Last month saw the gig of the year, Third Time Lucky, which was organised and headlined by {Written By Wolves}. I had seen every band on the bill play prior to that night except for openers Stacked who were brand new to me and to many in the audience. I asked Mikey...

When I was asked to review the debut single by 13-year-old Connor Vazey I had no idea what to expect but must admit to being a little concerned as it is rare for someone this young to produce something anyone outside of the family will enjoy. Mind you, I did some...

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 everyone is going to sit up and take notice. Based in...

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 16-track album while people can instead go for the EPs if they...

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 little naff and dated, but while the music is also...

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 going to have to backtrack and get it after all. She is...

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 review in every venue at least once so made up a list...

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 Claw Games (Czechoslovakia). The idea of the soundtrack was...

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 since left the band he has been in since 2004, but one cannot...

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 songs, with all the rest rubbed out. Now we can see the...

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 name to Enclosures. I sent Lana the review, and it was...

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 Carleton (guitars, backing vocals), Ben Pegman (bass) and...

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 on my list. However, my interest was already piqued as...

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 and based on this I am somewhat surprised to have not...

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, ‘The Poison’ is the most regarded by many, for me it was...

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 bands impressed me that night, but it was the one in...

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. This probably was not helped by some seriously naff album...

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 effective idea. This band is new to me, even though they...