• The Darkness – ANU Refectory, Canberra, 10 May 2012

    by  • May 19, 2012 • 0 Comments

    Words by Adam Agius
    Photos by John Raptis

    Upon my arrival I see the venue absolutely packed full. The support band Fun Factory are already playing, so I settle into their set. Great musicians with good stage presence – I wouldn’t hesitate to catch these guys again under different circumstances – but their very poppy approach doesn’t go down too well with the rock crowd.

    While I’d been anticipating The Darkness to impress, the set that follows far exceeds all expectations (three days later I’m still buzzing from it). The intro tape Boys Are Back in Town begins, a suitable starter as The Darkness have a lot of Lizzyisms to their sound. The lights explode and Black Shuck is delivered with incredible intensity. Everything sounds perfect, and Justin Hawkins (lead vocals, guitar) is jumping around like a man possessed. I can’t see a frown in the place and it’s evident everyone here is just as blown away as I am. The song ends, and Justin launches into crowd-pleasing banter, “give me a D… Now give me an Arkness,” he demands, causing ripples of laughter. This guy was born to be a front man – his dry English humor adding to show’s memorability. Back to the setand One WayTicket to Hell is blaring. Everything about this band rocks: guitars are wailing, backing vocals are flawless, and Justin’s lead vocals are simply unbeatable – he doesn’t falter the entire set.

    The new single from the forthcoming album is now playing. The title, Nothings Gonna Stop Us is apt – this performance is unstoppable. The band plays several new tracks off of the new album, integrating new material into the set well.

    Get Your Hands off of My Woman gets the crowd going double time, and then it’s more of Justin’s banter. He givesCanberraa good rap and takes time to thank Fun Factor –there’s no ego with this man, he’s just pure entertainer. Justin puts on his special top hat and the set continues with Friday Night, On My Own and a couple of newies that are received as well as hits such as Givin’ up, Stuck in a Rut, and I’m Now in Hard Rock Heaven. How the hell do you get this good as a band? There’s even a cool blues guitar solo courtesy of Justin – this bloke is just fantastic on all levels. Bastard!

    I Believe in a Thing Called Love is the last song, and everyone wants more, so the chanting begins. The Darkness reemerge to give us Hazel Eyes and Love on the Rocks.

    It’s been a long time since I have felt completely enveloped by a band’s set, and I could have easily heard more. It’s hard to improve on perfection – The Darkness are back and nothing’s going to stop them.

    Unleashed – Odalheim (Nuclear Blast / Riot!)

    by  • May 18, 2012 • 0 Comments

    Reviewed by Fabio Marraccini

    These Swedish death metal pioneers need no introduction for fans of the genre. With seminal releases such as Shadows in the Deep, Across the Open Sea and Victory, they were fundamental in shaping the genre during its rise in the ‘90s, adding elements from Norse mythology and Viking culture. So it comes as no surprise that their eleventh studio album follows this formula, picking up from where As Yggdrasil Trembles left a few years ago, and telling a post-doomsday story that culminates with The Great Battle of Odalheim.

    Featuring a stabilised line-up since 1997, starting with founding member Johnny Hedlund on growls and bass, followed by Fredrik Folkare and Tomas Måsgard on hallucinating guitar riffs and scales, and ending with Anders Schultz on horse- stampede-like drums, the band sounds like a very tight unit from beginning to end. Alternating fast tracks filled with blast beats with slow paced down-tuned heavy passages and even acoustic or piano introductions, they tell us how after three years of darkness and coldness, the surviving warriors build a new world out of the old one’s ashes.

    What is really impressive about this album is their ability in creating an ominous atmosphere that lasts through its roughly 43 minutes. You will really feel embraced as the story progresses, and notice that the melodies and speed pretty much follow the story being told, almost as if we’re listening to a soundtrack from a movie – in death metal style! Selecting standouts is therefore a really challenging task, but shining moments would be The Hour of Defeat, with its beautiful intro followed by a powerful sequence of fast riffs and scales, Vinland, with an atmosphere that grows in intensity as the song goes, and The Great Battle of Odalheim, that closes the album inviting you to head-bang madly no matter how tired you are.

