SNIPPETZ: Thursday November 13, 2025
This week’s Snippetz features: Peter Freebairn, Boy & Bear, What So Not and Buunshin, Emma Russack, Pacific Avenue, Beast Eagle, SIAMAURA , Death Angel, Cordrazine, Kings of Leon, Ella Fence, Yumi Zouma, Felicity Kircher, Velociraptor, Stella Donnelly, Chris Williamson, Jett Blyton, Nick Barker & The Reptiles, Tyler Ramsey and Carl Broemel, Ben Provest, YNG Martyr, Audio Reign, Finger Eleven, Primordial, Sabaton, Myrath and more.
PETER FREEBAIRN RETURNS WITH NEW SINGLE “SWEET EMOTION”
Following the acclaimed 2024 release of his debut album Silhouettes & Cigarettes, singer-songwriter Peter Freebairn returns with “Sweet Emotion”, a radiant guitar-driven track that marks a new chapter in his evolving sound. The single will be available on all major streaming platforms, out now through Pop Preservation Society.
Recorded at his home studio, “Sweet Emotion” finds Freebairn leaning further into power pop territory, uplifting and melodic, with the immediacy of Matthew Sweet on a summer’s day. The song is both an anthem to optimism and a reminder to seize the moment. Lyrically, it celebrates the surge of feeling that comes with freedom, love, and self-belief: “You can watch it slowly turn, or you can live now, love and learn.”
Freebairn explained that the song was written from the mindset of an athlete preparing for a big game. “If you are a baseball player or football player, you spend so much time on the road, on buses, getting ready for the next game,” he said. “That feeling of focus and adrenaline was what I wanted to capture. It is about giving your all.”
The track was written and produced by Peter Freebairn, who performs nearly every instrument on the recording, with Paul Boyle on drums. Jo George, Lisa Mio, and Paul Boyle are all members of Freebairn’s live band Radio Vertigo – with George and Mio adding rich vocal harmonies that lift the song’s chorus skyward.
Recently debuted live at Melbourne’s legendary Evelyn Hotel, “Sweet Emotion” was performed alongside label mates Horizon, giving audiences an early taste of Freebairn’s more rock-oriented direction. It follows a year of critical attention for Silhouettes & Cigarettes, which established him as a thoughtful craftsman of melodic, literate pop.
LISTEN to ‘Sweet Emotion’ on:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/MxE_vOd_b3w
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3iGAvd1PVtJNmvTKO2kSJ2
Official Website: https://peterfreebairn.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/PeterFreebairnMusic
Instagram: https://instagram.com/peter_freebairn_music
Record Label: https://poppreservationsociety.com
WHAT SO NOT + BUUNSHIN ANNOUNCE NEW EP ‘THE QUIET THAT HURTS’ (Dec 5) + NEW SINGLE DANCING IN THE LEAVES FEAT. LUCY LUCY OUT NOW
This December, two prominent electronic acts will collide, with Australian DJ and producer What So Not and visionary Dutch artist Buunshin primed to release a brand new collaborative EP The Quiet That Hurts on Friday 5 December. Previously releasing their single Threads last month, this week the pair also have released a luminous new single Dancing In The Leaves featuring Lucy Lucy.
Percolating with driving beats alongside airy soundscapes and the gossamer vocals of Lucy Lucy, Dancing In The Leaves showcases the strengths of both What So Not and Buunshin’s artistry, serving both as a vulnerable exploration into the soul as well as a whimsical immersion into a momentary ethereal universe.
Opening with Threads featuring renowned American singer-songwriter and composer Maiah Manser, The Quiet That Hurts EP is undeniably a short yet sharply sweet full-bodied journey in avant-garde sounds and blissful delivery, with the EP growing from its opening track into quiet rumination and lush, ambient urgency via Tragic, featuring Ukrainian singer vocalist Alina Pash, pulsing with emotion alongside a high-octane foundation. From here, the EP dives into a hypnotic yet propulsive flow state (Dancing In The Leaves feat. Lucy Lucy), before oozing into bewitching melodics balanced between moments of instrumental sparsity and animated drum and bass (The One feat. Aiko), and, ultimately, closing out with sprawling soundscapes fused with narcotic beats and unbridled serenity juxtaposed against emphatic and raw lyricism delivered by Mara Necia.
A deeply vulnerable and sonically dazzling collection of songs, The Quiet That Hurts effortlessly wields wizardry with wisdom; a fact that also lends itself to What So Not’s own personal experiences during the making of the EP, as he explains, “Partway through the creative process, I flew to China and stayed in a temple with Shaolin Monks, training Kung Fu. It was an intense physical & mental experience & upon my return to regular life, I found myself asking “Where do ‘ideas’ come from? How do you create something that has never been done before? What is the source of all creation?”
“I came up with this concept of the ‘Void’,” What So Not continues, “the negative space you must enter to draw down ideas from the universe in their purist form. A type of meditation or ‘flow state’, absent of the noise of the world. ‘Threads’ quite literally become the theme of this concept. The mania of our internal dialog, holding us back from manifesting our greatest dreams and ideas. The tempo rising arpeggiation, a pressure point of energy as we attempt to break though the ego barrier & the magnificent payoff on the other side.
“Speaking with Ferry [Mellegersis – Buunshin] on this topic became the foundation of the EP and the meaning behind ‘The Quiet That Hurts’. Filling our lives with unnecessary noise, placing our attention and energy into things that don’t serve us, all in an attempt to run away from that confronting silence… but the truth is that is where the answers lay.”
Emerging in the 2010s, What So Not has evolved into an in-demand artist across the globe, renowned for his innovation and signature style that blends bass, trap and melodic hues into a unique and unforgettable package. Releasing his debut album Not All the Beautiful Things in 2018, What So Not resoundingly showcased his versatility and revolutionary prowess, with tracks like Be OK Again featuring Daniel Johns and Goh featuring Skrillex building formidable momentum that would ultimately lead to a 2022 sophomore album Anomaly. A genre-less and relentlessly experimental artist, What So Not has spent his career collaborating with the likes of Skrillex, RL Grime, Killer Mike and Toto, with his releases and potent live performance effortlessly translating over to the stage including at Coachella and Lollapalooza, headline shows in Europe, North America as well as on home soil, and also cultivating over 1.3 billion streams and counting worldwide in the process.
Born in the Dutch bass music scene, Buunshin, aka Ferry Mellegersis, catapulted from the underground to the world stage in seemingly the blink of an eye. From snagging a #1 D&B hit on Beatport for his first ever release through to releasing music on some of the biggest dance music labels within the space of three years, Buunshin’s astonishing trajectory is also lined with the fact that this self-made artist flourishes in breaking the rules, fluctuating BPMs, blurring genres and crafting songs with a cutting-edge flair that has seen him garner both respect and support from Skrillex through to Flume, Apashe and NOISIA, with the latter tapping Buunshin as their successor when calling it a day. Having toured the world, including performances at Printworks, Lowlands, Rampage, Fabric and more, Buunshin has also ticked off regular performances in New Zealand, Australia and closer to home in Europe, while continuing to sharpen his sharp yet deeply nostalgic stylings.
Following the release of their upcoming new EP, What So Not and Buunshin will perform on Friday 28 December at Perth’s Ice Cream Factory, with What So Not hosting a huge lineup to bring the heat for some summer sun. Headlined by What So Not launching his brand new 4MYSANITY project, the exclusive event will also feature ARIA Award-winning duo Hermitude, UK star Charlotte Plank as well as Buunshin primed to take you on a sonic journey.
Dancing In The Leaves is out now. The Quiet That Hurts EP is due out Friday 5 December.
SUN 28 DEC | ICE CREAM FACTORY, NORTHBRIDGE WA
Tickets available from here
Follow WHAT SO NOT https://www.facebook.com/whatsonot
BOY & BEAR SHARE NEW DOUBLE A-SIDE SINGLE ROSES + LOST CONTROL
TAKEN FROM NEW ALBUM TRIPPING OVER TIME SET FOR RELEASE DECEMBER 12
Beloved indie alternative act Boy & Bear double down on utter sonic magic, releasing a new double A-Side single Roses and Lost Control. Taken from the group’s forthcoming sixth studio album Tripping Over Time, set for release Friday December 12, Roses and Lost Control are the perfect reflection of the past, present and future of Boy & Bear’s iconic sound, also accompanying the announcement today of a mammoth new live performance locked in for 2026, with the group headlining a stacked lineup at Brisbane’s Riverstage next May, joined by The Dreggs, Bear’s Den (UK) and Rageflower. And with a special one-off performance at the iconic Sydney Opera House Forecourt set to take place next month, the same week as the release of Tripping Over Time, this brand new Boy & Bear chapter is truly shaping up to be one for the ages.
Tickets for Boy & Bear’s Riverstage show go on sale on Friday November 21 at 10am AEST from www.boyandbear.com/, with a fan presale going live on Wednesday November 19 at 10am AEST. Limited tickets to their Sydney Opera House Forecourt show are still available via www.sydneyoperahouse.com/on-the-steps/boy-and-bear, and all other tickets available via www.boyandbear.com/.
Balancing their love of indie folk and pop music (and “an unconscious nod to The Shins” shares vocalist and guitarist Dave Hosking) on Roses, along with a jangly ode to self-reflection and hope merged with subtle Tom Petty-esque hues on Lost Control, Boy & Bear’s new double A-Side single offers a breath of fresh air from the five-piece without sacrificing their trademark core sound permeating throughout. Between the warm and buoyant soundscape of Roses and the hypnotic effortless charm of Lost Control, Boy & Bear also traverse themes of mortality and matters of the heart, as Dave elaborates, “The concept of Roses is pretty simple really. Life is short and death is inevitable but that’s also the greatest motivator for life. Maybe conceptually it’s a little morbid but the song’s vibe is far from that. We always wanted it to feel reflective and not too weighty. Sometimes pairing heavier concepts with lighter sonics can lead to interesting results and hopefully that’s what the listener gets to experience here. Ultimately, it’s a constant reminder to keep appreciating the joys in life big and small.”
“Lost Control is in a strange way a love song,” Dave continues. “I’ve had significant challenges in my life over the past few years and sometimes these personal challenges can start to impede themselves on our intimate relationships. Almost as if they become some polygamous third party that takes over the space. But we’ve managed. The challenges have bonded us closer than ever and I think this song is a homage to that.”
Teaming up with Australian-born, LA-based producer Justin Stanley (Prince, Beck, Leonard Cohen, Eric Clapton, Mark Ronson) to bring their creative vision to life for both Roses and Lost Control, and the broader new upcoming LP due out next month, Tripping Through Time will also mark album #6 for Boy & Bear, and a second entirely independent affair following on from their 2023 self-titled full-length. And the Boy & Bear good news only keeps rolling as the group approach the release of Tripping Over Time, with a monumental new performance to add to their live dance card in 2026, taking over Brisbane’s beloved Riverstage with a horde of amazing hand-picked acts.
“It’s an iconic gig and Brisbane has been off the charts for us for the last few tours – we sold the most tickets of any city in Aus there last time which is pretty crazy,” shares Dave. “I can’t wait to see The Dreggs play, haven’t had the pleasure yet. We’ve been mates with Bear’s Den for more years than we care to admit, they have a way with melody and beautiful harmonies and I’m looking forward to seeing it on a big stage. And well done pop music is pretty timeless, it’ll be cool to see where Rageflower is next year when the show happens! It’s exciting to have something fresh on the bill.”
Recently announcing their monumental upcoming performance on the steps at the iconic Sydney Opera House Forecourt on December 14, joined by special guests Hollow Coves and Darcie Haven, some lucky fans will also be able to snag the ultimate Boy & Bear experience, with the band today announcing an exclusive competition that will see two winners score two return flights, one nights accommodation in Sydney, a meet and greet with the band, and a signed limited edition poster from the Sydney Opera House Forecourt performance. To enter, simply pre-order Tripping Over Time, either vinyl, CD or digital download, from the band’s Australian webstore https://www.boyandbear.com/, register for the competition – and you and a friend may be sharing time and space for this Boy & Bear milestone later this year.
When it comes to Boy & Bear, it’s not a cliché to declare they are one of those rare bands who genuinely need little introduction. A group renowned and endlessly beloved for weaving personal experiences with personal themes, Boy & Bear wield their trademark blend of vintage pop, alternative elements and folk edges into something uniquely their own. Instantly winning hearts and minds via their 2011 debut album Moonfire, which also saw the group take home five ARIA Award wins and secure double-Platinum status, Boy & Bear have since cemented their ever-burgeoning legacy with 2013’s Harlequin Dream, 2015’s Limit of Love, 2019’s Suck on Light and, most recently, their 2023 self-titled album. Between releasing multiple #1 charting albums, top 10 debuts, snagging seven ARIA Award nominations and five wins and generating over half a billion streams in the process, Boy & Bear are also one of the country’s most in-demand live acts, whether headlining or supporting the likes of Mumford & Sons, Chris Isaak and Crowded House.
Off the back of previously selling the most headline tickets of their career globally, Boy & Bear are closing out 2025 in spectacular fashion, both with the upcoming release of their entirely independent new album, and also with their biggest headline show to date locked in for December 14, performing on the steps at the iconic Sydney Opera House Forecourt with special guests Hollow Coves and Darcie Haven. A longtime dream in the making, revealed poignantly recently online with Boy & Bear members and brothers Tim Hart and Jon Hart detailing their connection to the Opera House and live music, the band will also appear at Good Day Sunshine on November 29 and kick off 2026 with a performance at Launceston’s Festivale on February 1 next year ahead of their freshly announced curated headline performance on May 8 at Brisbane’s Riverstage.
“I think it’s a great time to be an independent artist, but it also keeps you on your toes,” Dave concludes. “There’s no label to blame ha, but we’re fortunate to have an amazing team in the inner circle of B&B. In many ways, being indie requires us all to become content creators, which isn’t really why any of us got into this, but we’re trying to find ways to keep that fun and creative.”
Roses / Lost Control is out today.
Tripping Over Time album is set for release Friday December 12 and available to pre-save now.
Tickets for Boy & Bear’s Riverstage show go on sale on Friday November 21 at 10am AEST available here.
