June Album Review – Red Light Sound – Signals Fade

Winter is officially here and June has bought with it some limited clothing options whenever going out. The choice is between being warm and trying not to look like the Michelin Man. The gigs this month have been top notch though and the crowds seem willing to risk frost bite and come out to throw down. I am currently recovering from a massive moshing session seeing the boys live on Friday night. Its impossible for me to talk about Red Light Sound without first giving a wrap to Walk The Plank and The Reason who supported them at Friday’s gig. All three bands were amazing making for an awesome night. Walk The Plank were a welcomed surprise and well worth checking out, it was my first introduction to them so keep posted as I will follow up this band soon. The Reason truly were the stand out of my night and I’m looking forward to and album from them soon. Max and the boys dominated the room and had everyone jumping. Now on to the headliners of the night…Red Light Sound. I have been sitting on this review for a while as I always like to see a band’s live act before making any recommendations. As you would all know I am a massive supporter of live music, so a good stage presence is required. The boys had their work cut out for them following The Reason’s all out smashing of all expectations and bringing the friggin roof down. However they grabbed the batton and bought home a win. I have not seen The Ed Castle pumping that hard for a while. Red Light Sound have a hard pumping rock sound reminiscent of great indie bands from my teenage years. Ryan has a powerful voice with a distinctive twang and high end range while the boys get everyone moving to their melodic riffs. This band got me back to my roots of hard rock with alternative/indie flair. They are a 5 man line up including:

• Paul Scott – Guitar
• Ben Kelly – Guitar
• Ryan Bartlett – Vox
• Tom Baxter – Bass
• Tony Ris – Drums

The Boys have been around since 2011 and toured extensively during 2012, however I found them when they supported Breaking Orbit (another awesome Australian band but they are not from Adelaide so moving on). They are currently working on their next album but while we eagerly await that release why not check their current album. My favourite track on the album is Track 2 Miles To Save, it shows Ryan’s full range and has a super catching chorus however the lyrics are quite dark. Although all the tracks are awesome so its super hard to pick a favourite Track 4 Bracing The View again quite dark lyrics, Im seeing a pattern here…lol maybe winter has made me melancholy. You can get a copy of their album for FREE (yup free!!!) at Bandcamp. Visit Red Light Sound on Facebook and like them to be kept up to date with gigs and album releases.

2013 Awaited Albums

TRACER have released their new album El-Pistolero  and as expected its amazing you can order your copy here.

I have just heard from an extremely reliable source (Zebedee) that INFERIORITY COMPLEX have finished their new album and it will be launched on 19 July at Fowler’s Live. The album is titled ‘Afterglow’ and I’m sure it will give me an afterglow once I hear it… Link to event here.

For all of the WALKING WITH THIEVES fans out there, they have finished up in the studio and are getting the album together, fingers crossed it will be out in time for spring.

I believe MCKENZIE are close to releasing their debut album too…looking forward to that one.

SE BON KIRA are in the final stages prior to releasing their new album…I heard a sneak peek of some of the guitar work and it sounded amazing. It must be due to the awesome guitar he was using to lay down those tracks…hehe (inside joke…sorry).

ARCADIA are due to release their long awaited album ‘In ruins’ approximately October of this year.

Also am I the only one holding their breath for GYPSY BY NIGHT to record an album…come on guys please get into the studio and get an EP out.

May Album Review – ISAW – The Identity

Well May has been an interesting month…it has hosted my birthday, a holiday from cake making, a trip to Tassie to see family and I managed to successfully quit smoking for 27 days now.

The accurate soundtrack to my life this month should probably be ABBA as my extremely cute niece sang Mumma Mia and other ABBA songs to me for what felt like hours on end…lol…however as I am not a big ABBA fan and I am super excited about an upcoming June gig. I thought I should review my ISAW – The Identity album.

This album has actually been out since the end of 2012 however I had not reviewed it yet and in honestly forgot about it until I saw the upcoming gig next month…bad girl! I know I totally deserve a spanking.

So firstly for the uninitiated the band has been around since 2008 and have an awesome live presence on stage, I first stumbled across them at The New Dead 3 metalfest at Fowlers Live, while checking out SE BON KIRA.

They are a 5 man line up including:
Steven Dennis – Guitar
Leigh Vergou – Guitar
Seb Bohm – Bass
Kim Fiddaman – Drums
Matt Kavanagh – Vox

Steven my fav…cause he is gorgeous and has super talented fingers…lol…sorry I’ll be serious now.