    From their flagship t-shirt I quote “Death Metal – No Compromise!”… Totally agreed!

    SLASH ANNOUNCES AUSTRALIAN TOUR!

    by  • May 17, 2012 • 0 Comments

    Recent Rock n Roll Hall of Fame inductee and one of the greatest exponents of the electric guitar, SLASH, returns this August for an unmissable tour in support of his new album ‘Apocalyptic Love’.

    On his last visit SLASH sold out all of his Australian shows in under 10 minutes. Those shows were moved up to much larger venues and promptly sold out again.

    So this time around, he will come not only armed with the most gifted rock vocalist of this generation, Mr. Myles Kennedy and the band of Conspirators, but with an arena production to deliver his fabled show; just as the rock gods intended.

    SLASH & Co are set to perform an all killer career spanning set from early Guns to Velvet Revolver and 2 amazing solo albums, the latest of which, Apocalyptic Love, has garnered praise from fan forums to broadsheet newspapers and all points in between.

    “Like some kind of rock ‘n’ roll kaleidoscope, the album evinces the legendary guitarist at his best from all angles. There are soft and subdued moments. There’s danger. There’s mayhem. There’s blues. There’s shred.” – Artistdirect

    Like the new album, and the debut before it, the perfect rock marriage of Gibson and Marshall comes to life in SLASH’s live show.  “In front of a wall of Marshall amps Slash in top hat, leather pants and sleeveless shirt played his guitar like a man possessed racing from one side of the stage to the other” Triple M

     

    TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY 1 JUNE, 9AM

     

    THURSDAY 23 AUGUST
    BRISBANE, THE RIVERSTAGE    – Lic A/A
    www.ticketmaster.com.au

    SATURDAY 25 AUGUST
    SYDNEY, ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE     – Lic A/A
    www.ticketmaster.com.au

     

    SUNDAY 26 AUGUST
    MELBOURNE, HISENSE ARENA     – Lic A/A
    www.ticketek.com.au

     

    TUESDAY 28 AUGUST
    ADELAIDE, THEBARTON THEATRE     – Lic A/A
    www.oztix.com.au / www.venuetix.com.au

     

    THURSDAY 30 AUGUST
    PERTH, METRO CITY     – 18+
    www.oztix.com.au

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    STEEL PANTHER RETURN TO AUSTRALIA!

    by  • May 11, 2012 • 0 Comments

    For STEEL PANTHER, bringing the halcyon days of metal back to the world is not a job…it’s a mission statement, a modus operandi, and a way of life.

    In their first ever headline tour of Australia, STEEL PANTHER are primed for an all-out assault on the senses with Michael Starr commenting “I can’t wait to get my balls out in some fresh Australian air!” and Stixx adding ”I can’t wait to come to Australia and rock all the genitals off your women then they’ll know what America tastes like!”

    They have remained rock’s best kept secret for decades — prowling the Sunset Strip with weekly residencies while keeping the sleazy flame of rock ‘n’ rock alive…”But no longer. The ferocious Steel Panther has been let out of its iron cage and has only one mission: to roar with the tiger-like growl and strut with the sensual prance of glam rock n’ roll from the halcyon days of the 1980s.” – Metal As Fuck

    With their brand new album ‘Balls Out’ in tow and having just been nominated for Metal Hammer’s “Best International Band” Award, STEEL PANTHER will be bringing their full live show extravaganza to Australia this October!