Pre-Order: TRIPPING OVER TIME
BOY & BEAR – UPCOMING SHOWS:
SAT 29 NOV | GOOD DAY SUNSHINE, MARGARET RIVER WA
Tickets available from https://www.gdsfest.com/
SUN 14 DEC | SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE FORECOURT, SYDNEY NSW* ALBUM LAUNCH SHOW
Tickets available from https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/on-the-steps/boy-and-bear
SUN 1 FEB | FESTIVALE, CITY PARK, LAUNCESTON TAS
Tickets available from https://www.festivale.com.au/program/
FRI 8 MAY | RIVERSTAGE, BRISBANE QLD
Tickets available from www.boyandbear.com/
Presave: Tripping Through Time
Prolific singer-songwriter, Emma Russack shares I’ve been playing with myself all day’
Two weeks out from the release of her hilarious, charming and aptly titled new EP, 5 Timothée Chalamet Instagram Captions (Friday, November 21 via Dinosaur City), prolific Naarm/Melbourne singer-songwriter Emma Russack (she/her) shares single ‘i’ve been playing with myself all day’.
The photo that accompanied the caption of Chalamet’s Instagram post, ‘i’ve been playing with myself all day’, was a picture of the actor as a figurine, his likeness rendered in plastic for a Paul Atreides Dune doll. Similarly, Russack toys around with the double entendre, on a song that relishes in the pleasure of a day spent alone, lolling about. The track is about the freedom in solitude, doing a bit of this and that, with no one to answer to. The ease of idleness is reflected in the song’s breezy pace and pastoral, tranquil instrumentation.
To discern between an actor and their performances is difficult business. A convincing, compelling actor is an illusionist, whose personality (at least to the public) becomes bound up with the attributes audiences have seen them display on screen. This intimacy is further complicated by the fact that nowadays every actor has an instagram account. No longer are these gilded figures distant and on a faraway pedestal, but right in front of us, on our phones, so close we feel as if we can reach out and touch them.
These ideas are the forefront of Emma Russack’s hilarious, charming and aptly titled EP, 5 Timothée Chalamet Instagram Captions. The waifish French-American (affectionately known as ‘timmatay’) has played kings, cannibals, sexually awakened teenagers, rock stars, and interstellar heroes with beguiling magnetism and loose-limbed panache. He is a serious actor and a bankable box-office star, with a legion of young girls in love with him. He is also seemingly dating his opposite – the extravagant celebrity mogul Kylie Jenner. His instagram, meanwhile, is vague and a little goofy, with seemingly off-the-cuff photographs mixed in with contract-mandated movie PR. He poses in mirrors and snaps blurry shots of friends; tiny crumbs of his life scattered to millions of fans, that on the surface seem personal and true, but which in reality give nothing away.
This is all rich terrain for Russack’s conceptual conceit: a five-song EP, where each song is named and built around Chalamet’s Instagram captions. One night, Russack – a fan since his breakout as the amorous 17-year-old Elio Perlman in Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name – was scrolling through his Instagram, and the idea “hit like lightning.” Russack, a new mother, wanted a prompt that would allow her to write music quickly, and where the parameters were small and starkly drawn. “It was a really fun creative exercise for me after having a kid. I don’t feel like being super-personal at the moment, I just want to have a bit of fun,” she says.
The EP diverges from her last full-length album, the Australian Independent Record Label Awards and Australian Music Prize-nominated About the Girl (2024), which explored personal obsession and revelation with a palette of spectral guitars and synths. Here, the sound is stripped back to its essential elements – guitar, vocals, drums. Produced and recorded by long-time collaborator Liam “Snowy” Halliwell (who also plays electric guitar and bass. Dylan Young performs drums and Nathalie Pavlovic provides backing vocals), the aim was immediacy and directness. Country-folk is the presiding texture, with Russack at the time thinking a lot about Chalamet’s performance as the elusive, folk-saviour turned rock behemoth Bob Dylan, in the biopic A Complete Unknown. With wry brilliance, Russack transports traditional country’s tortured yearning and rollicking vigor to our anxiety-ridden, technologically wearisome present.
Emma Russack was born in the coastal town of Narooma, NSW. She first gained traction as a teenager, belting out covers of Joy Division and Neil Young on her YouTube channel, her music met with praise from influential outlets like Rolling Stone, frankie magazine, Flood Magazine, The Big Issue, The Guardian, KEXP, WFMU, Double J, Triple R, PBS and fbi.radio.
Emma’s music has been featured in acclaimed TV series including The Walking Dead, and she has spent the past decade performing across Australia and Europe, sharing stages with artists such as Julian Baker, Jens Lekman and Bonnie Prince Billy, and played festivals including Meredith (alongside Amyl & the Sniffers, Warpaint and Aldous Harding), Town Folk (Folk Bitch Trio, Maple Glider) and Meadow.
Her previous full-length solo albums include About the Girl (2024) Winter Blues (2019), Permanent Vacation (2017), In a New State (2016), You Changed Me (2014) and Sounds of Our City (2011). She has also recorded several duet records with musician Lachlan Denton, and plays in the group Snowy Band. She lives in Naarm/Melbourne.
Keep up to date with Emma Russack by following her on Instagram and Bandcamp.
PACIFIC AVENUE ANNOUNCE LOVESICK SENTIMENTAL – ALBUM (MARCH 2026)
Pacific Avenue have announced their highly anticipated second studio album titled Lovesick Sentimental is set for release on March 6, 2026 (preorder nowhere). To celebrate the news, the band has dropped their brand-new single “Here We Go Again” — an anthem bursting with the band’s signature mix of infectious energy, emotional honesty, and guitar-driven euphoria. The track lands today alongside an official music video here. It follows “Working Class Hero” the recent first taste into the bold and emotive world of Lovesick Sentimental.
Harry O’Brien from the band shares openly, “The new single ‘Here We Go Again’ is a song about holding onto love, through the good times and the hard throughout a relationship, it’s finding the small things that make you continue to fall for that person. The song reads like a first-person recount; however, moments of the lyrics are meant to shift perspectives, ‘I almost forgot what you did’ is meant aimed back towards me, in times when I was hard to love.”
And as if that wasn’t enough, Pacific Avenue are taking their new music straight to the stage with the announcement of their Australian headline tour. Kicking off on the albums 2026 release date in March, presented by Triple J the below show dates are:
FRI 06 MAR – Astor Theatre, Perth
SAT 07 MAR – Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide
FRI 13 MAR – Forum, Melbourne
SAT 14 MAR – Odeon Theatre, Hobart
FRI 20 MAR – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane
SAT 21 MAR – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Tickets go on presale Monday 17 November at 9:00am AEDT, before the general on-sale Wednesday 19 November at 9:00am AEDT via here!
The band achieved major breakout success with their 2023 debut album Flowers which included #1 ARIA Australian Album Chart, #3 ARIA overall Album Chart, #4 ARIA Vinyl Chart, plusreceived two ARIA Nominations for ‘Best Rock Album’ and ‘Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist’.
The band garnered widespread praise from NME, The Guardian, Clash Magazine (UK), Atwood Magazine (USA) and Wonderland Magazine (UK), and their songs have also received extensive playlist support from Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Manchester United, BBC One and BT Sport.
Lovesick Sentimental album and tour will mark an exciting new era for Pacific Avenue and captures a band coming into full bloom, proving once again why they’ve become one of Australia’s most loved and dynamic acts.
FOLLOW PACIFIC AVENUE https://pacificavenue.com.au/
BEAST EAGLE RELEASE NEW SINGLE ‘WITCH HUNT’ + ANNOUNCE NEW EP SORCERESS
Beast Eagle is back, and they’ve brought vengeance with them. The hard-hitting anthem ‘Witch Hunt’ is out now via Golden Robot Records, unleashing a furious new chapter in the band’s blistering sonic saga. Fans can stream the track now on all major platforms.
‘Witch Hunt’ isn’t just a song, it’s a reckoning. Fuelled by pounding drums and snarling guitars, the single tells a dark tale of twisted justice and collective fury. It roars like a cursed village rising from the ashes; torches lit, driven by rage, fear, and the need to hunt the one who damned them. But in this firestorm of betrayal and retribution, nothing is as it seems. As fire meets magic and rage meets reckoning, no one escapes the flames.
“This track is about the moment before chaos, when everything boils over and there’s no turning back,” says the band. “It’s heavy, it’s raw, and it’s very much Beast Eagle.”
‘Witch Hunt’ follows the band’s relentless momentum and marks another bold strike in their growing arsenal of anthems. With this release, Beast Eagle cements their reputation for marrying raw emotion with unrelenting energy.
Stream ‘Witch Hunt’ HERE
Along with the release of ‘Witch Hunt’, Beast Eagle announce new EP, Sorceress – out November 21 via Golden Robot Records. A searing fusion of hard rock power and dark mysticism, Sorceress crashes through the silence like a storm over scorched earth, heralding a new era for the heavy rockers.
Sorceress tells the tale of The Witch – a vengeful spirit conjuring chaos, retribution, and release through ancient spells and molten groove. Across its fiery tracks, Beast Eagle channel the primal energy of doom, blues, and pure hard rock grit into a sonic ritual that’s equal parts incantation and exorcism.
With guitars that growl like a beast unchained, drums that strike like ritual thunder, and vocals that soar from haunting whispers to sky-splitting screams, Sorceress captures the band at their most feral and fearless. Each track unravels a chapter of The Witch’s legend – of sacrifice, fury, and liberation – etched into sound with the weight of doom and the defiance of rock ’n’ roll.
Light a candle. Turn it up. And let the witch in.
Sorceress out November 21 via Golden Robot Records. Pre-save now on all major platforms.
Pre-save ‘Sorceress’ HERE
ABOUT BEAST EAGLE
Born out of the grit and fire of Nebraska’s heavy rock scene, Beast Eagle are a band that thrives on intensity. Hailing from Omaha, the group came together with one goal: to create music that is as raw and ferocious as their name suggests. With a sound that merges thick, riff-driven guitars, pounding rhythms, and vocals that cut between searing aggression and soaring hooks, Beast Eagle channel both the chaos and beauty of modern hard rock.
Since their formation, Beast Eagle have steadily carved out a reputation through relentless live shows and a string of standout releases. Their early singles introduced fans to their hard-hitting style, while tracks like ‘Sharp Tongue’ showcase their ability to weave storytelling with heavy riffs and haunting atmosphere. These songs revealed a band unafraid to push boundaries, blending elements of grunge, hard rock, and metal into a sound uniquely their own.
On stage, Beast Eagle are a force of nature. They’ve shared bills with both rising acts and seasoned rock veterans, tearing up venues with their blistering performances. Known for their energy, unpredictability, and sheer volume, the band have built a loyal following who come for the power of the music and stay for the experience of the show.
Now signed to Golden Robot Records, Beast Eagle are ready to take their sound to the world stage. With new music on the horizon and an ever-growing reputation for delivering the goods both in the studio and on stage, the band stand poised to soar higher than ever.
Ferocious, fearless, and unrelenting – Beast Eagle are here to prove that rock is alive, louder, and wilder than ever.
CONNECT WITH BEAST EAGLE
INTRODUCING SIAMAURA
Brisbane based collaboration between Thai traditional musician Peranya Visitchantaragoon (recently featured on the soundtrack to HBO’s The White Lotus) and Violinist / producer Gareth Mewes.
SIAMAURA is the inspired collaboration between Thai traditional musician Peranya Visitchantaragoon and Brisbane-based violinist Gareth Mewes, who first connected through Australia’s vibrant multicultural music scene. Drawn together by a shared curiosity for cross-cultural sound, they discovered an inherent chemistry between the Saw U (Thai alto fiddle) and the violin—two instruments that speak different languages yet share similar ancestors.
Gareth Mewes is a Brisbane-based violinist and composer whose career spans Jazz, Folk, Rock, World and Electronic music. The lead violinist for the critically acclaimed Manouche/folk band Cigàny Weaver, he has performed at major Australian festivals including Woodford Folk Festival (QLD) and Dark Mofo (TAS). A Bachelor of Music graduate in Jazz, his pedigree is matched only by his performance experience, which includes a memorable performance alongside The Cat Empire and extensive studio work for artists across multiple genres. When not touring, Gareth composes his own world and electronic music under the monikers Siamaura and Graffin.
Peranya Visitchantaragoon is a Thai classical musician, educator, and cultural ambassador dedicated to sharing the beauty of Thai music with the world. A master of the Saw U (Thai alto fiddle) and Khim (Thai hammered dulcimer), she blends tradition with contemporary expression.
Her work has reached international audiences, including the feature of her Saw U in HBO’s The White Lotus. Through her artistry and projects like SIAMAURA, Peranya continues to inspire audiences and represent the grace, warmth, and depth of Thai culture on the global stage.
SIAMAURA This connection quickly evolved from live looping performances into an electronically influenced world beats project. Their unique collaboration allows audiences to experience the gentle, timeless beauty of Thai music seamlessly mixed with warm rhythmic beats.
Individually, Peranya brings the gravitas of a performer whose Saw U work was featured in HBO’s The White Lotus, while Gareth provides the fiery Romani/Manouche strings of the QLD Music Award-nominated ensemble, Cigàny Weaver.
Together, they expertly blend electronic, folk, and traditional sounds, bringing a truly unique musical voice to the global stage. Having captivated audiences at Dark Mofo Festival, BMAC, and major multicultural events across Australia, SIAMAURA is preparing for the release of their debut album in 2026.
To both artists, SIAMAURA represents the harmony between cultures—a space where ancient Thai elegance meets modern expression, reminding the world that music can unite hearts beyond borders.
https://www.obeliskmusicgroup.com/
DEATH ANGEL Unleash Thrashing Headbanger ‘Cult Of The Used’
Thrash metal legends DEATH ANGEL have returned to lay waste to 2025 with their colossal new single ‘Cult of the Used.’ Their 2nd new song in 6 years, is intense pit fuel that that ignites into a blaze with the band’s unmistakable chugging rhythm and break neck riffs. The track is accompanied by an astounding animated video created by Tamara Llenas of Aimed and Framed.
