Category: news
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“Not JUST About The Fall: 50 Adventures In A Post-Punk Paradise” By Paddy Shennan (Earth Island Books)
Anyone who has spent a significant portion of their life immersed in the underground music scene knows that -
Wrex – ‘SADWORLD’
Mental health problems are confusing. The sorrow can be consuming. Maybe voices are vying for your attention, they don’t seem to agree. Anger and sadness snake between each other. Perhaps there’s a spark fizzling and crackling. Perhaps something feels wrong, like your body doesn’t quite fit properly. A wave of a deep, inescapable grief can leave you crying quietly. This is ‘SADWORLD’.
Let’s change tack a moment. Let’s talk about WREX. Their history is a little complicated, but basically they’re a punk rock duo. Singer Mae Seaton and vocalist/guitarist George Donoghue released their first proper EP ‘This Hell Goes A Long Way Down’ in 2024. Since then they’ve been establishing themselves as an uncompromising live band ready for their second act. Their core sound is punk rock mixed with metal riffs and loops. The two vocalists trade parts. You could compare them to The Subways but the closest comparison is probably Hot Milk but with a 90’s aesthetic, and it’s that which defines them; the choice of melodies, the dirty sound, drum loops that feel so analogue. It’s lo-fi and honest. Embracing those rough edges gives their music texture at odds to many modern records. It’s neither smoothed or blended, and is pleasantly gritty.
WREX are unafraid to use their voices in interesting ways. Alongside singing there is spoken word on ‘111’, rapped verses on ‘Paranoia’ and slightly weird melodies on ‘Consume’. In fact, the EP’s most striking feature is the way the two vocalists work around each other – not with each other. Rather than taking turns, it’s like a rowdy crowd trying to squeeze past each other to be heard. It gives the songs crackly energy and an air of unpredictably.
The EP’s artwork, a black, stark square with the name imposed in white is a huge contrast to that of their debut. It’s darker, austere and very clear about its contents. Each song echoes this. Each is actively trying something different. ‘Paranoia’ is laced with riffs and harmonic guitar squeals. ‘Consume’ is based on swaggering nu-metal and a strange mid-section. ‘111’ makes a big deal of lasting one minute and eleven seconds and uses this time to build momentum. However, it’s not a traditional “short song” and its end is abrupt and unnatural. Similarly, the excellent piano ballad ‘A Thousand Ways’ surrenders itself to a drum loop and then, just stops. It’s intentionally jarring, and creates the same effect. Combined with the strong mental health theme and the fourth track literally being called ‘The Noose’, it becomes a clear, intentional statement. However, it also means 40% of the songs are cut short. It’s an artistic compromise that draws attention from the frankly excellent songwriting elsewhere.
As we said at the beginning, mental health problems can be a mixture of conflicting emotions, discordant voices, the downbeat and uplifting struggling with each other. They can be a mix of explosive energy and abrupt endings. WREX have distilled this into their new EP. ‘SADWORLD’ is a stunning piece of art but only a taste of what they’re capable of.
IAN KENWORTHY
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“We were so into extreme music that prog wasn’t enough. If Jethro Tull’s singer growled, maybe we’d have loved it!” How Katatonia finally embraced their progressive tendencies with The Fall Of Hearts
Swedish doom purveyors had wanted to go prog before their 2016 album, but found themselves held back. Then came a line-up change that kickstarted a “lucky relationship” -
Lyfe Skillz – How 2 Human CD
If you’ve been keeping your finger on the pulse of the Canadian underground over the last couple of -
LIVE REVIEW: ROGUE TRADERS – The Anthem’s 21st Anniversary Tour with special guests Dizzy Days
Two decades after they exploded onto the Australian music scene with the era-defining hit Voodoo Child, Rogue Traders brought the energy, nostalgia and massive singalongs to the York on Lilydale for The Anthem’s 21st Anniversary Tour. Packed with anthems that shaped the 2000s Aussie dance-rock explosion, the Yarra Valley Room pulsed with excitement as fans celebrated 21 years of one of Australia’s most iconic crossover acts.Tonight’s support act for the Rogue Traders is Dizzy Days an all-girl pop band, formed in Brisbane in 2021. Lead by Aisling O’Byrne on vocals, Bridgette Dabinett on bass, EJ Carey on guitar and Mikaela Swan on drums.
Dizzy Days Dizzy Days reminded me of Disney princesses raiding an early 80’s wardrobe and performing modern pop on rock instruments. They play music that is chirpy, high energy with funky beats which is focused on original song writing.
Dizzy Days They are confident and playful on stage, but don’t be misled these women know how to play their instruments, backed up by tight musicianship and a standout vocalist, Dizzy Days bring both talent and infectious fun on stage. They’re also building momentum with their upcoming release of the EP “Tunnel Vision” due out 26th June. Dizzy Days powered through a 40-minute set packed with mainly original songs, leaving the stage with the crowd dancing along.