    TICKETS ON SALE THURSDAY 17 MAY, 9AM

    THURSDAY 4 OCTOBER
    BRISBANE, EATONS HILL – Lic A/A
    www.oztix.com.au

    FRIDAY 5 OCTOBER
    SYDNEY, BIG TOP LUNA PARK – Lic A/A
    www.bigtopsydney.com / www.oztix.com.au / www.ticketek.com.au

    SUNDAY 7 OCTOBER
    MELBOURNE, PALACE –18+
    www.oztix.com.au / www.ticketek.com.au

    MONDAY 8 OCTOBER
    ADELAIDE, HQ – 18+
    www.oztix.com.au / www.venuetix.com.au

    WEDNESDAY 10 OCTOBER
    PERTH, METRO CITY – 18+
    www.oztix.com.au

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    MPIRE OF EVIL – Hell To The Holy (Scarlet Records)

    by  • May 11, 2012 • 0 Comments

    By Damo

    Once this album appeared on my desk, you have no idea of the excitement that I tried to contain while rushing to get this album playing. Fumbling getting the thing started, knocking things over, spilling water on the keyboard, etc. It all happened. You see, I think it’s safe to say that it doesn’t matter what anyone associated with Venom releases, it’s a pretty sure bet that I am gonna love every single minute of it. Luckily for me, Mpire Of Evil features three ex-Venom members who all decided to get together and belt out a bunch of tunes. The result? 52 minutes of “pure fucking mayhem!”

    Featuring the riff master Jeff ‘Mantas’ Dunn, Tony ‘The Demolition Man’ Dolan (from the Prime Evil Venom-era) on bass and vocals, and Antton (Cronos’ brother) pounding the drums, this trio have delivered one ballsy meal of kick ass metal. To say it doesn’t sound like Venom would simply be lying. It’s as close to Venom as you’re gonna get next to Cronos’ current line-up and let’s face it, Mantas was the chief riff writer for Venom’s music so it’s no wonder why the songs give you that Possessed meets Welcome To Hell-era feel. There is also shades of Prime Evil as Dolan’s vocals pack a right punch and his growl and snarl doesn’t come off sounding cheesy or in the least bit weak.

    Following on from their Creatures Of The Black EP, this trio has really delivered on their debut full length. The musicianship is brutal and right on the money and thankfully, it hasn’t lost any of that oldschool clichéd thrash metal spark that Venom were known for. Hell To The Holy is 10 tracks of rock solid metal that will please any fan of 80’s thrash, heavy and black metal, and quite simply, I like it! I am kicking myself that exhaustion got the better of me in the USA and I missed seeing these guys in Chicago. Damn you, Las Vegas!

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    Halestorm – The Strange Case Of… (Roadrunner Records / Riot! Distribution)

    by  • May 10, 2012 • 0 Comments

    by Mark Lennard

    Fronted by the massively voiced “rock vixen” Lzzy Hale (think a raucous Joan Jett rather than cuddly goth Amy ‘Evanescence’ Lee), Halestorm will surely be riding high with the release of ‘The Strange Case of’. I mean crikey, album closer Here’s To Us has already seen airtime on Glee and there’s a string of tracks on this album that will no doubt get the American Idol treatment sooner than later.

    The Strange Case of … is a 12 track assortment of dirty rock ala Skid Row/Crue (Love Bites (So Do I), Mz Hyde and Daughters of Darkness) and light pop rock numbers (Beautiful With You, In Your Room and Break In). Everything they do is highly polished and fits the ‘quiet verse / big chorus / repeat’ mould – the down and dirty rocking is gritty and energetic and the mellow ‘emotional’ numbers hit some big vocal heights. For some reason these are sequenced consecutively which, for me anyway, created a slow down in the middle of the album. However these tracks are where a number of future singles will no doubt be culled and the target audience will love this.