Commenting on the song, guitarist Rob Cavestany says:
“Our new song Cult Of The Used is a depiction of society under hypnosis, being strategically manipulated and taken advantage of. It urges you to leave the so called reality behind…
Fendie Daywalker did a stellar job illustrating the Cult Leader ~ beckoning his blinded followers who remain in trance by his strangely charismatic facade, enchanted by the vibrant colours, mesmerized by his stare.
We wanted to release this song to coincide with our ACT III US Tour which kicks off on November 26th in Denver and concludes with 2 nights at The Fillmore in San Francisco on December 18th and 19th for our 10th Annual ‘Another Death Angel Xmas Show(s).’ We haven’t headlined in the states since 2019 so we wanted to make it extra extra! Of course we’re excited to include Cult Of The Used in our setlist when we hit the road this month.”
DEATH ANGEL’s new single follows ‘Wrath (Bring Fire)’ that was released earlier this year, and arrives just ahead of the band’s eagerly anticipated Act III US Tour and 10th Annual ‘Another Death Angel Xmas Show’ in San Francisco taking place in December.
Stream ‘Cult of the Used’: https://deathangel.bfan.link/cult-of-the-used
‘CULT OF THE USED’ ANIMATED VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/VJ15cMcButM
Purchase DEATH ANGEL’s latest album, Humanicide, and previous releases:
https://nblast.de/DeathAngelShopInt
About DEATH ANGEL:
Formed in 1982 in San Francisco, CA, DEATH ANGEL were among the era’s groundbreaking thrash bands along with acts like TESTAMENT, EXODUS, POSSESSED, VIO-LENCE and FORBIDDEN. Considered as one of the most influential thrash bands to exist, DEATH ANGEL has released 9 full-length albums, including their most recent, Grammy Award nominated record Humanicide. The five-piece consisting of Rob Cavestany (guitar, vocals), Mark Osegueda (vocals), Ted Aguilar (guitar, vocals), Will Carroll (drums) and Damien Sisson (bass), is on the tail end of 6 year worldwide tour in support of Humanicide, which has included recent performances in Asia, Europe, North America and South America. With no signs of slowing down, the band continues their quest in the name of metal in 2025.
Follow DEATH ANGEL:
https://www.deathangel.us/
NEW MUSIC FROM CORDRAZINE
Cordrazine, the ’90s Melbourne indie pop-rock enigma fronted by Hamish Cowan, are back with their first new music in 15 years and are set to release new EP You See In Me on Friday December 5
The following Friday December 12 at Northcote Social Club, they will launch the EP with special guest Alex Lloyd
You See In Me features new single “Smalltown Boy” – a stunning reworking of the Bronski Beat classic!
Cordrazine, the ’90s Melbourne indie pop-rock enigma fronted by Hamish Cowan, are back with their first new music in 15 years and are set to release new EP You See In Me on Friday December 5. The following Friday December 12, they will launch the EP with special guest Alex Lloyd.
The band – which in 2022 celebrated 25 years since their brief initial go-round which centered on the iconic single “Crazy” and ARIA Top 10 debut album From Here to Wherever – paved the way towards You See In Me with recent single releases ‘Hey Man’ and ‘Smalltown Boy’, the latter a cover of the iconic Bronski Beat tune which inspired Cowan’s vocal style all those years ago.
Pre-Save Cordrazine’s new EP YOU SEE IN ME
As well known to their fans for Hamish’s reticence to sell himself to the music industry as for their initial popularity and incredible music, Cordrazine have found a kindred spirit in fellow ’90s traveller and good friend Alex Lloyd, who will appear as a special guest on the night.
Best known for the huge hit ‘Amazing’, which topped JJJ’s Hottest 100 in 2001, the multi-platinum, three-time ARIA Male Artist of the Year, Lloyd shares not only a mesmerising musicality with Cowan, he also shares a complex relationship with the industry more broadly, which was so sensitively anc bravely explored on a recent episode of ABC-TV’s Australian Story.
Unlike recent Cordrazine shows which have featured duo performances by Cowan and longtime collaborator Nick Batterham (of The Earthmen), You See In Me will be launched by the full Cordrazine band, in a very rare outing. With Alex in tow, this will be a show not to be missed.
Cordrazine’s Hamish Cowan on his decision to record “Smalltown Boy”: “It is an iconic song. Beyond being a gay anthem, its themes of marginalisation, alienation and intolerance of difference – as if that difference is somehow an existential threat – are universal and remain sadly all too relevant.
“It is perhaps easy to forget the bravery of Jimmy Somerville and the band. The song was a bold political declaration of pride and humanity during a very hostile time and in an environment where such statements carried significant personal risk.
“Jimmy’s vocal was an inspiration. His falsetto was something I imitated. Its influence is evident all through Cordrazine.
“I have always wanted to record a version of ‘Smalltown Boy’, though knew any attempt needed to offer something new. The stripped back piano and string arrangement Nick Batterham came up with captures the loneliness of the lyric. It was that loneliness, living in a small coastal town and feeling a bit different, that resonated. Hopefully our version captures the mournful character of the song, the grief and hurt of rejection.
“The song is of such importance, and I have so much reverence for it, it has taken all these years to come up with an arrangement, which we feel offers something different enough, yet still does justice to the original.”
CORDRAZINE 2025
“It feels like that time again”, Hamish Cowan says. “Once every 10 years or so, seems about the right pace to record and release music. Though the truth is, music is never out of my life, it just takes me a while to get around to sharing it”.
Cordrazine first appeared in Melbourne with their 1996 EP Time to Leave. Introducing the exquisite voice of Hamish Cowan and four beautiful, classic pop songs with flourishes of gorgeous Fender Rhodes, subtle jazzy hues and powerful moods, the EP set the scene alight.
The band released their debut album, From Here To Wherever in 1997. The world was soon to learn however, the band had already parted ways prior to the album’s release. Nonetheless, the album rocketed into the top ten of the ARIA Album Chart on the back of phenomenal reviews, vast radio airplay and a raft of television appearances. From Here To Wherever features the still astonishing ballad “Crazy”.
The raw emotion and open-a-vein honesty provoked the kind of obsessive fan reactions, journalistic intrusions and forced self-reflection that Cowan admits were actually too much for him to deal with. “I was being asked questions about aspects of my being in interviews, I’d not considered myself. Interviews were more like psychoanalysis than a conversation about the music I’d written”.
So, then it happened. After countless Australian tours, an Aria chart Top 40 EP, an album ready for release and ARIA Award nominations, whilst on tour in the USA, with no formal announcement, Cowan called time on the band and shrunk away, before they could even fully break through. Cordrazine undeniably had so much more to offer.
2024’s single “Hey Man” was the first Cordrazine release in almost 15 years. An epic production including a 28-piece string section, Cowan feels like the track is a natural expression of all of the influences that have shaped he and the band. Though he confesses, “As long as we don’t sound like we are bereft of ideas, I will be happy. I don’t care if people hate it, I just don’t want people to be bored and unaffected – hatred is better than indifference”.
“Hey Man” was the first of a series of releases that will culminate in the release of the EP You See In Me on Friday December 5.
www.rubberrecords.com
www.facebook.com/cordrazineband/
AMANDUH Returns With Dreamy, Laidback Indie-Pop Single ‘Hydroplaning’
Naarm/Melbourne-based artist Amanduh glides into new emotional territory with her latest single ‘Hydroplaning’. A dreamy blend of indie, pop and alternative arrangements, the track drifts through the blurred edges of heartbreak and self-realisation.
Known for her nostalgic melodies, soft-focus vocals and quietly cutting lyricism, Amanduh writes with a rare mix of warmth and self-reflection. Each release feels like another page from a half-forgotten diary, tracing the small contradictions that linger after love fades and reality hits.
Following her debut EP and a string of singles in 2024, Amanduh recently stepped back out with the slow-burning single ‘Indigo Sky’. She now follows it with ‘Hydroplaning’, a song that captures the strange calm of knowing something is falling apart but watching it unfold anyway.
“It’s ultimately another song about the breakdown of a relationship, but I really loved the concept of the word ‘hydroplaning’ and lyrically it’s so interesting,” Amanduh shares.
Hydroplaning refers to losing traction on wet roads when the vehicle starts to slide and control slips away. For Amanduh, it was the perfect metaphor. “It’s about repeating old habits and not being surprised when it doesn’t work, because you knew it wouldn’t,” she explains. “I love that it captures the idea of losing control of your emotions and doing stupid things, like repeating habits that you know are bad.”
Built on a foundation of smooth bass, sparkling synths and slick guitar lines, ‘Hydroplaning’ drifts with a laidback feel and flowing rhythm. Subtle percussion keeps the vehicle in control while Amanduh’s vocals float above the mix, layered, airy and warm, creating a lucid energy as the production shimmers and blurs the edges between dream and reality. Frictionless, there’s a calm to it all as everything finds its natural course.
Out now, ‘Hydroplaning’ marks another graceful step in Amanduh’s evolving catalogue, finding a relaxed beauty in the loss of control.
Follow Amanduh Website | Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram
KINGS OF LEON RELEASE NEW EP. EP #2 – OUT NOW
GRAMMY Award®-winning, multi-platinum rock band Kings of Leon are back with their first EP in over two decades. Simply named EP #2, the four-track project marks the band’s first independent release on their own label, Love Tap Records, distributed by Virgin Music, and features their first ever self-produced recordings. Listen to EP #2 HERE.
The EP #2 tracklist can be found below:
1.All The Little Sheep
2.To Space
3.Pit To The Rind
4.The Wolf
The new EP follows the band’s recent hit collaborations with Zach Bryan “We’re Onto Something” and “Bowery.” “Bowery” debuted at #1 on Spotify in the US, and both songs received fan and critical acclaim. This summer, Bryan and the Kings joined forces at several sold-out stadium shows to debut live performances of both tracks.
Kings of Leon also recently announced that they will close out 2025 with two New Year’s Eve shows in Las Vegas. Kings of Leon: Live in Las Vegas will take place on December 30 & 31, 2025 at The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas. For tickets and more information, go to kingsofleon.com.
About Kings of Leon
Since their debut in 2003, Kings of Leon (Caleb (guitar/vocals), Nathan (drums), Jared (bass) and Matthew Followill (guitar)) has released nine albums (Youth & Young Manhood (2003), Aha Shake Heartbreak (2004), Because of the Times (2007), Only by the Night (2008), Come Around Sundown (2010), Mechanical Bull (2013), WALLS (2016), When You See Yourself (2021), Can We Please Have Fun (2024)) and sold over 20 million albums and nearly 40 million singles worldwide. The multi-platinum selling band has had five singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, all nine of their studio albums on Billboard’s Top 200 list and two singles that reached #1 on Modern Rock radio. With the release of WALLS, the band garnered their first-ever number one album debut on the Billboard Top 200. In addition, they have had eight Grammy Nominations, four Grammy Award wins, three NME Awards, two Brit Awards, and one Juno Award. They have toured all over the world, playing at top venues and headlining major festivals such as Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, and Glastonbury. The band released their highly anticipated ninth full-length studio album, Can We Please Have Fun, last year to critical and fan acclaim. Kings of Leon’s first EP in over two decades, simply titled EP #2, is available now on all platforms.
ELLA FENCE Blooms on ‘Couple Kids’ Before Joining Sofia Isella on Tour
Ella Fence returns with ‘Couple Kids’, a slow-burning indie rock track that evolves into something big. Through reverb-soaked guitars and soaring harmonies, she delivers a sound that moves from fragile to unrestrained emotion. The release arrives ahead of Ella’s December tour dates supporting internationally touring artist Sofia Isella, with performances across major venues in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
With over five million Spotify streams, Ella Fence has built a loyal international following and earned multiple Gold Coast Music Awards, plus a Best Development Artist nomination at the Australian Women in Music Awards.
Her decade-long career has taken her to stages across Canada, the UK and Europe, and she has supported leading Australian artists, including Kate Miller-Heidke, Washington, Baker Boy and Katie Noonan, with appearances at major festivals across the country.
Leading towards a massive end to the year, this newest track from Ella Fence has her reflecting on moments of wanting to run away – not out of pain, but out of recognition. It explores the passage into adulthood, recognising that there is always an inevitable loss, where there is love. Ella shares:
“It’s about the quiet urge to escape, and the tenderness that comes with finally understanding where that desire comes from. I’m thankful for the space music gives me to explore that in a healthy way.”
An ever-evolving track, ‘Couple Kids’ patiently awaits to bloom. It begins in stillness, with spacious guitars awash in reverb and Ella’s dulcet vocals yearn with longing. It then sways with a gentle pulse as percussion enters, gradually building through layers of synth and electric guitar. Ella’s vocal stretches higher while harmonies push and pull around her. To close out, the rhythm straightens, the tempo rises, and her voice lifts with newfound clarity, joined by rich backing harmonies that carry a sense of hard-won hope.
That same rising energy carries into the live setting, with Ella Fence joining Sofia Isella this December as a special guest on her headline national tour. The run includes The Triffid in Brisbane on Monday, 9th December, Palais Theatre in Melbourne on Tuesday, 10th December, and The Roundhouse in Sydney on Thursday, 12th December.
‘Couple Kids’ is out now, marking a fitting prelude to Ella’s December tour alongside Sofia Isella.
Sofia Isella Australian Tour w/ Ella Fence | Tickets here
Tuesday, December 9 – The Triffid, Brisbane
Wednesday, December 10 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne
Friday, December 12 – The Roundhouse, Sydney
Follow Ella Fence Spotify | Apple Music | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
The Kunins release ‘The Levee’ / ‘The Sorrow You Are Drawn To’
Double single out now
Gearing up for the release of their much-anticipated third album, Brisbane/Meanjin father-daughter duo The Kunins are gracing audiences with another superb release, the double single ‘The Levee / The Sorrow You Are Drawn To’. A true culmination of their talents, the tracks incorporate elements of traditional folk, Americana and country. And while both songs delve into different subject matter, at the heart of each is an exploration into very real human experiences.
‘The Levee’ captures the space between losing and keeping someone in your life, that final moment when you decide whether to reach out or let go. In a modern dating world defined by detachment and noncommitment, the song reflects a yearning for genuine connection. Yet despite its subject, ‘The Levee’ feels oddly empowering and uplifting. Striking harmonies layer with the powerfully sparse combination of guitar and piano, creating heartfelt performances that elevate its message of self-worth.
