There is no doubt that one of the top producers in Aotearoa is the marvellous Dave Rhodes, so when he makes contact to let people know about a project he has just been working on as he is so impressed, then […]

Released last year, Julian’s debut solo EP, TUTU, contains four tracks and he then followed this up with TAMA and TAKA. There are plans for another four-track EP, after which they will made available as a 1 […]

There is something about filthy metal infused with blues and a groove which really gets to me, then add in a singer who is channelling her inner Janis and you know it must be a winner. OK, so the artwork may be a […]

This six-track EP was actually released a few months back, but I had decided not to review it as there is only so much music I can cope with, but after I saw Danica on the tour which went with this, I knew I was […]

A few months ago, I was fortunate enough to review The Others Way Festival in Auckland. It is an interesting event in that it is held in venues either in or close to Karangahape Road, and I was determined to […]

Earlier this year I reviewed the self-titled debut EP by Ange.Mac + Shaun Garea, and now they are back with a full-length album which is a soundtrack to the table‐top card game ‘Doom Pilgrim’ published by War C […]

It is hard to believe that Peter Tägtgren (guitar, vocals), Mikael Hedlund (bass) and Reidar “Horgh” Horghagen (drums), came back together in 2021 to record their first new album in eight years. Horgh has sinc […]

Here we have the second instalment of Blindspott’s next album, Volumes. There are going to be 12 tracks in total, and when they released Volume. I earlier in the year it only showed the titles of the first three s […]

When the mighty Seas of Conflict released their latest single, Consume, it featured the rock vocals of Lana Paige, who I have previously seen perform as frontwoman for Dogtooth Amethyst, who recently changed their […]

Given the age of these guys, it is somewhat difficult to realise that this line-up has been together since 2009 when Bryce Patten (guitars, backing vocals) joined forces with Daniel Carleton (lead vocals), Alex […]

As a rule, I read press releases after I have been listening to the music, but as well as Lisa sending me this to review, I was also sent it today by the PR company and I read that email before I realised it was […]

Thinking Foxes are an Auckland-based alternative rock trio who are new to me, comprising Gabriel Parkins Craig (vocals, guitar), Luca Garcia Ferrari (bass), and Noah Page (drums). Bleached is their debut single […]

They may have sold some three million albums, but there is no doubt that Welsh metalcore outfit Bullet For My Valentine have never really lived up to the promise of their first two albums. Although their debut, […]

A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to see a line-up I never expected in New Zealand, namely Sepultura with support from Death Angel (and a classic local opener in Blindfolded and Led to the Woods). All three […]

It took me a long time to get into Exodus, probably not listening to them properly until the turn of the century, and for a long time thought of them just as the band which Kirk Hammett left to join Metallica. […]

Before I start talking about the music, I must make comment on the logo they used on the last single, which was the word Underscore with three lines beneath it because they are a trio. What a simple and really […]

Part of me is incredibly pleased that Coridian are based in Auckland, as it means I get to see them play, but another part of me really wishes they were in somewhere like London as if they could get in front of […]

My mother was a trained singer, while she and my dad met when they were both members of a choir founded and conducted by my grandfather. I was raised in the church, and perhaps unsurprisingly I was also a soloist, […]

The Albion Christmas Band features the combined talents of Simon Nicol (founder member of Fairport Convention) on acoustic guitar and vocals, Kellie While (Albion Band), acoustic guitar, vocals, Simon Care (Edward […]

I still find it wonderful that one of the unexpected side benefits of the release of my books is being brought back into contact with Maryen Cairns, who I first reviewed some 30 years ago! Over the last few years, […]