    With cudos already pouring in from some big name hard rock/metal publications worldwide, Halestorm have another massive rock release here for Roadrunner. On only their sophomore album they’re every bit the real deal and if prime time TV keeps knocking at their door, a household name they soon will be.

    www.halestormrocks.com
    www.facebook.com/halestormrocks

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    Joe Matera – Slave To The Fingers (Mercury Fire Music/W.A.R. Productions)

    by  • May 10, 2012 • 0 Comments

    by Mark Lennard

    As much of an accomplished music journalist as musician, Joe Matera (a veteran of 20 plus years of bands, most recently Geisha & Double Vision) is known to many for one or both of his passions. From Metal Hammer and Kerrang! to Ultimate-Guitar.com, Rolling Stone (Australia), Guitar World and many, many more, Joe’s words and knowledge of his craft are sought after and respected.

    Joe is mostly the ‘solo instrumental artist’ in his musical ventures of late and in November 2011 released a 5 track EP Slave To The Fingers, featuring the single Face Off (with guest guitar solo from Rick Brewster of The Angels fame). The instrumental only tracks have (to these ears) a real Aussie rock feel to them, bringing to mind bands like AC/DC, Cold Chisel and The Angels. Without the trappings of a vocal element, the tracks are able to meander into places that standard ‘song’ structures restrict. This enables Joe to create melodies that do the ‘singing’ and keep the listener wondering where he’ll go next.

    Joe’s supporting musicians more than hold their own with the solid bass lines of Tony “Demolition Man” Dolan (Atomkraft/Venom) and beats of James Strickler, who also mixed three of the tracks at his studio in the US.

    While not exactly in the realm of the ‘shredders’ of the world (and purposely so), Slave To The Fingers is a solid representation of Joe’s organic rock style with a hefty nod to the Aussie rock history he has been a big part of.

    www.joematera.com

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    HOUSE VS HURRICANE ANNOUNCE “CROOKED TEETH” ALBUM TOUR

    by  • May 10, 2012 • 0 Comments

    UNFD is proud to announce that Melbourne’s House Vs Hurricane have finished recording their second album, Crooked Teeth and are gearing up for its release this Winter. The album is their first with new frontman, Dan Casey who joined late 2011. Behind Casey’s energy and enthusiasm, they have delivered one of the albums of the year, brimming with attitude and fresh ideas, and full of the kind of high octane hooks to set the heavy music world on fire.

    Crooked Teeth is the first House Vs Hurricane album to be released via independent powerhouse UNFD, and was recorded by Machine in New Jersey in March/April this year. Throughout recording, the band started making a series of videos to connect fans to the experience with Episodes 1-3 currently online, and the remaining 3 episodes to go live over the coming month.

    “Blood Knuckles” is the first single from the album and it was launched exclusively on triple j’s “Short. Fast. Loud” program and is now available over at UNFD’s YouTube Channel.

    Watch the video for “Blood Knuckles” HERE!
     

    To celebrate the release of Crooked Teeth, House Vs Hurricane will be touring in July and August. Along for the ride will be While She Sleeps, Northlane and Heights.

    While She Sleeps hail from Sheffield in the United Kingdom, where they have built a massive reputation in a short amount of time. Headlining to thousands of punters already, things are about to explode for the band as they gear up for the release of their new album via Shock Records later this year.

    Northlane, meanwhile, have fast become a touring force within Australia. Their debut album “Discoveries” was released via UNFD in November 2011, and has since the seen band rise to prominence in Australia with their heavy-as-hell live show and exceptional songwriting. UK rock band Heights will round out the bill, their album “Dead Ends” is available on iTunes.

      —/–@triple j’s Short Fast Loud, UNFD and Killyourstereo.com presentHOUSE VS HURRICANE
    THE “CROOKED TEETH” TOUR
    JULY / AUGUST 2012 with Special Guests
    WHILE SHE SLEEPS [UK] – NORTHLANE – HEIGHTS [UK]

    TICKETS ON SALE THURSDAY 17 MAY, 9AM
    RSVP ON FACEBOOK HERE
    Western Australian, Tasmanian and regional dates will follow shortly.