By contrast, ‘The Sorrow You Are Drawn To’ reaches deeper into introspection. Written 10 years ago after a decade-long creative silence, it emerged during a burst of rediscovered inspiration. With its sombre tone, dramatic strings, and traditional folk sensibility, the track captures that moment of reclaiming one’s artistic voice.“While you might not grab that lightning bolt,” says Ken, “I sure as hell am gonna try.”
For their latest release, The Kunins have chosen to revive the A-side / B-side double single format, a nostalgic nod to the days when listeners could experience two complementary songs together. The songs were recorded back-to-back and so naturally felt like companions. They’re different flavours, but beautifully matched. As Lily Maia puts it; “Like pairing the perfect wine and cheese.”
At just 21 years old, Lily Maia has developed a voice and songwriting ability beyond her years. Her songs draw inspiration from personal experiences, literature, film, and an ever-evolving range of musical influences. “I’m like a sponge, anything that resonates with me tends to make its way into my songwriting,” she says. With an already storied career, Ken has released 11 albums, toured throughout the US, had music featured in TV and film, and run indie label Underhill Recordings. A Los Angeles native who moved to Brisbane 24 years ago, he draws on influences from singer-songwriters like Townes Van Zandt, John Prine, and Paul Simon, as well as literature and photography for the way they capture moments in time.
‘The Levee’ and ‘The Sorrow You Are Drawn To’ were recorded at The Kunins’ home studio, with producing and mixing by Ken. The songs were mastered by Grammy Award-winning engineer Camilo Silva.
The Kunins are – Ken Kunin (vocals, guitar) Lily Maia Kunin (vocals, piano, acoustic guitar, strings)
THE KUNINS ONLINE Instagram | Facebook | Spotify | Apple Music | Bandcamp | Website | AMRAP
Velociraptor Release ‘Rita’ Single Ahead of Hiatus Tour
Many-headed Brisbane garage rock behemoth Velociraptor recently announced their Don’t Hiat-us, Hate The Game east coast farewell tour, and to celebrate the bittersweet occasion have released one final single, Rita, from their epic second album Computer Future!
After too many years at the coalface to mention, the ‘Raptors are quitting on their own terms (ie, with one last blast of parties with their many friends and fans), and it seems appropriate that they’re doing so accompanied by one of their catchiest songs to date in Rita.
Frontman Jeremy Neale – Rita’s author and vocalist – had this to say about the track, which continues their tradition of ludicrously catchy songs with female names as the title:
“Rita was the first song I wrote for this record. Is it a poetic way to finish the album cycle? I dunno. I mean in the grand scheme of all eras of all raptor releases – it came down to this – a love letter to someone. Suzanne, Cynthia, Ramona, now Rita.
“Like all reasonable songs, the overarching theme is there in the chorus “You get further away, the more I do”. You’ll probably detect the other overarching theme across most songs I write – shit is absolutely cooked on the hustle. You gotta work more to get from survive to thrive, but what do you lose along the way? “And every night I am so tense”? Well, it’s probably the coffee but how else you gonna get through?
“The track worked through the ‘Raptor machine, which is where it truly came to life. The gang vox in the verse breaks and chorus, the relentless driving intensity of George Browning on the drums. And there’s something magical Julien James has done in the chorus where we got all the lift of a symphony, via an electric guitar. Velociraptor AKA Brisbane Symphony Guitar Orchestra”.
Saying farewell is always tough, but at least this goodbye comes complete with a killer soundtrack! Don’t miss this one last chance to make dusty memories with the ‘Raptors, sometimes you don’t realise how much you love something until it’s gone!
THE DON’T HIAT-US, HATE THE GAME 2005 TOUR
Presented by Philter Brewing and Coolin’ By Sound
SATURDAY 15 NOVEMBER – Stay Gold, Melbourne VIC
w/ Sweet Nothing, Dippers and Keep On Dancin’s (Qld) Tickets via Eventbrite
FRIDAY 21 NOVEMBER – Mary’s Underground, Sydney NSW
w/ Straight Arrows, Bodywire and Slowrip (Qld) Tickets via Moshtix
SATURDAY 13 DECEMBER – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
w/ Keep On Dancin’s, Supernew, Super Hotel Tickets via Oztix
STELLA DONNELLY Shares third studio album Love and Fortune
Out now via Dot Dash Recordings
Stella Donnelly releases Love and Fortune, her highly anticipated third studio album, out now via Dot Dash Recordings / Remote Control Records. Love and Fortune marks a brave and vulnerable return to self for the Boorloo-born, Naarm-based singer-songwriter, written during a period of rest and reflection amid the wattle-lined streets and creeks of Melbourne’s inner north. Stella recently announced her first international tour in over two years, with dates on sale now across Australia, United Kingdom and Europe.
Previous singles ‘Baths’, ‘Standing Ovation’, ‘Year of Trouble’ and ‘Feel It Change’ offered glimpses into the heartbreak at the core of Love and Fortune, while the full album captures the ongoing emotional impact of a friendship breakdown. Love and Fortune blends pianos and guitars, as in her earlier work, but this time the arrangements are more exposed, more intentional. Joining Donnelly on the record are longtime collaborators and friends Marcel Tussie, Jack Gaby and Julia Wallace and new guests Sophie Ozard, Timothy Harvey, and Ellie Mason.
With this, the album captures the stiller self, the reflective self, that gently asks where to next. There is a clarity here, the kind that comes from reconnecting with what matters. The result is Donnelly’s most open-hearted and self-assured work to date — a record about loss, certainly, but even more about the quiet, enduring fortune of finding one’s way home.
Leading into release, Love and Fortune has received early support from the likes of triple j, The Guardian, NME, MOJO, DIY, Uncut, Stereogum, Under the Radar, BBC 6 Music, Paste, DORK Magazine, Radio X, The Line of Best Fit, Clash, Apple 1, Wonderland and many more.
Donnelly will be performing live in-store and signing records at Soundmerch in Melbourne on Thursday 13th November from 6pm. See poster below for full details.
Purchase / Stream Love and Fortune: https://stelladonnelly.lnk.to/loveandfortune
Stella Donnelly – Love and Fortune Tour
AUSTRALIA
Thu 19 Feb – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney, NSW [tickets]
Fri 20 Feb – The Triffid, Brisbane, QLD [tickets]
Fri 27 Feb – Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide, SA [tickets]
Sat 28 Feb – Corner Hotel, Melbourne, VIC [tickets]
Fri 06 Mar – The Rechabite, Perth, WA [tickets]
Tickets on sale via stelladonnelly.com
NICK BARKER AND THE REPTILES RELEASE NEW SINGLE ‘BLOOD NOSE’
Melbourne rock veterans Nick Barker and the Reptiles are back with a blistering new single, ‘Blood Nose,’ out now via Golden Robot Records. A raw, riff-driven track soaked in 70s-style swagger, ‘Blood Nose’ delivers a punch – both musically and thematically.
Written by Nick Barker, the track was inspired by a story he read about a social media influencer whose carefully curated world came crashing down. “‘Blood Nose’ can mean a lot of things – a real one, a loss in battle, or just a humiliating moment,” Barker explains. “This one’s about the last two. All kinds of ways to take damage.”
Stream ‘Blood Nose’ HERE
With its stripped-back production and live-to-tape energy, ‘Blood Nose’ captures the band’s signature no-frills approach – loud, loose, and loaded with grit. “We had the riff, the idea, and just went for it, live in the room. Not much to it. We love it,” Barker says.
‘Blood Nose’ is the first new music from the band in over a decade and marks a thunderous return to form. Fans can stream the track now on all major platforms.
ABOUT NICK BARKER AND THE REPTILES
Formed in 1988 by iconic Australian singer-songwriter Nick Barker, Nick Barker and the Reptiles quickly became one of the hardest-working and most beloved pub rock bands of their era. Known for their gritty, heartfelt rock ’n’ roll and relentless touring schedule, the band embodied the raw, sweat-soaked energy of Australia’s live music scene.
From the late ’80s through the early ’90s, Nick Barker and the Reptiles tore up stages across the country, clocking more than 200 shows on their National Pub Tour, often playing five nights a week and sometimes three gigs in a single day. Their reputation as one of the tightest, loudest, and most genuine live acts in the country quickly spread.
In 1989, their cover of Cockney Rebel’s ‘Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)’ propelled them into the national spotlight, reaching the top 30 on the ARIA Singles Chart and earning them widespread acclaim. The band followed up with two powerhouse albums – Goin’ to Pieces (1989) and After the Show (1991) (the latter recorded in Memphis, Tennessee) – along with the Loose EP (1992).
But more than anything, Nick Barker and the Reptiles were a live band through and through, champions of the Australian pub rock circuit, winning over fans night after night with raw performances, big hooks, and plenty of cold beer. Along the way, they even invented their own card game (best left unexplained) and a cocktail (vodka and Staminade) that became legendary among their crew.
In 1993, Nick disbanded the group, closing a memorable chapter in Australian rock history.
Now, Golden Robot Records is proud to both reintroduce the back catalogue and brand new upcoming releases of Nick Barker and the Reptiles, and celebrating one of Australia’s finest rock ’n’ roll stories – loud, unfiltered, and unforgettable.
CONNECT WITH NICK BARKER AND THE REPTILES
YUMI ZOUMA SHARE THE HEARTFELT AND INTIMATE “PHOEBE’S SONG”
NEW ALBUM NO LOVE LOST TO KINDNESS OUT JANUARY 30, 2026 VIA NETTWERK
International indie-rock innovators Yumi Zouma deliver a boldly romantic, heartfelt new single, “Phoebe’s Song,” dedicated to Josh Burgess’ love for his partner, Phoebe. To celebrate the news, the band is excited to announce an upcoming spring 2026 North American headline tour starting April 30 at Black Cat in Washington D.C., while making stops in New York at Warsaw on May 2, Chicago at Outset on May 8, Los Angeles at Pacific Electric on May 19, and finishing up in San Diego at Belly Up on May 20. More information can be found here.
LISTEN AND SHARE: YUMI ZOUMA “PHOEBE’S SONG” https://yumizouma.ffm.to/phoebessong
“Phoebe’s Song” radiates warmth, perfectly capturing budding intimacy’s sweet, cinematic fantasies: “making movies in the back of my head.” Christie Simpson’s weaving vocals, blending seamlessly between lead, backing vocals, and harmonies, evoke the thrilling sensation of willingly losing oneself, as one often does in the throes of love.
Sonically, the track ventures confidently into expansive guitar territories reminiscent of Built to Spill’s textured walls of sound, infused with choruses that shimmer with Johnny Marr-esque jangle. Drummer Olivia Campion’s intricate, baroque-inspired fills lend a compelling power-pop flourish alongside Charlie Ryder’s exemplary guitar playing. A charmingly nostalgic Nokia ringtone punctuates the first chorus – an affectionate wink to modern romance – before an audacious key change propels the finale into early-2000s teen-movie euphoria.
Josh Burgess of Yumi Zouma shares, “Phoebe’s Song” is a real outlier in our catalogue. We honestly don’t have many love songs! It’s a bold testament to our love, but also a small window into the joy of coexisting with your person. Shout out to the “Uncleared” Nokia ringtone. Thank you, YouTube. Thank you, Phoebe. Thank you, world, for sharing this love. One love.”
“Phoebe’s Song” is the latest single from Yumi Zouma’s upcoming album, No Love Lost To Kindness, which will be released on January 30, 2026, via Nettwerk. Recorded in Mexico City, where the band was assembled in 2023 for writing sessions, they shine as a collective and as individual players across the album’s 12 tracks, which guitarists Josh Burgess and Charlie Ryder produced. As Yumi Zouma continues to evolve and celebrate over a decade together, their latest songs show what any long-distance band knows is true: time-zone challenges are simply no match for chemistry.
No Love Lost To Kindness marks a turning point for Yumi Zouma—both sonically and emotionally. Departing from the shimmering dream-pop of earlier records, Yumi Zouma pursued a rawer, heavier sound.
“Phoebe’s Song” follows up on the success of previous 2025 singles “Drag,” “Cross My Heart and Hope To Die,” “Blister,” and “Bashville on the Sugar,” the band’s unruly first single on Nettwerk, which introduced this fearless new chapter ahead. Stay tuned for more new music and news from Yumi Zouma this year and beyond.
ABOUT YUMI ZOUMA:
Composed of members Christie Simpson (vocals, keyboards), Josh Burgess (guitar, bass, vocals, keyboards), Charlie Ryder (guitar, bass, keyboards), and Olivia Campion (drums), Yumi Zouma originally joined forces in 2013. While all New Zealanders, the four members have always lived separately in different cities, with Christie based in Melbourne, Charlie in London, Josh in New York, and Olivia in Wellington.
Yumi Zouma’s storied career has spanned over an entire decade – from the shoegaze and dream-pop of their first EP, EP I, and the blogosphere ubiquity of the early single “A Long Walk Home For Parted Lovers” in 2014, to the synth pop of their debut LP, Yoncalla, tours with Lorde, Jamie xx, and Magdalena Bay, global support from Pitchfork, Stereogum, Consequence of Sound, The FADER, SPIN, The Guardian, and radio spins from SiriusXM and Triple J. Following four EPs and four prior albums (2016’s Yoncalla, 2017’s Willowbank, 2020’s Truth or Consequences, and 2022’s Present Tense), Yumi Zouma is ready to catapult into the next decade of their career with their forthcoming release on Nettwerk.
YUMI ZOUMA ON SOCIALS:
Instagram | TikTok | X | YouTube | Website
45th TOYOTA STAR MAKER FELICITY KIRCHER RELEASES SECOND SINGLE ‘Irish Blessing’
The 2025 Toyota Star Maker, Felicity Kircher, releases the second single, Irish Blessing, to Australian radio and streaming services today.
Irish Blessing is from Felicity’s upcoming four-track EP, produced by Brandon Dodd, at the Rabbit Hole Studio.
She said; “Writing this song was such a joy because it allowed me to step into something different and new, while also reconnecting with something I’ve always loved.”