DIZZY DAYS GALLERY
I have to confess this was the first time I have ever seen Rogue Traders. I had heard of them and knew their radio played hits, but I didn’t really know what to expect. “The Anthem’s 21st Anniversary Tour” is high energy and non-stop. Rogue Traders banged out a 17-song set with a 2-song encore. The set is full of old hits, new music and a couple of covers all in 90 minutes. This show is a huge bang for your buck and the ticket price is great value.
This line up of Rogue Traders has the beautiful Natalie Bassingthwaighte on vocals, Tim Henwood the guitar master, the hard hitting Cameron McGlinchey on drums and not forgetting the founder of Rogue Traders James Ash on keys/synthesiser. Rogue Traders roots are based in electronic rock and it is evident in the synthesiser work, but add in driving electric beats, powerful drums and signature guitar riffs topped with Nat’s raw almost grungy vocals and energetic stage prowling and you have a formidable combination.
Rogue Traders came on stage at 9.30 and burst into “Watching You”, but oops no lead vocals, after a few seconds of panic and a mic change Nat’s edgy and commanding vocals came through. Nat asked the crowd should we start again? To a loud roar of Yes! They kicked off again to a perfectly run show for the rest of the performance. I thought Nat would have a pretty princess stage musical voice, but her voice as the lead of Rogue Traders is sultry, punchy and full of attitude.
Tim’s guitar playing is hook driven with aggressive strumming patterns and jagged power chords topped off with Cameron’s high velocity heart beat drumming. With James keys and synthesiser sound it is a marriage of a DJ and a rock concert. Rogue Traders have a one of a kind sound that is truly theirs. The 10th song of the night “In Love Again” was dedicated to James’s extended family with his 84-year old father rocking out in the crowd. Through out the set the crowd were lucky enough to hear some new music and be able to pre purchase their new vinyl “Midnight Alarms” (to be officially released digitally on the 5/06/26).
This past weekend, starting Friday was the first time in 18 years they have hit the road with this kind of tour. So if you love Rogue Traders I suggest you check the gig guides and buy a ticket you won’t be disappointed. And if you are a big Nat fan remember you can see her starring in the musical “Waitress” playing now at the Her Majesty’s theatre in Melbourne or buy her new biography “Love Like This”.
Ozgreeny photography and myself would like to thank The York on Lilydale for making us so welcome. Tony Kopa, Tim Henwood and The Rogue Traders and Dizzy Days for the wonderful media access.
All photos by Ozgreeny Photography.
ROGUE TRADERS GALLERY
The post LIVE REVIEW: ROGUE TRADERS – The Anthem’s 21st Anniversary Tour with special guests Dizzy Days appeared first on The Rockpit.
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Peacemaker – Internal Revolution CD (Spook Records)
Poland has given the global heavy music scene some of the most uncompromising, brutally precise bands in history, -
After eight long years, one of the UK’s best modern rock bands are finally back. So is new Marmozets album CO.WAR.DICE worth the wait?
It’s far from their heaviest output, but Marmozets have shown once again why they’re one of their generation’s very best: killer songs -
Spread Eagle Release New Video ‘Ant Farm’ From Upcoming Album ‘The Brutal Divine’
Hard rock veterans Spread Eagle are pleased to share a new single today, ‘Ant Farm‘, along with an official video, taken from their highly anticipated new album ‘The Brutal Divine‘, out on June 12th, 2026, via Frontiers Music Srl. Spread Eagle are currently on the road on ‘The Brutal Divine Tour 2026‘, with dates across […]
The post Spread Eagle Release New Video ‘Ant Farm’ From Upcoming Album ‘The Brutal Divine’ appeared first on ROCKPOSER DOT COM.
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Listening Now : Legends of the Seven Golden Vampires – Two Worlds Collide
Legends of the Seven Golden Vampires fuse psychedelic chaos and grunge-heavy power on Two Worlds Collide, an explosive anthem overflowing with distorted energy, towering hooks, and kaleidoscopic intensity. Built on crashing guitars, gritty textures, and a widescreen melodic core, the track channels the spirit of 90s alternative rock while injecting it with the band’s genre-bending DIY ethos. There’s a cinematic tension running throughout, balancing psychedelic atmosphere with raw emotional force and singalong immediacy.
Bold, noisy, and unapologetically massive, Two Worlds Collide feels like a collision between underground grit and festival-sized ambition.
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Complete List Of Joey Jordison Bands And Musical Projects
A drum kit was never just an instrument in the hands of Joey Jordison. It became a weapon of speed, precision, and theatrical chaos, helping redefine heavy metal drumming for an entire generation. Raised in Des Moines, Iowa, Jordison developed his obsession with music at an early age after receiving his first drum kit from his parents. His earliest influences ranged from hard rock and thrash metal bands to punk groups, and by his teenage years, he was already performing in local bands around Iowa. Before music became his full-time career, he worked at a Sinclair gas station in Des
The post Complete List Of Joey Jordison Bands And Musical Projects appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.