    Thursday, 26 July – The Tempo Hotel, Brisbane (18+)
    Tickets available from Kill The Music, Sunflower Music, City Beach and Oztix on 1300 762 545 or oztix.com.au

    Friday, 27 July –  Venue TBC , Brisbane (AA)
    Tickets available from Kill The Music, Sunflower Music, City Beach and Oztix on 1300 762 545 or oztix.com.au

    Saturday, 28 July – The Hifi, Sydney (LIC/AA)
    Tickets available from thehifi.com.au or 1300 The HIFI & Moshtix outlets including Resist Records, Utopia Records & Red Eye Records

    Sunday, 29 July – Oasis Youth Centre, Central Coast (AA)
    Tickets available from Oztix on 1300 762 545 or oztix.com.au

    Tuesday, 31 July – Musicman Megastore, Bendigo (AA)
    Tickets available from Oztix on 1300 762 545 or oztix.com.au

    Wednesday, 1 August – Bended Elbow, Ballarat (AA)
    Tickets available from Oztix on 1300 762 545 or oztix.com.au

    Thursday, 2 August – Fowlers Live, Adelaide (LIC/AA)
    Tickets available from Moshtix on 1300 438 849, moshtix.com.au or Moshtix outlets including Clarity Records & Venue*Tix on (08) 8225 8888 or venuetix.com.au

    Friday, 3 August – EVs, Croydon (AA)
    Tickets available from Fist2Face or Oztix on 1300 762 545 or oztix.com.au

    Saturday, 4 August – The Hifi, Melbourne (18+)
    Tickets available from thehifi.com.au, 1300-THEHIFI (843 443), and Polyester Records

    Sunday, 5 August – Phoenix Youth Centre, Footscray (AA)
    Tickets available from Fist2Face or Oztix on 1300 762 545 or oztix.com.au

    House Vs Hurricane - Crooked Teeth will be released on July 13, 2012 via UNFD.

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    Job For A Cowboy – ‘Demonocracy’ (Metal Blade Records / Riot Entertainment)

    by  • May 6, 2012 • 0 Comments

    by Mark Lennard

    If I had listened to Demonocracy without knowing who the band was I would never have picked Job For A Cowboy. This follow up to 2009’s Ruination has been a collaborative writing effort that clearly succeeds in kicking all ‘deathcore’ tags to the curb. Lead breaks, technical riffing, sublime bass playing and a sense of cohesion between the tracks are all products of the integrating of new members Tony Sannicandro (guitars) and Nick Schendzielos (bass) during the recording of EP Gloom (2011). Tony is an amazing lead player with every track featuring his fine shredding and the bass playing style of Nick (Cephalic Carnage) is reminiscent of legends Steve DiGiorgio (Sadus/Death) and the late Roger Patterson (Athiest) in both technicality and attack.

    Brutality is the order of the day with ruthlessly quick, intricate riffing backed by lightning reflex drum patterns and fronted by the roar of Jonny Davy, and this is just the first minutes of opener Children of Deceit. JFAC have retained extreme and technical approach from Ruination and upped the ante by maintaining the mayhem and not resting on past formulas. Nourishment Through Bloodshed, Tongueless And Bound and The Manipulation Stream along with the opener are highlights to these ears, all displaying something different in the riffing stakes and awesome lead breaks. Closing track Tarnished Gluttony is a slow burn dirge-like effort and a perfect way to wrap up such a neck snapping  slab of modern death metal.

    New members, intelligent lyrics and a ‘no limits’ ethic to their song writing have lifted JFAC to the next level and should shrug the genre tags that may have had some jaded listeners turning away before giving them a chance.

