Shihad, Young Lions, The Dead Love Metro Theatre, Sydney November 24th, 2018 Thirty years, damn… where did that time go. This writer recalls first seeing them open for The Angels in Auckland, New Zealand in 1990. Back then they were fresh-faced young lads, still in thrall to the thrash metal of Metallica and co and yet to embark on the ups and downs of their … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Shihad @ Metro Theatre, Sydney 2018
Hinkley are a band hailing from Rochester NY and they’ve got a nice mix of Sparklehorse and Flaming Lips with a dash of the backwoods vibe of The Band thrown into the mix. Definitely on a melodic, cosmic 21st century indie tip. These two tracks are good examples of what you can expect to hear on their album Purblind which is out now via streaming … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Hinkley – Popular Attitudes About Magic & Sexuality / Blackout District
LOVE, POLITICS AND LAST DRINKS On an autumnal morning in Prague during her European tour, Cash Savage discusses the songwriting shift on her new album Good Citizens and talks with Chris Familton about the importance of her band The Last Drinks. The lead-up to the release of a new album can be a tricky period for an artist to negotiate. Some take it in their … Continue reading INTERVIEW: Cash Savage & The Last Drinks
Here’s some blank-eyed, gutter-glam noise-rock from Heartthrob Chassis out of Detroit. The band is headed by Margaret Doll Rod, former songwriter and member of the stage-smashing Demolition Doll Rods. The track lurches and staggers along with an almost Suicide-like drone quality. Babes in Toyland and early Hole are reference points too, with some added Sonic Youth squalls, dirge and dissonant causticity. The track comes from Heartthrob Chassis’ … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Heartthrob Chassis – Sister
Here’s some searing panoramic dust storm countrified rock from The Original Cowards, a trio from Northampton, MA whose self-proclaimed influences include Dinosaur Jr., Neil Young and Crazy Horse, sacred herbs, garage and psych, fuzz, The Who, and thunder. They live up to those lofty aspirations on ‘Curse Of The Commander’, a seven minute track that rumbles, sways and lumbers along with paint-peeling solos and a … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: The Original Cowards – Curse Of The Commander
Peabody are now five albums deep in a career that has seen them become a stalwart of the Sydney indie rock scene over the last 24 years. Their latest, A Redder Shade Of Rust (produced by Jamie Hutchings) finds them in fine form yet again. It’s heady, poetic and a really great balance of melody, rhythm, momentum and knotty guitars. It’s dark and churning one minute, … Continue reading SONIC KICKS: Peabody
A new track and clip from Melbourne quartet Diana Radar. ‘Growing’ is their third single this year, taken from an upcoming LP or EP from recording sessions engineered by Lachlan Wooden (Primary Colours, Archie Roach), and mastered by Mikey Young (Total Control, Eddy Current Suppression Ring). ‘Growing’ is a tumbling cache of sparkling and jangling guitars and melodically rolling bass. It has that New Order, Smiths … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Diana Radar – Growing
So far this is our favourite track from the new Interpol album. The record shows flashes of their early brilliance and though it doesn’t hold up across all tracks it’s well worth spending some time with these songs. ‘If You Really Nothing’ is Banks doing falsetto over trademark Interpol slashing guitars and tumbling drums. Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Interpol – If You Really Love Nothing
It’s hard to believe but Mudhoney are now in their 30th year of active service and on Digital Garbage, their 10th album, they show they’re still the kings of fuzzed-out punk and garage rock. Their disdain for everything fucked up about the world is still vital and biting and they don’t hold back one iota. No topic is out of bounds as they rail against … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Mudhoney – Digital Garbage
On her fourth album, Cash Savage does two things. She takes an unflinching look at Australian society and gives an intimate and evocative insight into love and desire. She does it all with her characteristic swagger and assertive tone, superbly backed by her cohorts, The Last Drinks. Better Than That is a devastating opener, honing in on the events of last year and the impact … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Cash Savage & The Last Drinks – Good Citizens
Power Trip, Flaming Wrekage, Shackles Bald Faced Stag, Leichhardt NSW, Australia September 22nd, 2018 As legends of the thrash scene such as Slayer, play farewell tours, attention starts to shift to who will lead the next wave of metal. On the back of their acclaimed Nightmare Logic album, Power Trip are widely considered the reigning princes of a new breed of thrash. Accordingly it was … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Power Trip @ Bald Faced Stag, Sydney
Here’s some coruscating post-punk with angular sheets of guitar, drums that push and pull under the anguished howl of singer Robyn Trachsel from the band Asbest. They’re a trio out of Switzerland, probably the first Swiss band we’ve featured here at DS. Their sound caught our ear as it reminded us of the kind of existential heavy yet intelligent punk rock of Die! Die! Die!, … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Asbest – They Kill
Doubtful Sounds 