[LIVE REVIEW] DEFTONES, Karnivool, Voyager, Melbourne, 11th November
This was one of those once in a lifetime bills that simply must be witnessed if you dig any mainstream heavy guitar-driven music. Deftones, Karnivool and Voyager, together in a big hall. It sounds very diverse on paper, but it made oh-so-much sense if you were there. Perth melodic metallers, Voyager, are a delight with […]
[ALBUM REVIEW] ANIMALS AS LEADERS: The Madness of Many
Never the easiest or most accessible of propositions, hyper-nerdy instrumental tech-freaks Animals as Leaders step further out into left field on the aptly titled The Madness of Many. A little extra time was needed to review this album; whilst 2014’s The Joy of Motion was full of bombast and relatively straightforward by the band’s standards, The Madness […]
[ALBUM REVIEW] ENGINE THREE SEVEN: Metasiah
Engine Three Seven has had quite the journey. Once a staple of the Byron Bay music scene, they relocated to Melbourne and signed to a major booking agency. They released two extremely well-received EPs, had back-to-back live shows, began work on their debut album and appeared to be hammering along beautifully. Then things seemed to go off […]
[ALBUM REVIEW] I BUILT THE SKY: The Sky Is Not The Limit
It’s a truly wondrous time to be alive if you love tech/instrumental heavy music, the best I’ve ever known in my well over, three decades of progressive music fandom. From sleepmakeswaves to Plini to Intervals to Chimp Spanner (who must be due to put something out soon) to Animals as Leaders, there is a veritable […]
[ALBUM REVIEW] Hemina: Venus
Hemina Venus Independent Release Date: 11th November 2016 Review By: Rod Whitfield I am often found, figuratively scratching my head, wondering why certain bands are not selling albums by the truckload and touring the planet to sold-out venues every night. My scalp got a metaphorical working-over while listening to the sophomore album from Sydney progressive […]
[LIVE REVIEW] Jericco’s Farewell Show, Melbourne, 5th November, 2016
Jericco frontman, Brent McCormick, sums up the feeling in the room in what was Melbourne based, Middle Eastern-influenced progressive final ever show, “Someone said to me ‘it’s a bittersweet occasion’, whatever that means!” The term ‘bittersweet’ is kinda hard to define, but the feeling was very much there in The Corner this night. It was […]
[INTERVIEW] Ne Obliviscaris
By Rod Whitfield Australian metal act Ne Obliviscaris are trailblazers in every sense of the word. Not only in terms of their neo-classical violin-enhanced extreme metal, but with how they run their band. The band work their arses off and their songwriting, musicianship and presentation are all truly world class. They certainly deserve to be […]
[EP REVIEW] DYSSIDIA: Of Delight and Despair
It’s a case of potential on its way to becoming realised for the South Australian five-piece Dyssidia. Progressive and technical metal is a damn tough gig, in more ways than one. Firstly the writing of the music, the techniques that must be mastered as far as the musicianship is concerned and the fact that extreme tech […]
[LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS] STEVEN WILSON, 28th October in Melbourne
First up, I am a massive fan of Steven Wilson’s former band Porcupine Tree. In fact, I rate them as among my favourite bands of all time. I’ve found his solo material to be not quite as compelling, although still very strong. This night, however, I enjoyed just as much as a couple of times […]
[ALBUM REVIEW] Brutai: Born
[rwp-review id=”0″] Brutai – Born Transcend Music Release Date: 25th November, 2016 Review By: Rod Whitfield The British five-piece Brutai put a sweet, accessible touch on the techy prog sound that is very much in vogue in heavy music circles across the planet at the moment. And they do it rather well. Born also presents […]
[COLUMN] HEAVY OZ
Welcome to another edition of HEAVY Oz, where we take a look at five excellent Aussie heavy acts that are well worth a few minutes of your time. Red Bee Sydney three-piece Red Bee are a unique beast. Their sound is certainly progressive, and they utilise odd time grooves, left of centre arrangements and high-level […]
[INTERVIEW] CALIGULA’S HORSE
Brisbane-based progressive heavy rock maestros, Caligula’s Horse, have worked their arses off for the last five years, releasing three exceptional albums and touring tirelessly across Australia and internationally. And the rewards are starting to come. Early next year, the “jewel in the touring crown” of their career so far is happening. They have been given one […]
[LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS] Queensryche and Vanishing Point, Melbourne