Felicity said, “Irish Blessing was a really interesting and unexpected song for me to write. It’s very different to what I would usually create, but I loved diving into a different flavour of song writing.
“I grew up playing Celtic violin, so I have a big soft spot for Irish and Celtic music, and at the time, I was listening to Rose Betts, an incredible English artist, with Irish roots, and her music really inspired this song.
“One random day I saw an Irish blessing written on a piece of paper, hanging on a friend’s fridge — it moved me so much, and I just started weeping. I fell in love with how timeless, touching and beautiful the words were.”
In January 2025, a 20-year-old Felicity, from Brisbane, Queensland was crowned winner of the 45th Toyota Star Maker. Felicity first took the stage in a talent competition at the age of four and fell in love with performing. Recently turned 21, the multi-instrumentalist has spent the past decade and a half working on her stage craft, song writing and alt-country sound.
Since winning, Felicity has performed at many of Australia’s biggest festivals including the Queensland Music Trail, in Charleville, Outback Qld; CMA Fest in Nashville performing on the CMA Spotlight Stage; Sounds Australia’s showcase events, Australia Sounds Like and The Aussie BBQ; and also for the Apple Music team. Felicity reached a major career milestone when she made her debut performance at the iconic Bluebird Café from an invitation by Star Maker judge, songwriter Phil Barton.
Felicity recently performed at the Sunset Bash in Penrith NSW and many popular Queensland events including Brisbane’s EKKA, Gympie Muster, Savannah In The Round, Groundwater and the new Strummingbird. She also spent the early part of this year on the Kasey Chambers Backbone Tour.
Felicity’s ticketed show will be held at Moonshiners Honky Tonk Bar on Tuesday, 20 January 2026 at 3pm-5pm, where she will officially launch her Star Maker EP, and bring together some talented friends to help celebrate.
GIG DATES
NOVEMBER 2025
Sunday 23 November – Eat Street, Brisbane Qld
DECEMBER 2025
Sunday 7 November – Eat Street, Brisbane Qld
Sunday 21 November – Eat Street, Brisbane Qld
JANUARY 2026
Toyota 54th Tamworth Country Music Festival
Friday, 16 January – Opening Concert – Bicentennial Park – 7pm
Sunday, 18 January – Toyota Star Maker – Bicentennial Park – 7pm
Tuesday 20 January – Moonshiners Honky Tonk Bar, Tamworth NSW – EP Launch – 3pm-5pm
Saturday 24 January – Moonshiners Honky Tonk Bar, Tamworth NSW – Guest of Jem Cassar-Daley
www.felicitykirchermusic.com
www.starmaker.com.au
CHRIS WILLIAMSON BRINGING THE MOSTLY WISE LIVE SHOW TO AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, AND BALI IN 2026
The acclaimed Modern Wisdom host delivers an evening of sharp insights, raw honesty, and unexpected lessons, challenging audiences to get curious, think deeper, and discover new perspectives.
Following the success of his sold-out North American live tour, British podcaster, writer, and host of Modern Wisdom – one of the world’s biggest podcasts – CHRIS WILLIAMSON brings his signature blend of storytelling, philosophy, and insight to Australia, New Zealand, and Bali in 2026 with the MOSTLY WISE live tour, hitting theatres across each territory in March and April.
Through a dynamic mix of storytelling, sharp insights, and practical takeaways, Williamson explores the tension between what we think we know and what we’re still figuring out. From the traps of hustle culture to the truths uncovered in silence, Mostly Wise offers an evening of insights, face-palm clarity, and unexpected discoveries. Audiences can expect a show that is deeply reflective, gut-punchingly honest, and unapologetically points the finger at the lessons you need to hear but have been ignoring. Whether you’re a long-time listener or just stepping into the world of personal growth, this tour invites you to get curious, challenge your assumptions, and walk away with a fresh perspective.
“After thousands of hours speaking with some of the world’s sharpest minds, the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that no one really has it all figured out, least of all me,” said Williamson. “Mostly Wise is about embracing that reality, exploring the questions that actually matter, and laughing at the ways we get it wrong. It’s not self-help, it’s self-honesty. I can’t wait to bring that to life with everyone across Australia, New Zealand, and Bali. This stuff absolutely rules. Hopefully, everyone leaves feeling called out, seen, reassured, and a bit more wise.”
With over 1 billion streams, Williamson’s Modern Wisdom has become one of today’s most influential self-development platforms, helping millions live better, think deeper, and perform at their best. Covering topics from modern masculinity and relationships to philosophy and mental wellness, Williamson distills complex ideas into practical, relatable takeaways for his global audience of more than 7 million followers.
On Modern Wisdom, Williamson sits down with some of the world’s most influential thinkers and cultural icons, from David Goggins and Andrew Huberman to Senator Bernie Sanders, Scott Galloway, and Matthew McConaughey.
The Mostly Wise live tour builds on that legacy, bringing Williamson’s most thought-provoking conversations to the stage. Audiences can expect an evening that’s as entertaining as it is enlightening — blending humor, honesty, and reflection into a transformative live experience.
CHRIS WILLIAMSON MOSTLY WISE LIVE TOUR DATES
Pre-sale Tuesday 18th Nov 9am Local
GP on sale Thursday 20th Nov 9am Local
Tickets HERE
Thursday 19th March Darling Harbour Theatre, Sydney
Friday 20th March Palais Theatre, Melbourne
Sunday 22nd March AEC Theatre, Adelaide
Monday 23rd March Astor Theatre, Perth
Wednesday 25th March Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane
Saturday 28th March Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch
Sunday 29th March Bruce Mason Centre, Auckland
Wednesday 1st April Atlas Super Club, Bali
About Chris Williamson:
Chris Williamson is a British podcaster and writer based in Austin, TX, best known as the host of Modern Wisdom, where he dives into everything from self-improvement and philosophy to human behavior and the weird corners of the internet. Since 2018, he’s sat down with world-leading psychologists, neuroscientists, comedians, and cultural commentators, distilling complex ideas into accessible insights. Modern Wisdom has surpassed 1 billion downloads across more than 1,000 episodes.
Website | Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
JETT BLYTON RETURNS WITH “DOUBLE VISION (VOL. 2)” — THE DARKER, COOLER SIBLING TO HIS BREAKOUT POP PROJECT!
LISTEN HERE
After setting the internet alight with his recent viral hit “Apeshit”, rising Aussie artist Jett Blyton is back with his highly anticipated new five track EP, Double Vision (Vol. 2), out now.
What started as a one-off live performance online quickly became a social media phenomenon — “Apeshit” has since racked up over 3 million+ views on TikTok, Hundreds of thousands of views on Instagram, and inspired hundreds of fan-created videos using the sound. The viral explosion has also supercharged Jett’s fanbase.
The new EP also features Jett’s earlier single “Needingabreak”, a euphoric, club-ready anthem that first introduced fans to the second chapter of the Double Vision universe. Both singles continued to introduce Jett to Australian Radio and its mass audience with strong support on major outlets including Triple J, Unearthed, HIT National Network, JOY, and others.
Following the breakout success of Double Vision (Vol. 1) — which spawned fan favourites “Borderline”, “44:44” and “Speed Dial” — this new instalment takes Jett’s distinct brand of pop into darker, bolder territory.
Explaining the connection between the two projects, Jett shares, “Double Vision was always intended to be my love letter to pop music and my relationship with it throughout my life. Double Vision (Vol. 1) was a really fun way to kick off the double project — it was all about the summery songs that feel good to sing in the car. Songs like ‘Borderline’ or ‘Speed Dial’ were made to empower, soundtrack and empathise with my fans in a light-hearted way. Sonically it was more R&B influenced, taking soundbites from the 1990s at times.
Double Vision (Vol. 2) kicked off exactly one year after Vol. 1. The first single, ‘Needingabreak’, is a celebration of recession pop and the clubkid resurgence of the 2000s. It takes inspiration from house-pop pioneers like Rihanna or Madonna. If Volume 1 was a daytime album, Volume 2 is its nighttime counterpart — the cooler older sibling. As a synth-pop project, it’s sonically much darker. It was written to celebrate the heartbeat of the party and the kineticism of dancing with your friends. Party even when you don’t have a reason.”
From viral chaos to pure pop catharsis, Double Vision (Vol. 2) captures Jett Blyton at his most confident and experimental yet — a thrilling next step from one of pop’s most exciting new voices.
FOLLOW JETT BLYTON: Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Website
Dutch Progressive Giants TEXTURES Announce New Album Genotype Out January 23, 2026 via Kscope). Second Single ‘At The Edge Of Winter’ Out Today With New Video
Dutch progressive metal pioneers Textures return with At the Edge of Winter, the second single from their forthcoming album Genotype, set for release on 23rd January on Kscope. Featuring Charlotte Wessels (ex-Delain), the new single blends atmospheric synths, intricate sound design, and polyrhythmic grooves with massive riffs and soaring vocal lines. The modern, bombastic mix is accompanied by a new video directed by Textures’ bassist Remko Tielemans with the lyrics exploring introspection, looking within, and understanding the roots of emotion.
Watch The New Video For ‘At The Edge Of Winter’ Directed By Textures’ Bassist Remko Tielemans https://youtu.be/rQDkZeKkMrQ
Stream/Download The New Single ‘Edge Of Winter’ https://orcd.co/at-the-edge-of-winter
When TEXTURES announced their disbandment in 2018, it marked the end of an era for progressive metal. Their absence was felt across the world – by fans, by peers, and by a scene they helped define. Now, six years later, the Dutch innovators return with Genotype – a monumental resurgence to the forefront of modern progressive music and a powerful reaffirmation of everything that made them a force in the first place.
Pre-Order The New Album Genotype Set For Release On 23rd January
https://textures.lnk.to/Genotype
Serving as the conceptual counterpart to 2016’s acclaimed Phenotype, Genotype is not a continuation but a rebirth. For nearly a decade, fans speculated about its existence, but what arrives now is not a relic of unfinished ideas – it’s something entirely new, written from scratch and self-produced. Genotype distils the essence of TEXTURES’ DNA into eight new songs, mixed by Forrester Savell (Karnivool, Dead Letter Circus). Lyrically, the album speaks to the unheard – introverts, outsiders, and those navigating internal worlds that often go unseen, standing as an ode to authenticity and resilience.
TEXTURES have built a passionate global following over this time. In India, they rose to headline festivals and perform for thousands of devoted fans. In Europe, they became a staple at major events such as Hellfest, Wacken Open Air, Graspop Metal Meeting and Brutal Assault. Their electrifying performances cemented their reputation as one of progressive metal’s most unmissable live acts – and now, they are set to reclaim that stage on the upcoming European Tour supporting Jinjer, that runs from January till March 2026.
GONG Return With New Single ‘Stars In Heaven’ + New Music Video
New Album Bright Spirit Coming In 2026
Legendary psych outfit Gong are back today their new single ‘Stars In Heaven’ alongside a brand new music video created by Drain Hope.
The band have also teased the release of their new album which fans will see in 2026 and shared the album’s name – Bright Spirit.
“It’s such an eclectic record,” says singer and guitarist Kavus Torabi. “This is the most colourful and kaleidoscopic album so far from this incarnation of the band. There are Eastern-infused epics, long instrumental jazz-inspired sections, meditative and cosmic detours and blistering, incendiary psychedelic rock. When picking the first song to be released, it has felt as if there’s an extra weight on the choice, as if the song somehow has to represent the whole album.”
Watch The New Video For ‘Stars In Heaven’, Created By Drain Hope https://youtu.be/qeLwxyLJTZE
Lyrically it expands on the idea that the world is as you are. “If you are a cynical, defensive or suspicious person, then that’s the world you’ll inhabit,” continues Kavus. “You’ll see mean-spirited behaviour and selfishness all around you but it’s always a choice. I think perhaps some people forget that. That’s not the world I live in, nor would I want to. It’s a sad old world for sure but it’s also a beautiful one bursting with hope, possibility, wonder and magic in every single moment.”
Stream/Download The New Single ‘Stars In Heaven’ https://orcd.co/stars_in_heaven
‘Stars In Heaven’ is the first single to be released from the new album Bright Spirit which will be released in 2026 on Kscope. Bright Spirit continues the legendary Gong catalogue – an extensive and acclaimed collection of releases that has seen Gong produce over 30 studio albums during a career spanning more than 50 years, since the band was founded in 1970 by the late Daevid Allen.
Metal Blade Records Welcomes to Its Roster, Greek Black Metal Titans YOTH IRIA
Metal Blade Records is proud to announce the signing of Yoth Iria, one of Greece’s most revered and influential contemporary black metal acts. Founded by veterans of the Hellenic extreme metal scene, Yoth Iria embody the dark mysticism, grandeur, and spiritual intensity that have defined Greece’s unique contribution to the genre, while adding their own distinctive twist.
“This new chapter with Metal Blade Records marks not only a huge step forward but also a true milestone in our journey. It is a great honor for us to join the roster of such an iconic label and stand alongside so many legendary bands.“, comments the band.
The band is currently working on their new studio album, set for release in spring 2026 via Metal Blade Records. Fans can expect a monumental and atmospheric continuation of Yoth Iria’s legacy, pushing the boundaries of black metal with renewed creative vigor.
“Yoth Iria represent everything that makes the Hellenic black metal tradition so enduring: atmosphere, mysticism, and uncompromising artistic spirit. We are thrilled to welcome them into the Metal Blade family and to help bring their next chapter to the world,” says Markus “Bart” Grasseck, European Label Manager at Metal Blade Records.
Before the new album’s release, Yoth Iria will embark on a European tour as direct support to Nailed to Obscurity throughout November and December 2025.
WHITECHAPEL Presents “Prisoner 666” Video
WHITECHAPEL is pleased to present their new video for “Prisoner 666.” The track comes off of the band’s Hymns In Dissonance full-length, released earlier this year on Metal Blade Records.
Comments vocalist Phil Bozeman, “‘Prisoner 666’ was the first song we wrote and musically feels like the 2014/2021 WHITECHAPEL morphing back into the 2006-2010 WHITECHAPEL and continuing the 2006-2010 era for the rest of the album. This is the beginning of the narrative of ‘the last living son’ of the Father Of Lies coming to be. Relinquishing his faith, religion, burning the church, and serving Satan, who he believes is his father.”