    Demonocracy is a welcome barrage of pure technical brutality that delivers like a jackboot to the throat.

    www.facebook.com/jobforacowboy

    www.metalblade.com

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    Allegaeon – ‘Formshifter’ (Metal Blade Records / Riot Entertainment)

    by  • May 6, 2012 • 0 Comments

    by Mark Lennard

    Colorado’s Allegaeon (uh-lee-juhn) is the brainchild of founding member and guitarist Ryan Glisan who, along with the classically trained Greg Burgess (guitars), Ezra Haynes (vox) and Corey Archuleta (bass), unleash a crushingly heavy form of melodic death metal laced with big hooks and grooves. Signed to Metal Blade in 2009 paved the way for the 2010 release of their critically acclaimed debut album Fragments of Form and Function. January 2012 saw the band enlist the talents of Daniel Castleman (As I lay Dying, Winds of Plague) with the result being Formshifter – building on the sound and structures of the bands past material to incorporate heavy grooves and memorable riffing.

    Brutal, down-tuned low end rhythms and soaring, brilliant lead work are big highlights on Formshifter. From start to finish the songs are well crafted and flowing – seamlessly shifting from blast beats to low end grooves embellished demonic vocals, layered guitar melodies and masterful lead playing. Formshifter is a must for those who appreciate great musicianship and specifically guitar playing that adds to the material rather than thousand note sweep-fests that sound tacked on.

    Allegaeon are definitely a band to watch out for and one that is absolutely worthy of mixing it with the big names. Formshifter is as solid an album as any released this year and has this eager metal head begging for more.

    Tracks that annihilate: Behold (I am God), Tartessos: The Hidden Xenocryst and Formshifter

    www.metalblade.com/allegaeon

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    DARKEST HOUR CONFIRM HEADLINE SHOWS!

    by  • May 4, 2012 • 0 Comments

    DARKEST HOUR have confirmed 3 headline shows in Australia and will be bringing their crushing metal to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne this weekend! 

    There have only been a select few that can claim the sustained ferocity and relevance over the last fifteen years that DARKEST HOUR can. Quite simply, they are a metal phenomenon.

    Mastering, ascending and maturing from each album they have created, DARKEST HOUR return with their 7th studio album ‘The Human Romance’.  With fangs bared, unstoppable and more menacing than ever with every passing riff and scream “This is how metalcore should be: layered, dynamic, passionate… easily the best Darkest Hour have been” – Rocksound .

     

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    TICKETS ON SALE NOW AND AT THE DOOR.

     

    FRIDAY 4 MAY – BRISBANE, BASEMENT – 18+

    www.oztix.com.au

    SATURDAY 5 MAY – SYDNEY, VENOM (Agincourt Hotel) – 18+

    www.oztix.com.au

    SUNDAY 6 MAY- MELBOURNE, NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB – 18+

    + special guests Feed Her To The Sharks and Surrender.

    www.northcotesocialclub.com

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    BARBARION – The Palace, Feb 25, 2012

    by  • May 1, 2012 • 0 Comments

    Words and photo by Julianne Pimenta

    Prior to this gig, I had never heard of Barbarion, I know, I know – shoot me, but ever since I witnessed their manly, loincloth and animal skin metal glory I’ve been asking myself- how the hell did I manage to let this band slip past me? I love my Viking metal so to see one of our own local home grown units out-perform most international acts puts more than a smile on my dial, it warms my little black heart.

    This band enters the arena all guns blazing and spares no expense when it comes to sheer entertainment – think fireworks, axes, flames – their props and stage shows are second to none on the local circuit.

    I don’t know how I did it, but I managed to acquire a chunk of singed tresses while on photo duty care of the pyrotechnics. But hey, all for the love of metal, right?

    To say I was impressed by their performance is an understatement, I mean who would’ve thought axes could shoot fireworks in the dark ages? Not this photographer. I learnt something that night and I was so entertained by their stage show, musicianship and overall delivery that I lost track of time and almost missed my ride home!

    Long story short, If you haven’t seen Barbarion, bloody get on it. You might want to deck yourself out in flame-retardant gear beforehand though. Also check out the ‘Warriors’ section on their website, it’s got some pretty funny descriptions.

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