Queensryche + Vanishing Point + Elm Street The Prince Bandroom, Melbourne October 14th, 2016 Reviewed by Rod Whitfield Photography by Sofie Marsden A few weeks ago, I wrote a memoir for HEAVY Magazine of my first ever live music experience, Dio at Festival Hall, 30 years to the day [ http://bit.ly/29NxTNj ]. Entering the Prince […]
[COLUMN] HEAVY Oz
By Rod Whitfield Welcome to another edition of ‘HEAVY Oz’, where I take a look at a bunch of Aussie bands you need to experience. Leading up to Melbourne’s ‘Progfest’ mini-festival, I will be featuring a band from the festival’s lineup every week. Progfest Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/254668718261538/ Make sure you check these bands out, and […]
[INTERVIEW] Lacuna Coil
When a band achieves some serious longevity in their career, they must continue to shake things up to keep things fresh and interesting for themselves as well as their audience. Two decades and seven records into their journey, Italian maestros Lacuna Coil made the decision to reach for a heavier, more ‘in your face’ sound […]
[INTERVIEW] Queensrÿche
It must be beyond daunting to replace a true icon, but this is exactly what Todd La Torre has done, and done very successfully, in the last four years. Replacing a seminal singer like Geoff Tate in a legendary band like Queensrÿche, three decades into their career must have seemed like the proverbial scaling of Everest […]
[LIVE REVIEW] Osaka Punch + Supports, Melbourne – 30th Sept
Ahead of this gig in Melbourne I had a chat with the boys from Osaka Punch, in a very seedy alleyway, five minutes walk from the venue. They seemed like a very fun and happy bunch of blokes, and I was thinking to myself ‘we are in for a ball at the show tonight’ and […]
[VIDEO INTERVIEW] JERICCO
Rod Whitfield had chat with the Jericco boys about their, really sad, “Farewell Show”. Get tickets for Jericco’s “Farewell Show” Jericco, Acolyte, Rival Fire & Qlaye Face Saturday 5th November, 2016 [button color=”green” size=”big” link=”http://www.jericco.com.au/” icon=”fa fa-ticket” target=”true”]GET TICKETS[/button]
[ALBUM REVIEW] Epica: The Holographic Principle
Epica – The Holographic Principle Nuclear Blast Release Date: September 30th, 2016 Review By: Rod Whitfield I am an unabashed and unapologetic sucker for the female fronted symphonic metal thing. In fact, for symphonic metal of just about any kind. I find it epic, bombastic and just plain HUGE. And one of the world’s absolute […]
[NEWS] DZ Deathrays New Single and Tour
DZ DEATHRAYS UNLEASH NEW SINGLE ‘POLLYANNA’ + ANNOUNCE BIGGEST HEADLINE TOUR TO DATE FOR DECEMBER (WITH SPECIAL GUEST ECCA VANDAL) Fresh off the back of performing two electric sets at BIGSOUND 2016, today we are psyched to present you with‘Pollyanna’, the infectious new single from Bundaberg’s DZ Deathrays which premiered overnight on triple j. Along […]
[COLUMN] HEAVY Oz
By Rod Whitfield G’day folks, it’s that time of the week again, when we take you down that gold-encrusted road that is the Australian heavy rock and metal scene, and another five known and lesser known Aussie bands that are more than worth your time to check out and a few of your hard-earned to […]
[ALBUM REVIEW] Osaka Punch: Death Monster Super Squad
Osaka Punch – Death Monster Super Squad Birds Robe Records Release Date: September 16th, 2016 Reviewed By: Rod Whitfield Australian alternative and progressive rock has thrown myriad stupendous musical ensembles into the ring over the last 15-20 years, luminaries such as Cog, Karnivool, Dead Letter Circus, The Butterfly Effect, Caligula’s Horse and so on and […]
[LIVE REVIEW] Circles + Supports, Melbourne, 17th September 2016
Circles + Orsome Welles + James Norbert Ivanyi + Kardinal The Evelyn, Melbourne 17th September, 2016 Reviewed By: Rod Whitfield Prog. Love or hate the music itself, you cannot deny that it is played by masterful musicians with immense creativity and vision. Australia is amassing a body of work in the genre as high quality […]
[NEWS] Gravemind New Single and Lyric Video
Melbourne’s Deathcore 6-piece Gravemind are today announcing the release of their brand new single The Death of Teyolia – a caustic, ripping track that tells the story of Teyolia, an Aztec woman torn from the arms of her lover by enemy tribesmen. Gravemind have created a lyric video for the track which tells the crux […]
[LIVE REVIEW] Dio @ Melbourne, 16th September, 1986
Dio + Support Festival Hall, Melbourne September 16th, 1986 Reviewed By: Rod Whitfield It’s quite incredible what you can dig up on the internet. I knew the 30th anniversary of my first ever live music experience, Dio at Melbourne’s Festival Hall, was coming up, but I couldn’t remember the exact date. I was Googling it, […]
[NEWS] Progfest First Lineup Announcement!