Adds guitarist Alex Wade, “It’s got heavy ‘Saw Is The Law’ [from the band’s 2014 Our Endless War full-length] vibes in the opening groove; it’s like we took that song and made it more epic and melodic. The ‘beats per minute’ are pretty similar to ‘Saw….’”
Watch WHITECHAPEL’s “Prisoner 666” video https://youtu.be/YJ0bofXlfyw
WHITECHAPEL’s Hymns In Dissonance finds the band reinventing themselves, going darker, deeper, and heavier than ever before. Revolver lauded “a blistering attack of ground-fissuring blasts, terror-thrashed guitar melodies and guts-hucking mosh sections.” Metal Injection concurred noting, “it’s heavy as shit, it’s unrelenting, and it will destroy you.” MetalSucks championed, “one of WHITECHAPEL’s heaviest offerings since the glory days of The Somatic Defilement and This Is Exile,” adding, “It captures that same raw energy and mouth-frothing rage in a way that… hasn’t been seen for quite some time, but with a new and improved modern twist borne of the nearly twenty years of experience they have accumulated since then,” while Blabbermouth hailed the band’s “…white-knuckle, weaponized deathcore with brains, brawn, and a point to prove. Hold on to your helmets.”
The record earned the #2 position on Billboard’s Current Hard Rock Albums chart, #3 on Independent Label Current Albums chart, #4 on the Current Rock Albums chart and #7 on the Digital Albums chart upon its first week of release.
Hymns In Dissonance is available now on CD, vinyl, and digital formats.
https://lnk.to/HymnsInDissonance
KEVIN SULLIVAN and STUART JOEL NUGGETT ’I’M BARRED AGAIN’
“I’m barred again” is a drinking song for the drinking season that is just around the corner. Well it’s a song about not drinking too much or, that’s right, you’ll be singing, “I’m barred again”.
Kevin Sullivan and the Sulli-Vans have toured and covered lots of miles over the last few years including many shows in Australia’s’ last frontier, The Northern Territory. “I’m barred again” is an exciting collaboration Kevin Sullivan undertook with two musicians. The first, an amazing indigenous singer/songwriter Stuart Joel Nuggett, from Elliott in the NT who currently resides in Alice Springs and the second musician, none other than a member of The Sulli-Vans, KJ Sullivan, Kevin’s son who has performed all over Australia.
This is the first song KJ has written and as he comes of age as a performer and as a young man, this song is a gentle reminder about the excesses in life. It’s a fun drinking song, however it’s also a reminder to us all that we are not invincible.
The song is about a guy who is barred from every bar in town, the cops, his mates and even his girlfriend all hate him, he has nowhere to sleep, so he sleeps with his dog outside and yet he keeps singing, “I’m not sure what I done”
I think both in our youth and when we get older, we sometimes turn to alcohol. Our friend in the song just keeps spiralling down and he doesn’t seem to see how his mental health is affected. The line when he sings, “Well I don’t care what they think and I’m still gonna drink, and no-ones gonna slow me down”,
ARIA award winning producer Matt Fell had all three singers/songwriters in his Wilder Tasmania studios to put the track down with Kevin and Stuart singing as a duet and KJ playing lead guitar and also providing harmonies and backing vocals. “I’m barred again” is uniquely Australian but also has a little Toby Keith feel to it as well. “This song is a lot of fun to perform LIVE and although it has an upbeat, catchy hook, it also paints a message we all need to heed, have fun, but not too much or it’s “I’m barred again” time for you.
“I’m barred again” is the first single to be released on what will be Kevin Sullivan’s’ third original album, due out in April 2026. There are several collaborations on the new album and after a challenging year at the start of 2025 where Kevin and The Sulli-Vans were unable to work or tour, this new single “I’m barred again” is just the right medicine to get this unique Australian country singing family back in front of audiences who have grown to love their stories, songs and stage presence.
Kevin’s new 2026 album will follow on from his success with his second Album “Threeways” that hit Number 1 on the ARIA Australian Country Song Charts two weeks in a row in June 2024.
Kevin Sullivan’s new album is also due for release year and audiences can expect songs telling the stories of real people, places and causes that have inspired the singer songwriter in his music.
Find Kevin Sullivan on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevinsullosullivan
Instagram: https://instagram.com/kevinsullosullivan
Website: https://kevinsullivanmusic.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9EGWB5qYcA45to9pqP2GhA
ZAC CROSS BAND TURN WEDDING VOWS INTO COUNTRY GOLD WITH NEW SINGLE & VIDEO ‘PROMISE’
Country rockers Zac Cross Band return with their wholehearted single, ‘Promise’. The first hit of new music from the Queensland 4-piece following their acclaimed debut album The Music Lives On.
Penned by frontman Zac Cross as a surprise wedding gift, ‘Promise’ is a mid-tempo slow burn that walks the line between modern country rock and 90s country nostalgia. “It’s not every day that you make a surprise song for your wife on your wedding day” shares Zac. “I always wanted to do a song for Ashleigh and our special day, and I’ve also always wanted to dedicate a song to her parents as well. But how do I make a song for her on the biggest day of our lives without it being cliche or cringey? Make it for her parents instead!”
From there, the song found its stride. “From the moment I connected the dots to do a song expressing my love for Ash but to direct it at her parents, everything just came together so easily.” That blend of thoughtfulness and charm defines ‘Promise’. It’s the kind of song that reminds you why country music remains the ultimate home for storytelling.
Produced by Jared Adlam (Adam Brand, James Johnston) at Machine Lab Recording, the track captures both the intimacy of its inspiration and the band’s unmistakably modern sound. “Ash loves 90’s country music – Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Garth Brooks – but we also love the newer stuff. Trying to find the sweet spot to feel like both eras of country was the aim of the game.”
In a touching twist, the music video for ‘Promise’ doubles as a glimpse into the couple’s real-life wedding. Directed by Dejavu Photo & Film, the clip chronicles their special day at Hedlow Retreat, Central Queensland.
“The music video for ‘Promise’ is a condensed version of our actual wedding video! Ashleigh had a real vision for what she wanted aesthetically for the big day, as well as what shots to capture, so it really is special to us. I think Tim nailed it and this video is full of all our favourite parts.”
‘Promise’ follows the success of the band’s debut album The Music Lives On, with the title track hitting #7 on the Country Radio Charts and earning multiple editorial playlisting nods on Apple Music. The album and its singles have clocked over 510,000 streams, with the band’s total catalogue now surpassing 800,000 streams across DSPs.
Zac Cross Band are currently wrapping up their Country Got It Right Tour before kicking off 2026 at the Tamworth Country Music Festival – continuing a live run that’s seen them light up stages at Gympie Music Muster, Country Fest Queensland, Boon Lane Country Fest, Baralaba Bash, and more.
“We absolutely live for playing shows” Zac says. “It is by far the best part of being a musician. We wouldn’t know what to do with ourselves if we couldn’t rock out to a rowdy crowd every other weekend.”
Having shared stages with The Wolfe Brothers, Jon Stevens and Dragon, Zac Cross Band have proven themselves one of the most exciting rising names in Australian country rock – balancing authenticity, grit, and heart in equal measure.
With ‘Promise’, the band adds another deeply personal chapter to their story. A love song disguised as a thank-you note, it’s the kind of country anthem that reminds you just how powerful honesty can be.
SHOW DATES:
Saturday 22nd November – Great Western Hotel – Rockhampton, QLD
Friday 16th January – TCMF – Longyard Hotel – Tamworth, NSW
Sunday 18th January – TCMF – Longyard Hotel – Tamworth, NSW
Monday 19th January – TCMF – Longyard Hotel – Tamworth, NSW
Tuesday 20th January – TCMF – Longyard Hotel – Tamworth, NSW
Friday 6th February – SMOKED Festival – Rockhampton, QLD
Saturday 7th February – Maraboon Tavern – Emerald, QLD
Saturday 21st February – Big Beer Festival – Bundaberg, QLD
Saturday 28th February – Beyond Blue Gala – Clermont, QLD
Friday 13th March – Grand View Hotel – Bowen, QLD
Saturday 14th March – Seabreeze Hotel – Mackay, QLD
Saturday 21st March – St. Patrick’s Day Races – Springsure, QLD
Friday 17th April – Dirt n Dust Fest – Julia Creek, QLD
Saturday 18th April – Dirt n Dust Fest – Julia Creek, QLD
Saturday 22nd August – Coal & Country Festival – Moura, QLD
CONNECT WITH ZAC CROSS BAND
PEACH PRC SHARES HYPER-FEMME, CAMP NEW SINGLE ‘MISS EROTICA’
“’Miss Erotica’ is my love letter to the strip club and the showgirls who raised me in my early adulthood. These women were mothers, nurses, artists, athletes and so on, but in the club, they were ‘Miss Erotica’. There are girls I cherish deeply who still work at those clubs and I had them in mind while making this song. I will always love my sisters, the midnight ballerinas, the Miss Nudes and the Miss Erotica’s of the world.” – Peach PRC
Global pop sensation Peach PRC unveils the bold new single ‘Miss Erotica’, a love letter to the strip club and showgirls who raised her in her early adulthood. The single is accompanied by a spectacular high-fantasy strip-club fever dream visual directed by visionary filmmaker Maris Jones (Chappell Roan, Gucci, Apple, Netflix, Valentino) and features James Lance (Ted Lasso).
‘Miss Erotica’ was written in LA with Ryan Linvill (Rosie, Role Model, King Princess, Pink Panthers, Olivia Rodrigo) and Maya Kurchner (Anitta, Chappell Roan, Oliver O’Brien). Produced by Space Primates (Stray Kids, Fifty Fifty, Joe Jonas, UPSAHL) between LA and Byron Bay, the song ushers in a new and daring era for Peach PRC in her globally-building pop trajectory following on from the release of Sweet n’ Low’ earlier this year, once again rewriting the pop rule book and previewing what’s to come from this rising star – ambitious, bright, bold, an unapologetic celebration of empowerment, and artistry, the evolution of Peach PRC as both a global pop voice and authentic storyteller.
Peach PRC shares, “I remember watching the ‘Miss Nude Australia’ competition every year at the Crazy Horse when I worked there. They taught me what it really means to put on a show. There was fire breathing, ballet, acrobatics, arial – it was camp, it was theatric, it was a sequined, rhinestone pageant show of some of the most beautiful and talented women I’d ever seen. The outside world had no idea about this underground competitive sport that I was privileged enough to witness. It’s something I would’ve had in my playlist back then and performed to, so I hope someone gets to throw ass to this song on a pole in a seedy underground club somewhere. I will always love my sisters, the midnight ballerinas, the Miss Nudes and the Miss Erotica’s of the world.”
Peach PRC imagined the full video treatment, visual world, and mystical creatures at the heart of the visual narrative. Peach PRC collaborated with Brooklyn-based creative force and visionary filmmaker Maris Jones (Chappell Roan, Gucci, Apple, Netflix, Valentino) and producer Lavinia Jones Wright from I Play Different Productions (Chappell Roan, Bon Iver, The Rolling Stones, Phoebe Bridges) to bring the love letter of ‘Miss Erotica’ to life. Together, the powerhouse female team delivered a rebellious, shimmering celebration of erotic performance, surreal queer glamour, with Peach PRC’s signature hyper-feminine universe with bold visual storytelling, along with the cinematic spectacle of centaurs, midnight ballerina’s and Peach PRC’s fantastical strip tease.
Film director Maris Jones says, “the minute I heard ‘centaur’ and ‘fantastical strip tease,’ I was sold. Projects like this excite me so much, getting to create something magical with such a dedicated crew is the best.”
WATCH THE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO ‘MISS EROTICA’
Peach PRC has solidified herself as one of Australia’s most compelling pop storytellers, celebrated for her emotionally rich, unfiltered and vulnerable honest songwriting, magnetic personality, irreverent humor, and online cultural footprint, she is quickly becoming one of Australia’s most influential new-gen pop visionaries, cultivating a deeply engaged community while continuing to push pop into a bold and theatrical territory.
With over 1 million streams for her latest single ‘Sweet n’ Low’, over 230 million streams across the discography, over 27 million video views and over 2 billion social views, Peach PRC is still riding a high from her debut EP ‘Manic Dream Pixie’ debuting at #1 on the ARIA Album Charts and amassing over tens of millions of streams globally. Favorite singles from the EP, ‘F U Goodbye’ and ‘Perfect For You’ earned Peach PRC #68 and #63, respectively in triple j’s Hottest 100, and a Rolling Stone Award for Song Of The Year. The single ‘Like A Girl Does’ was voted #81 in the Hottest 100 poll. The EP received glowing praise from Billboard, Vogue, NME, Consequence, Paper Magazine, Rolling Stone highlighted “her original, nostalgic pop-inspired songs,” and Wonderland hailed the EP as “an honest and powerful introduction to her artistry.” The EP also garnered multiple ARIA Award Nominations (Best Pop, Best Video, Best Artwork) and won her Music Act of the Year at the TikTok Awards in 2023.
Peach PRC has taken her spectacular explosive live show across the globe recently returning from North America for a sold-out headline tour, and performance at All Things Go Music Festival in Washington D.C. and New York City. Peach PRC sold-out her debut headline tour across Australia, North America, and the UK, while also gracing the stage at Splendour in the Grass, Falls Festival, Spilt Milk, and Spin Off Festival, plus a high-profile support slot for Blackpink in London’s Hyde Park.
PEACH PRC NEW SINGLE ‘MISS EROTICA’ OUT NOW ON ISLAND RECORDS AUSTRALIA
ABOUT PEACH PRC
Peach PRC crafts honest, meticulously observed pop that balances vulnerability, humour, and emotional clarity. Emerging from bedroom songwriting to a growing global audience, she has established a distinct voice in modern pop – one defined by candid storytelling, sharp perspective, and the ability to turn personal experience into universal connection.
Peach PRC has received over 167 million TikTok likes, a combined audience of 3 million social followers, generated over 230 million combined global artist streams, and attracted acclaim from Billboard, Rolling Stone, Vogue Australia, BuzzFeed, Consequence, NME, Paper, Refinery29 and more.