The boys took out first prize in the Triple J Hottest 100 unearthed competition in 2010 and opened at Soundwave 2010. After that they worked their butts off to pull together this album before hitting the road to tour.

Their style is heavy, new age metal, it features hard core rifts and gruff with intermittent melodic styling. They are arguably one of the top new metal acts in Australia and still gaining popularity.

My favourite track on the album is Track 9 Remember Shame, its not as heavy as some of the others on the album but it just resonates with me.

You can get a copy of their album for $20 at their online store on their website, they also have 5 free mp3 you can download to you started.

Visit ISAW on Facebook and like them to be kept up to date with gigs and album releases.

They are playing their next live gig Sunday 9th June @ Enigma bar in Hindley.

April Album Review – Just Like Clockwork

Just Like Clockwork – Make & Believe

I originally stumbled across this talented line up when they were called ‘Capulet’ while playing around on ReverbNation. After tracking them down I realised they had released an album under the new band name Just Like Clockwork. The album is titled ‘Make & Believe’ and its awesome.

These guys fit my favourite genres perfectly as they have a rock, punk, alternative modern sound. As always I am drawn to the vocals and love Tim’s raw gutsy voice.

They are a four piece outfit consisting of:
Timmy – Vocals
Anthony – Guitar
JT – Bass & Vocals
Duffy – Drums

The debut album contains 12 tracks, unfortunately not the track I liked by Capulet however all 12 tracks are awesome. I love to introduction track which gently relaxes you and prepares you for the powerful heavy rock to follow.

This is yet another album where I have really struggled to pick a favourite as they are all such strong songs. Track 6 – Believe is one of those pick me up songs that can pull me out of any bad mood and energise me however being instrumental I feel it cannot make my number 1. Which means ‘Cancion Para Dos’ wins my pick of the album it is a builder and really showcases Tim’s range.

You can get a copy of their debut album at their Bandcamp site, they allow you to name your own price!

Visit Just Like Clockwork on Facebook and like them to be kept up to date with gigs and album releases.

March Album Review – The Lizards

The Lizards – Frill Seeker is my choice for March, this album has been cranking in my car since I purchased at their gig at the Rocket Bar. It is an album for the true punk fans out there.

The Lizards have a raw grainy sound with that freedom only punk music will allow.

Band is a trio including:
Pat
Stubs
Marty

I read a detailed review for this album by Max Tulysewski and don’t believe I can really add anymore to this so I am just providing a link to it. Click here to read Max’s review.

Visit The Lizards on Facebook and like them to be kept up to date with gigs and album releases.

February Album Review – Inferiority Complex

What can I say about these boys but WOW they are super talented young men from the north side of town. The album is titled ‘Ego Death’ and it packs a powerful punch.

The band is a trio with:
Zebedee Q. McFly – Guitar, Vox
Matthew Pearce – Bass, Vox
Rube Cube – Drums, Vox

I picked another heavy rock album for the beginning of the year with a slight punk aftertaste. The music explodes into the room and takes you on a journey with them, I almost felt I was reliving my teenage angst years while listening.

They have a raw, powerful sound that leaves me wanting more every time I indulge. My pick on the album is Track 4 – Atticus, It has a piano intro then builds into a loud guitar rift before mellowing into a melodic vocal then back into some heavy guitar.

I absolutely love Zebedee’s sexy voice with its undercurrent of power but still maintaining an almost lazy, relaxed sound to the vocals. Not forgetting the huge talent in the rest of the trio, all the boys bring something awesome to the table.

A digital copy of their album can be purchased for only $10 on their Bandcamp site, well worth the investment.

Visit Inferiority Complex on Facebook and like them to be kept up to date with gigs and album releases.

January Album Review – Hawkai

HAWKAI are a three piece heavy rock outfit with a unique sound that appeals to most.

The trio is made up of:
Jason Slack – Vox, Guitars & Programming
Paul Lewis – Drums
Regan Burgess – Bass

Their amazing individual talents and styles blend together into a unique sound with all members collaborating during the writing process.

Their debut album PREY contains eight songs all of which are as awesome as the next. I found it hard to pick a favourite off this album as I truly liked them all, however if I had to pick just one song it would be Track 2 Alive Again. It has some heavy guitar rifts and I love it when Jason gives it his all.

As this was the soundtrack for my summer I loved that it is easy to rock out to on the dance floor but I could still listen to it when recovering from a big night.

You can grab a copy of the album for only $5 at their Bandcamp site. Click here to visit

Visit Hawkai on Facebook and like them to be kept up to date with gigs and album releases.