Beat Magazine, Welkin Entertainment & Wild Thing Presents: PROGFEST Saturday, December 3 The Corner Hotel – Melbourne PROGFEST: A festival that celebrates all things progressive is back for 2016! The Corner Hotel in Melbourne will play host to the return of Progfest! Headlined by none other than Brisbane progressive powerhouse Caligula’s Horse,who will be playing […]
[NEWS] Nuclear Assault Australian Tour
HARDLINE MEDIA & BIG DEAL TOURING PRESENTS NUCLEAR ASSAULT Australian Tour: February 2017 One of the most iconic bands of the US Thrash Metal movement, Nuclear Assault, will be coming to Australia for their first and last time in February 2017. With a 30 year legacy behind them, Nuclear Assault are hanging up their […]
[NEWS] Orsome Welles New Single, Video and Tour with Circles
ORSOME WELLES Release Music Video For Build A World Rise EP To Be Released In November Tour with Circles Beings This Friday Melbourne’s heavy experimental creatives Orsome Welles will be releasing their new EP titled Rise in early November. The band are touring nationally through September with Circles, to celebrate the release of the EP’s first single Build A World! Today the band […]
[COLUMN] HEAVY Oz
By: Rod Whitfield G’day folks, Rod here. Welcome to the new edition of ‘HEAVY Oz’, a regular column where I highlight five or so awesome Aussie bands that you may or may not have heard of, but need to check out now! 1. Tempest Rising This blistering Perth based five piece thrash act have been […]
[COLUMN] De-Composing Great Songs
Written by Luke Ashley A common question: “They wrote a pretty cool riff, but how did they get all the stars to align?” ‘De-Composing Great Songs’ is a fortnightly column where we dissect a staple of heavy music and discover why it made such an impact. Let’s begin proceedings with a recent release that turned […]
[NEWS] Jericco Split and Final Show Announced
Melbourne’s Hard Rock/Alternative crew Jericco, a long-standing and well-respected member of a famously-awesome Melbourne Rock scene today announce their split and their final ever show. The band have always wanted to headline Melbourne’s iconic Corner Hotel and they have locked down November 5th as their final show ever. It is a fitting and awesome end to a […]
[INTERVIEW] Deftones
By Rod Whitfield This American alternative metal stalwart is coming up towards three decades as a band, and while bassist Sergio Vega has ‘only’ been in the band for seven years or so, he has been friends with the members for much longer than that, and he remains unsurprised that Deftones have been around […]
[NEWS] Engine Three Seven Announce Album Launch
Since leaving Byron Bay and bursting on to the Melbourne music scene over a decade ago, Engine Three Seven have played scores of shows to thousands of punters who have joined in a unified chorus begging for one thing…an E37 album. With the help of a wildly successful crowdfunding campaign, this milestone that has eluded both the band and fans alike, is […]
[NEWS] Deströyer 666 Commence Final Round of 2016 Shows
Summer is over and the wolves of autumn are on the lose. DESTRÖYER 666 are about to embark on their final round of live attacks this year. The Southern Discomfort Metal Festival in Kristiansand, Norway will first feel the iron fangs of these metal beasts this weekend on September 10. The wild hunt will continue […]
[NEWS] Special Announcements from Megadeth’s David Ellefson
David Ellefson‘s Special Facebook Live-stream Event, Talking about EMP Label Group, EMP: Underground, Partnership with Alpha Omega Management, Ellefson Coffee Co, MEGADETH And More! Megadeth bassist and EMP LABEL GROUP’s President David Ellefson podcasted yesterday a special 34 minutes Facebook live-stream event, making special announcements, and talking about the State of the “Ellefson” Union, […]
[INTERVIEW] King Parrot
By Kris Peters If you look at King Parrot and the current success they are enjoying in the metal world,both locally and overseas it is hard to believe that a mere six years ago they were one of a number of young up and coming bands doing the circuit, and wondering where that big break […]
[NEWS] Devin Townsend Releases Epic New Album Transcendence!
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_cta h2=”WIN A FRAMUS GUITAR AND A SKYPE LESSON FROM DEVIN EXCLUSIVE TO AUSTRALIA ” h4=”HERE’S HOW” txt_align=”center” color=”black” add_icon=”left” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-bomb” i_background_style=”rounded” i_size=”xl” i_on_border=”true”]DON’T MISS OUT ON YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A FRAMUS GUITAR AND A SKYPE LESSON FROM DEVIN EXCLUSIVE TO AUSTRALIA ONLY AT JBHIFI.COM.AU ENTRIES CLOSE SEPTEMBER 15[/vc_cta][vc_column_text] DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT NEW ALBUM ‘TRANSCENDENCE’ OUT NOW! […]
[INTERVIEW] Circles
By Rod Whitfield “On that first listen, we kind of want people to second guess, is this Circles or not?’ Melbourne progressive five piece Circles have their sophomore album coming close to completion, and many of their existing fans may be a little surprised by what they have come up with. Drummer Dave Hunter tells […]
[NEWS] Opeth Announce Full Aussie Tour Dates
David Roy Williams & Metropolis Touring Proudly Present The evolution of OPETH as a band is wondrous, witnessing spine-tingling music which bestrides genres, and an exponential growth in an ever diversifying fan base. OPETH performances are without peer – their live show is a deeply emotional, yet exhilarating experience. From centre stage they create an […]
[NEWS] Osaka Punch New EP and WILD Film Clip!