Launching her TikTok page in 2019, she organically attracted an audience by posting everything from funny moments to self-care advice and, of course, music. A snippet of her first single ‘Blondes’ played over the background of a video where she discussed the track’s meaning, and it went viral. The full version eventually amassed over 20 million Spotify streams as she maintained this momentum with the follow-up ‘Colourblind’, racking up another 6 million Spotify streams. Along the way, she carefully cultivated an undeniable style with a twist. That twist defines her debut single ‘Josh’, the ultimate kiss-off to the worst ex ever and has already received over 36 million streams and counting. Peach PRC followed up the success of ‘Josh’ with her self-proclaimed girly camp pop single ‘Symptomatic’, receiving over 14 million plus combined streams to date, and ending 2021 with ‘Heavy’, which has tallied 19 million plus combined streams. In 2022, Peach PRC released the liberating single ‘God Is A Freak’ and had everyone talking including pop music titans Billie Eilish, Finneas, and Justin Tranter. Followed up by ‘Forever Drunk’, where she teamed up with GRAMMY Award-nominated powerhouse songwriter Bonnie McKee.
Peach PRC captivated audiences and tastemakers with the ‘Manic Dream Pixie’ EP. Beyond piling up millions of streams, it debuted at #1 on the ARIA Albums Chart. The chart-topping EP included singles ‘Kinda Famous’, ‘F U Goodbye’, and ‘Perfect For You’, which notably pays tribute to Paris Hilton’s gold-certified 2006 smash ‘Stars Are Blind’. Among the EP’s acclaim, she received multiple ARIA Award nominations (Best Pop, Best Video, and Best Artwork) and a nomination at the TikTok Awards (Music Act of The Year). Peach PRC has been travelling the globe, performing for a sold-out debut headline tour with stops across Australia, North America, and the United Kingdom. She has supported Blackpink in London’s Hyde Park, Yungblud on his Australian Tour, and performed at Splendour in the Grass, Spilt Milk, Falls Festival, Spin Off Festival and more recently All Things Go Festival (US), and Bludfest (UK).
TYLER RAMSEY AND CARL BROEMEL RELEASE SECOND PAIR OF SINGLES OFF FORTHCOMING ALBUM CELESTUN OUT JANUARY 15“ELIZABETH BROWN” AND “SAIL AWAY” (NEIL YOUNG COVER) STREAMING NOW – LISTEN
CELESTUN TOUR ANNOUNCED FOR EARLY 2026. KICKING OFF AT 30A SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL IN FLORIDA. PLUS, TYLER RAMSEY JOINED NEIL YOUNG, BECK, LANA DEL REY, AND MORE AT 2025’S HARVEST MOON GATHERING LAST MONTH
Following September’s announcement of their collaborative debut album Celestun, singer-songwriter-guitarists Tyler Ramsey and Carl Broemel are excited to share the second pair of singles from the forthcoming release, the stunning instrumental track “Elizabeth Brown” and a brilliant cover of Neil Young’s “Sail Away,” both out now.
LISTEN TO “ELIZABETH BROWN” AND “SAIL AWAY”
LISTEN TO “CELESTUN” & “NEVERMIND”
WATCH OFFICIAL TRACK VISUALIZERS
PRE-ORDER/PRE-SAVE CELESTUN
Having been friends and occasional touring partners for well over a decade, Celestun, out January 15, 2026, on their own Duo Quest Records via Tone Tree Music, encapsulates the duo’s singular camaraderie, merging My Morning Jacket guitarist Broemel’s classically trained virtuosity with Ramsey’s nimble fingerstyle picking to create a predominantly instrumental song cycle recorded almost entirely on acoustic guitars. “Elizabeth Brown” and “Sail Away” follow the release of the album’s first two singles, “Celestun” and “Nevermind.”
“Elizabeth Brown” was the first instrumental song Ramsey ever wrote, originally appearing on his 2004 solo debut. Having performed the song together on tour in the past, Ramsey and Broemel decided it would be fun to revisit and record a new version featuring both of them for Celestun.
The pair also wanted to include a cover on the album and ultimately landed on Neil Young’s “Sail Away,” an underappreciated gem from his 1977 Oceanside/Countryside sessions that later appeared on the acoustic side of 1979’s landmark Rust Never Sleeps. “Carl and I have both been on stage with Neil and had the chance to play songs with him,” says Ramsey. “We both have our own little Neil Young connection that we thought would be fun to celebrate.”
Young has long been a profound influence on both artists, and “Sail Away” is among their favorite songs of his, making it a natural choice for the record. “Neil Young is such a huge part of everything that I love,” adds Broemel. “I don’t know if he’ll ever hear our version, but to me, it feels like our tribute to him and all that he’s given to us.
Last month, Ramsey had the privilege of joining 2025’s Harvest Moon Gathering benefiting The Painted Turtle and The Bridge School, joining Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts, Beck, Lana Del Rey and more for a truly inspiring evening of music and community.
Following the release of their album, the duo will embark on a 26-city tour, kicking off on January 16 at the 30A Songwriters Festival in Santa Rosa Beach, FL making stops across the country. All dates listed below.
Best known of course as guitarist in My Morning Jacket, Louisville, KY’s Carl Broemel has released a series of solo recordings over the past two decades, as well as such collaborative efforts as …Thanks Y’all, a 2023 live album recorded over five shows performed with Athens, GA’s Futurebirds. Meanwhile, Asheville, NC-based singer-songwriter-guitarist Tyler Ramsey has earned praise for his former role as songwriter and lead guitarist in Band of Horses as well as an evolving solo body of work that includes 2024’s acclaimed New Lost Ages, hailed by Americana UK as “a gentle indie-folk gem.”
The two first met when Band of Horses supported My Morning Jacket on tour in 2012. Broemel marveled at Ramsey’s technique, the sound, chord voicings, and deep feelings he would pull out of his guitar. They discussed recording during a pair of well-received 2019 tours together, but were challenged to find times when both were free from other obligations. The stars finally lined up during the pandemic, the compulsory lockdown allowing them to begin exchanging tracks.
“Since we were both at home, we started sending songs back and forth, and the album just kind of built from there,” Broemel says. “Tyler would send me one track of guitar, I sat with it and then wrote a whole other guitar part that just kind of weaved in and out of what he did. We kept doing it and slowly accumulated more and more pieces of music.”
“I sent him a couple of songs that I was messing around with,” Tyler Ramsey says, “and when he sent back his ideas on top of them, it was just magical. Like, exactly what was needed to fill in the spaces that needed to be filled in.”
In 2024, Broemel and Ramsey returned to the project in person at Broemel’s home in Nashville. Though conceived and begun in the most modern way possible, the album has the feel of a lost private stock classic akin to the work of iconic acoustic guitarists like Clarence White, John Fahey, Michael Hedges, Leo Kottke, Bert Jansch, and John Renbourn. Stark yet intricately arranged pieces such as “In The Willows” and “Elizabeth Brown” are rich with a great depth of feeling and artistic invention, expertly encapsulating the two veteran guitarist-songwriters’ mutual admiration and effortless compatibility. Music at its most elemental, with Celestun, Broemel, and Ramsey strip away artifice to unlock and explore deeply personal themes of wanderlust and familial love, of the bonds of friendship and the gradual accumulation of creative ideas.
“We don’t step on each other’s toes,” says Broemel, “we kind of fit together like puzzle pieces. Maybe that sounds grandiose, but that’s how it feels to me when we’re playing. We don’t even have to talk about it.”
“We just mesh together in a way that I can’t even really explain,” says Ramsey. “I feel like there’s some magical connection between our two things, it just makes me smile and satisfies some itch as far as things that I would like to hear on the music that I write. I think he feels the same way about what I do. When I put a part to one of his songs, we both have this feeling like that was exactly what was missing.”
CONNECT WITH TYLER RAMSEY & CARL BROEMEL WEBSITE
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YNG MARTYR RECLAIMS THE YARD WITH TRAP-INFUSED TAKE ON KELIS’ ICONIC HIT ‘MILKSHAKES’
With over 350 million streams to his name, YNG Martyr reinforces his rep as one of Australia’s most fearless rap innovators with ‘Milkshakes’, a slick, high-energy flip of Kelis’ cult classic that bridges Y2K nostalgia and new-wave trap energy, out Friday, November 14.
LISTEN TO ‘MILKSHAKES’ HERE
Inspired in a flash of cosmic timing during a late-night snack run in LA, ‘Milkshakes’ fuses YNG’s razor-sharp, unapologetic flow with the raw, hyper-charged energy of the original track, bringing a fresh and ferocious new edge to a cultural staple. The result is a track that feels both nostalgic and boldly future-facing; a statement from an artist rewriting the rules in real time.
“Me and my producer Tate had been in the studio for hours trying to flip a nostalgic childhood hit into something gritty with Detroit drums,” YNG Martyr shares. “Nothing was hitting, so we took a break and walked to 7-Eleven in LA. As soon as the doors opened, ‘Milkshake’ by Kelis started playing. We just looked at each other like, ‘Yeah, that’s the one.’ The whole song from there was basically a freestyle – just me locking in and letting it all spill out. That’s what makes Milkshakes feel so raw.”
Hailing from Townsville, Queensland, YNG Martyr built his movement from the ground up – carving out a global presence in rap long before his hometown even had a scene to support it. With early inspiration from deep-cut SoundCloud and Bandcamp artists, his sonic DNA blends jerk, rage, and new-wave experimental rap with the storytelling pedigree of Mac Miller and Earl Sweatshirt.
“I realised early on I wouldn’t make a dent locally, so I built my fanbase overseas in the US and Europe. Mac and Earl set the bar for me lyrically – those are big shoes to fill. Good thing I’m a size 14.”
YNG Martyr’s global footprint is undeniable – from touring across the UK, EU and US and sharing stages with Iann Dior and DC the Don, to appearances at Spilt Milk, Falls Festival, and SXSW. His influence has also crossed into pop culture and sports, penning ‘Still Humble’ for WWE champion Logan Paul, now one of the most recognisable theme songs in wrestling.
From underground buzz to global takeover, YNG Martyr’s run speaks for itself – ‘Nike Ticks’ storming past 90 million streams, ‘BURR’ lighting up TikTok with 265k creations, and ‘GLEAMING’ has been making noise worldwide, its slick production and emotional punch turning first-time listeners into instant fans.
Through his fearless experimentation, YNG Martyr continues to dominate the underground while carving a global lane entirely his own.
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BEN PROVEST SHARES HEARTFELT NEW SINGLE + VIDEO
A stirring blend of atmospheric folk textures, heartfelt lyricism and glowing charm, Australian singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Ben Provest today unveils a brand new single and music video Trying To Be Brave. An open-vein ode to heartbreak that also channels introspection born in real-world places, Trying To Be Brave came to life during a month-long residency in a tiny fishing village in Iceland, connecting Ben’s Australian roots with a stunning sense of peace and tranquillity in the face of the unfamiliar.
Absorbed with artists like Garrett Kato, Harrison Storm and Woodlock during the writing phase for Trying To Be Brave, Ben’s brand new single serenely dazzles with a sense of wonder and freedom, anchored by authentic delivery and luminous folk textures, with the latter also reflecting both some real-world experiences as well as the Icelandic landscape that physically surrounded Ben during the song’s creation. “I actually made the song completely by myself while living at The Fish Factory artist residency in Stöðvarfjörður, Iceland,” Ben explains. “I recorded it in Studio Silo, an incredible space built as a labour of love and filled with restored vintage gear. The upright piano was recorded with a pair of Coles 4038 ribbon microphones, and the acoustic guitar and lead vocal with a U67-style condenser. The instruments include my Martin 000-18M acoustic guitar, a Roland Juno 106, the cheap banjo that was laying around the studio, a Fender Precision Bass, and programmed drums. I recorded, mixed, and mastered everything myself in Logic Pro X.”
“At its heart, the song was inspired by someone I was close to, Amelia,” adds Ben. “We broke up after living together in Melbourne during COVID, and I wrote this with her in mind. But more broadly, it became about letting go of fear – being brave enough to trust again, to follow your instincts, and to live an authentic life.”
Composing the single during his month-long residency in the tiny fishing Icelandic village, surrounded by dramatic fjords and vast volcanic landscapes, Ben also fittingly found inspiration for the accompanying music video for Trying To Be Brave while immersed in the spectacular backdrops provided by Iceland’s isolated but opulently beautiful great outdoors. “The video was a simple, spontaneous idea,” shares Ben, “just me walking and singing the song live in one take in the wilderness of the eastern fjords of Iceland. I wanted it to feel free, unpolished, and honest. One of the visual artists at the residency, Chi Chai, helped me capture some of the footage. It was really just about flow, letting the environment and the song breathe together.”
Truly a man and an artist of the world, Ben’s creative journey to date has leapt from him producing records for local Melbourne artists Nikolas Lee, Noaksey and Amber Scates, through to working in Los Angeles under the mentorship of acclaimed Hollywood film composer Christopher Young, writing music for film and television, “which has been an incredible experience,” shares Ben. A gifted singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer, Ben’s ability to blend cinematic folk with ambient storytelling results in creations that are simultaneously intimate and immersive, drawing you in with endless warmth and emotional depth; a fact that has only amplified following his 2024 artist residency at The Fish Factory in Stöðvarfjörður, Iceland. Offering a once-in-a-lifetime experience both creatively and personally for Ben, it would be this very residency that would also spark his latest solo sonic chapter, living alongside a small community of international artists against the stark beauty of the Icelandic landscape, and ultimately setting the wheels in motion for the writing and recording of Trying To Be Brave.
A graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) and Berklee College of Music, Ben has also ticked off performances along the way with the likes of BABBA, the internationally-acclaimed ABBA tribute act, and also recently formed a new collaborative band project Brotherly with Johnny Cattini, Max Challis, Armando Baeza, and Connor Frawley, with the project set to release new music in early 2026. But in the meantime with the release today of Trying To Be Brave, Ben’s authentic intimacy and piercing sensibilities for sweeping folk under a modern lens takes full flight, offering a heartfelt sonic port in the storm for troubling times along with genuine connection.
