught up with Sarah and Jon of New York’s Phantogram. We talked about the cinematic new record, the influences behind it – as well as their recent tour in North America with Kings of Leon. Firstly, congratulations…
A band very much on the rise is Meanjin/Brisbane’s Mid Drift. The cleverly named indie-pop outfit started releasing relatable earworms in 2023, and haven’t looked back. We are thrilled to be premiering their latest tune, packed with all the feels, the anthemic “Nicotine”, ahead of its release tomorrow. The band has drawn inspiration from artists…
Tasmanian singer-songwriter Marcus Wynwood is not one to be put in a box. Formerly a member of punk act Captives, his latest EP Never Stood Out and Never Fit In – independently released 17 October – is a mixed bag of backyard wisdom and playful experimentation. The seven-track project is a self-produced collection of densely…
2024’s iteration of Good Things Festival is scheduled to roll through the country commencing the first week of December. With a stellar lineup featuring some of the biggest bands from today, yesterday and tomorrow, the curators have managed to book a lineup that is diverse and ready to please everyone in attendance. From headliners Korn,…
David Thompson, lead singer of Adelaide folk band Bromham, chats about their live performances, emphasizing community and collaboration. Their upcoming EP, Adulthood, is inspired by personal challenges, including infertility and property issues. The song “Friends” reflects the support from diverse friends, while another track honours Hannah’s sister. The EP features local Adelaide artist Max Ballard’s…
Amyl and The Sniffers are on a high after announcing an Australian tour and releasing their new album, Cartoon Darkness. In the middle of their world tour Amyl and The Sniffers will play Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Wollongong, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, supported by Bob Vylan (UK) and Miss Kaninna plus Party In The Paddock Festival in Tasmania….
The prolific and wonderful Fingerless from Meanjin/Brisbane are edging closer to releasing their fifth album, and today we have the pleasure of premiering the fourth single to drop, the gentle and soothing acoustic ballad, “Monster”. We also have a beautiful video to accompany the track. “Monster” is rich and velvety smooth. They have been playing…
Adelaide’s Froth and Fury Festival, the massive all-ages alternative craft beer and music event is back at The Port in November with an explosive lineup of 33 bands across three stages. Northlane, Thy Art Is Murder, and Fear Factory lead the lineup, including the USA band’s only Australian show. Testeagles and Day Of Contempt will be playing exclusive reunion shows….
Acclaimed Canada-based Punjabi artist Karan Aujla is gearing up for an arena tour around Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland, bringing his unique, award-winning blend of Punjabi folk and worldly contemporary music to some of the region’s biggest venues for the very first time since his debut in 2022. Aujla’s star has reached tremendous heights this year….
We can see November peering just around the corner, and this week we have added another ten tracks to our Discovery Playlist on Spotify and Apple Music, including one track we exclusively premiered earlier in the week. Our track of the week is “Old Dog/New Tricks”, a joint collaboration from two fine singer/songwriters – Joe…
Hayley Mary, of The Jezabels fame, has been releasing music under her own name since her stellar debut EP, The Piss, The Perfume, in 2020. Since then, she has released two more EPs, and today, she has released her grand and ambitious debut LP, Roman XS. The album was produced by Hayley and The Jezabels producer, Lachlan Mitchell, with…
Hailing from Brisbane, duo Trim Reaper have tapped into an intoxicating and luxurious mix of electro punk and indie rock. Yesterday, they dropped their debut EP, and it’s a beauty. At just three track long, it’s short and sweet, but packed with social commentary, old-school instrumentation and upbeat energy. There’s a potent sincerety to the…
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…
Tyler, The Creator has announced his return to Australia and New Zealand for the 2025 CHROMAKOPIA World Tour, marking a significant moment in his rocky history with touring our shores. After being banned from entering Australia in 2015 due to controversial lyrics, Tyler made his return in 2019 and then 2022, to open arms and…
Metallica have just announced that Australia will be part of their M72 World Tour in November 2025. Metallica will perform in stadiums in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Auckland. These shows will include the famous Snake Pit extending from the front of the stage, meaning that the band will perform at each end of…
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…
After finally making their debut visit to Australian shores in early 2023 after a multitude of false starts, the boys from the better land, Fontaines D.C., have announced their return down under with a string of massive headline shows matched with a couple festivals slots. On the back of this year’s stellar Romance, featuring the…
I still remember the cracks clearly. The first one reverberated up my right leg to let me know something was wrong, while the second immediately followed and sent me into a panic. A sprain? Annoying. It’ll heal. But how did I sprain my foot at a concert? It’s Halloween in 2010 and I’m watching Nas,…