Osaka Punch have hired the Death Monster Super Squad. The grotesque grouping of misfits are coming for YOU on September 16th. Seven Harbingers of funk and prog-tinged with metal and a touch of pop will arrive on your doorstep, coming to collect on your bad music-listening sins. Been listening to those bad 90’s covers that are […]
[LIVE REVIEW] Plini + Intervals + Support, Max Watts House of Music, Melbourne, 3rd September, 2016
Live Review – Plini + Intervals + Polaris Max Watts House of Music 3rd September, 2016 Review By: Rod Whitfield What an incredible year it’s been for local music in a live sense. World class gigs played to packed houses virtually every week. And this was another one. In my decades of frenzied gig-going, I’ve […]
[NEWS] Twelve Foot Ninja Score Top 10 ARIA Chart Position
Twelve Foot Ninja have targeted the ARIA charts with their new album OUTLIER and have bullseyed their very first chart position in their debut week. The record has scored the #6 Album in Australia in last week’s charts and is the #2 Australian Album! OUTLIER has been welcomed to universally beaming reviews and sold out […]
[LIVE REVIEW] Plini + Supports, Sydney, 2nd September 2016
Plini + Intervals + Polaris Oxford Art Factory, Sydney 2 September 2016 Review By: Monica Strut There was a line from the Oxford Art Factory half way up Oxford Street and as we entered the building we were met with bass drops reverberating down the hall and stairwell courtesy of Sydney locals, Polaris. I’d […]
[COLUMN] HEAVY Oz
By Rod Whitfield G’day folks, welcome to another edition of ‘HEAVY Oz’, where I shine a spotlight on a bunch of Aussie bands you need to check out. NOW! Don’t forget, if you want your band covered in this column, or you have news you want spread out into the heavy music world, shoot me […]
[NEWS] Shadowqueen New Single And Video For Waiting On You
Shadowqueen new single and video for ‘Waiting On You’ out now; September 23 live launch Melbournian hard rockers Shadowqueen are pleased to announce their new single ‘Waiting On You’ is officially out now via iTunes and all good digital retailers. The first offering from their sophomore album which is slated for a 2017 release, the uncompromising three piece consisting of Robbi Zana (vocals/bass), Si Hopman (guitar) and Alex Deegan (drums) have been […]
[MOVIE NEWS] I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER GETS AUSTRALIAN CINEMA RELEASE
I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER GETS AUSTRALIAN CINEMA RELEASE Fresh from sell-out screenings at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal and the Melbourne International Film Festival, Irish director Billy O’Brien’s South by Southwest (SXSW) smash hit I Am Not A Serial Killer – based on Dan Wells’ best-selling YA (Young Adult) novel – […]
[INTERVIEW] Apocalyptica
By Martin Michea Apocalyptica is arguably one of the most unique metal bands you will ever come across. The Finnish cello veterans Eicca Toppinen, Perttu Kivilaakso and Paavo Lötjönen have been taking the world by storm ever since they recorded cover versions of Metallica classics twenty years ago. Having first played with the band in […]
[ALBUM REVIEW] Crying Sirens – Atsu
Crying Sirens Atsu Coloursound Studios Release Date: Out Now Reviewed By: Matthew Clewley After forming in 2010, alternative rock band Crying Sirens have been progressing into a ferocious songwriting machine. They seem to be unsung heroes of the Australian scene, with their ’90s influenced rock. Their influences range from bands such as Foo Fighters and […]
[INTERVIEW] Meshuggah
MESHUGGAH just set Australia alight with the announcement of their Australian tour in March 2017. MESHUGGA AUSTRALIA/NZ TOUR – MARCH 2017 PRE-SALE – TUESDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER 2016 ON-SALE – THURSDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2016 THURSDAY 9TH MARCH – POWERSTATION, AUCKLAND NZ (18+) SATURDAY 11TH MARCH – TIVOLI, BRISBANE QLD (18+) SUNDAY 12TH MARCH – ENMORE THEATRE, […]
[ALBUM REVIEW] Sabaton – The Last Stand
Sabaton – The Last Stand Release Date: August 19, 2016 Review by Tristan Peterson Oh yeah, it’s Sabaton! They’re back. The battle themed, power metal beasts return with 2016’s The Last Stand, and it delivers like heavy artillery. Eleven years and seven albums into a touring career would normally be enough to dull the […]