“Music has always been my sanctuary,” Ben concludes, “the place I turn to no matter what’s happening in life. It’s how I express things that can’t be put into words. I started writing songs young, and over the years it’s become a way to explore emotion and connection.”
“Trying To Be Brave is really about that: letting go of self-consciousness, following your heart, and trusting where the journey leads.”
Trying To Be Brave is out today.
Follow Ben Provest
AUDIO REIGN Adelaide Rockers Release Compilation of Ballads Songs Of Love And Loss
Adelaide’s Audio Reign have mastered the rock ballad. So much so they have just released their first compilation of ballads, Songs Of Love And Loss.
The lead track from the EP is the heartbreaking, Gone.
The bands signature blend of diverse emotions and energies are on display throughout the track from its soft, evocative beginnings through to its powerful build up. Gone is a rollercoaster of emotions that hark back to a time when ballads like this gave you goosebumps.
Listen to Gone here
https://lnk.to/VLbaUJ
Watch the video here
https://youtu.be/97CKMMQ496o
Band frontman Jake Fleming says of the track “When you love someone so deeply that their absence feels like a missing piece of your soul, the emotional weight of the emptiness & feeling lost and alone are very real. Gone captures the raw depth of the heartbreak, the yearning, the silence, and the longing for the return of the love of your life.”Songs Of Love And Loss is available now
https://lnk.to/whHRpD
Tracklisting
Gone
Shining Light
Angel
Senses
How This Ends
Rocket Man
Gone also is the final song on Audio Reign’s ARIA Charting album The Perfect Sea
https://lnk.to/CYk5TT
Catch Audio Reign next at
Wed, Nov 19: Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide – supporting Hybrid Theory
Sun, Nov 23: Heavy Fest On The Harbour, Sydney – Tix here
Follow Audio Reign
https://linktr.ee/audioreign
MYRATH Announces New Single “Until The End” Featuring Elize Ryd
Upcoming Album “Wilderness Of Mirrors” Out March 27
Legendary Tunisian-French progressive metal band Myrath are back with a stunning new single, “Until The End,” featuring Elize Ryd, the powerhouse vocalist of Amaranthe.
Released alongside the official announcement of their highly anticipated seventh studio album, “Wilderness of Mirrors”, the single marks the beginning of a bold new era for the band.
“Until The End” is a cinematic duet that explores the fragile line between truth and illusion, blending Myrath’s signature Middle Eastern melodies with arena-sized metal and soaring choruses. The collaboration with Elize Ryd adds a dramatic, emotive layer, making the track an instant highlight of the upcoming album.
LISTEN TO THE NEW SINGLE https://myrath.lnk.to/UntilTheEnd
WATCH THE NEW MUSIC VIDEO https://youtu.be/F8SO-voIeCI
“Wilderness of Mirrors” will be released March 27, 2026, and features 10 brand-new, emotionally charged tracks that continue Myrath’s evolution of blending oriental influences with progressive and power metal. Fans can expect a journey through fantasy and reality, from haunting melodies to thunderous riffs and cinematic arrangements.
To celebrate the release, Myrath will embark on a major European tour starting in April 2026, bringing “Wilderness of Mirrors” to fans across 16 countries.
With millions of views on their cinematic music videos, critically acclaimed albums, and performances at festivals such as Hellfest, Wacken, and Sweden Rock, Myrath continue to captivate audiences worldwide. “Wilderness of Mirrors” represents the band at their most dynamic and authentic, a milestone in their journey toward becoming one of metal’s most legendary acts.
Pre-orders for “Wilderness of Mirrors” and tickets for the European tour are available now. Don’t miss the next chapter in Myrath’s epic musical journey.
PRE-ORDER THE NEW ALBUM
https://myrath.lnk.to/WildernessOfMirrors
SABATON Release New Video For “A Tiger Among Dragons” From 11th Studio Album ‘Legends’
SABATON have released the latest single and accompanying video, “A Tiger Among Dragons,” from their 11th studio album LEGENDS that came out October 17 via Better Noise Music.
Listen to “A Tiger Among Dragons” https://sabaton.lnk.to/atad
watch the epic video https://youtu.be/auPilyhiDDc
For “A Tiger Among Dragons,” SABATON drew upon inspiration for the song based on Lü Bu, known as the “Flying General,” one of the fiercest warriors in ancient China. During the chaos of the late Han Dynasty, he rose to legendary status with unmatched strength, insane skill with his halberd Sky Piercer and his lightning-fast horse, Red Hare. His duel at Hulao Pass, where he took on the best fighters of the era, sealed his place as a true legend. He’s the kind of larger-than-life character you want to write a song about – brutal battles, epic duels, betrayal and raw power.
“Our song ‘A Tiger Among Dragons’ has a powerful, raw energy to it, but with a more melodic edge,” says frontman Joakim Brodén. “I like to think that it tells Lü Bu’s story with intensity and emotion—it’s epic, but there’s also a sense of drama and depth that really brings the legend to life!”
Bassist Pär Sundström continues, “When Joakim showed me what he, Chris and Thobbe had been working on with this track, I immediately felt that it was a song connected to Asia. The drumming reminded me of those big shows with loads of synchronized drummers. We then needed to find an Asian legend, and although there are many, we decided on China’s Lü Bu. He was the kind of warrior who felt more like a myth than a man, and when we saw how he was projected in comics, games and such, we felt that he was deserving of an anthem. We couldn’t resist turning his legend into a song, so ‘A Tiger Among Dragons’ was born!”
For the “A Tiger Among Dragons” music video, the band wanted to create something that looked seriously epic and unmistakably SABATON. They teamed up with specialized costume designers to craft ancient Chinese armor that was inspired by the lore but was also tailored to each band member so they could play their instruments in it. Shot in Belgrade, Serbia (mostly in front of a green screen with layers of CGI and special effects included afterwards), the band is seen backing up Joakim Brodén as he inspires an ancient Chinese army. To help them, they also have two sorceresses who can summon flaming guitars from thin air, and in the end, they get a fiery ally.
“We set out to make this video completely over the top,” says the band, “and honestly, we think we nailed it!”
Legends is out now
FINGER ELEVEN Release New Single, “The Mountain”
From First Studio Album In A Decade ‘Last Night On Earth’
Album Out Now via Better Noise Music
One of the best-selling Canadian bands of all time, multi-platinum band FINGER ELEVEN (@finger_eleven) have always amalgamated their musical influences into their rock mix.
They acknowledge that Phil Collins and Genesis were a big melodic influence on LAST NIGHT ON EARTH, which is out now via Better Noise Music, their first with the label and seventh album overall.
The album’s fourth single, “The Mountain” Has just been released
Listen to it https://fingereleven.lnk.to/mountain
Watch the video https://youtu.be/r2ow-n7d2LA
FINGER ELEVEN is propelled by a fresh musical vigor. “As we were making LAST NIGHT ON EARTH, there was this feeling that we were making a big Rock record,” guitarist Rick Jackett recalls. “We had done that early in our career, and then we veered away from it. But it was time to go back and embrace that bigness of the sound. Even the soft songs sound big.”
Although FINGER ELEVEN excel at writing four-minute songs, guitarist James Black feels that the majestic “The Mountain” feels like a 7-minute epic squeezed into that time, with music as epic as the lyrics are. “The setting is a fantastical one. At its core, it’s a song about trying to find the music,” explains frontman Scott Anderson. “The ultimate search is you’re finally at the end of it. When I step back it’s talking about our own journey, but it’s dressed up in a different way. It’s the idea of just trying to find one more cool idea, and hoping it’s not the last one.”
Last Night On Earth is out now https://fingereleven.lnk.to/lnoe
PRIMORDIAL Live In New York City
Out Now On Metal Blade Records; “Victory Has 1000 Fathers, Defeat Is An Orphan” Video Now Playing
Dublin, Ireland-based Pagan metal legends PRIMORDIAL today unveil their Live In New York City full-length. Recorded earlier this year at Ridgewood, New York’s TV Eye, the stunning collection spans the band’s now legendary catalog with tracks from Spirit The Earth Aflame, The Gathering Wilderness, To The Nameless Dead, Redemption At The Puritan’s Hand, Exile Amongst The Ruins, and their most recent release, How It Ends.
Comments vocalist A.A. Nemtheanga, “Live In New York City, a title that sort of speaks for itself, something every band probably wants in their discography, right? Who knows, we may not be on this mortal coil for that much longer. When might some new music be on the horizon? Who can tell? But when we heard the results of this incredibly well mixed show which captured perfectly the passion, commitment, and fury of a special night – something that doesn’t happen often – we thought, ‘what the hell, let’s put it out there.’
“Victory is traditional in the true meaning of the word, traditional metal in sound but also steeped in traditional Irish music at the same time. An epic rabble rouser, a warrior’s journey, death, sacrifice, and path to the otherworlds set in some distant Celtic past….”
Watch PRIMORDIAL’s video of “Victory Has 1000 Fathers, Defeat Is An Orphan” from the performance https://youtu.be/lM0XAvxogv8
PRIMORDIAL’s Live In New York City is available digitally at: metalblade.com/primordial
https://www.primordialofficial.com
Metal Blade Records Launches Limited Run of Erik Rutan / Mana Recording Studios Merch Items
Metal Blade Records has teamed up with renowned artist Vince Locke to create designs for exclusive merchandise that the legendary label will sell for Erik Rutan – guitarist in Cannibal Corpse and famed Producer at MANA RECORDING Studios – who suffered severe damage by Hurricane Helene in 2024.
The below items are Erik Rutan approved and available for fans, with all money collected going directly to Erik to help him replace studio and musical gear for a new Mana Recording Studios– gear that Erik has used to produce a massive list of metal albums over the last two plus decades at Mana Recording.
• Erik Rutan – MANA RECORDING Studios Snap Back Hat
• Erik Rutan – Vince Locke (Signed Print) 11×17
Limited edition 60 signed prints, Vince Locke created and gifted this image, signed by both Vince and Erik
• Erik Rutan – MANA RECORDING Studios T-Shirt
• Erik Rutan – Vince Locke Original Design T-Shirt
Vince Locke created and gifted this image
https://www.metalblade.com/erikrutan
ABOUT ERIK RUTAN – PRODUCER | GUITARIST | VISIONARY:
Erik Rutan is one of extreme metal’s most respected and multi-dimensional forces-renowned not only for his blistering guitar work and songwriting in legendary bands Hate Eternal, Morbid Angel, and Cannibal Corpse, but also as a prolific producer and founder of Mana Recording Studios, where he’s helped shape the sound of death metal for decades.
Rutan began his career in the late ’80s with Ripping Corpse, appearing on their influential Dreaming with the Dead (1991), then playing as a touring guitarist with Morbid Angel for Covenant (1993). Rutan then joined permanently to record the classic albums Domination (1995), Entangled In Chaos (1996), and Gateways To Annihilation (2000). In 1997, he formed Hate Eternal, taking on guitar, vocals, and full creative control. In 2002, Rutan left Morbid Angel to focus on Hate Eternal and Mana Recording Studios. The band’s discography-Conquering the Throne, King of All Kings, I, Monarch, The Perilous Fight, Fury & Flames, Phoenix Amongst the Ashes, Infernus, and Upon Desolate Sands-has cemented Rutan’s reputation as a technical innovator and one of death metal’s most uncompromising architects.
Equally revered behind the console, Rutan opened his recording studio in 1999 and founded Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, FL. The studio has since become a premiere destination for extreme music, hosting sessions for a who’s who of death metal as well as other styles of music. His production, engineering and mixing credits include a staggering list of landmark albums: Cannibal Corpse (Kill, Evisceration Plague, Torture, Red Before Black, Violence Unimagined, Chaos Horrific), Goatwhore (A Haunting Curse, Carving Out the Eyes of God, Blood for the Master, Constricting Rage of the Merciless), Krisiun(Conquerors of Armageddon, Forged In Fury), Soilent Green (Confrontation, Inevitable Collapse in the Presence of Conviction), Madball (Empire, Rebellion), Into The Moat (The Design, The Campaign) Tombs (Savage Gold, The Grand Annihilation) Agnostic Front, The Mountain Goats, Vital Remains, Belphegor, Through the Eyes of the Dead, Rivers of Nihil, Ether Coven, Aeon, Ephel Duath, Nile, Black Fast, Lizzy Borden as well as the entire Hate Eternal catalog among many others.
Known for his precision and intensity in the studio, Rutan is a demanding producer with an ear for both brutality and nuance. “I work musicians very hard, because I want them to exceed their own expectations,” he said in an interview with Mix Magazine. “I believe we all need to be pushed to achieve our greatest moments, whether internally or by an outside source,” he says. “I think most people don’t even realize their own potential, and when pushed in a positive and reassuring and reaffirming fashion, you can capture absolute brilliance.” Rutancontinued… “I really believe in trying to maintain and preserve the integrity of the performances at that moment in time.” Krisiun drummer Max Kolesne enthused, “Erik… was able to get the best out of each one of us… he did a really great job”. His sonic approach balances organic energy with razor-sharp clarity, making his productions and mixes both punishing and refined. GoatwhoreVocalist Sammy Duet and bassist Ben Falgoust noted: “He makes us work really, really, really hard. Erik just knows how to capture our sound, he becomes a fifth member of the band”.
In 2019, after years of collaboration, Rutan started to tour with Cannibal Corpseas touring guitarist and then in 2021 joined as a full-time guitarist, making his recording debut as a member with Violence Unimagined and also Chaos Horrific. He contributed rhythm and lead guitar as well as songwriting on 3 tracks for each album, while also producing, engineering and mixing the albums-earning widespread acclaim. “Erik’s influence and musical knowledge have elevated everything around us,” bassist Alex Webster said. “He brings a work ethic and vision that’s unmatched.”
Despite his commitments to Cannibal Corpse, Rutan remains devoted to Hate Eternal and Mana Recording Studios. “Hate Eternal is my life’s work,” he told Premier Guitar. “And producing-that’s where I channel a different part of my creativity. I want to help bands create the best version of themselves.” With a legacy that spans multiple roles and generations, Rutan continues to define and redefine the sound of extreme metal-both onstage and behind the scenes in the studio.