LED ZEPPELIN REISSUES RULE
Holy crap, have you guys checked out the new Led Zeppelin reissues? I treated my broke journalist arse to the Super Deluxe Box Set versions of Led Zeppelin I and III last week (I’m getting II for my birthday next month), and if you’re a fan I highly recommend getting these. Each comes with a hardcover book with rare photos and press clippings, plus a bonus disc – a full concert in the case of Led Zeppelin I, and a bunch of outtakes and alternate mixes on the others – on both vinyl and CD, as well as a download code for high-definition audio mixes that just have to be heard to be believed. There’s also an individually numbered album cover art print. If you don’t want to spring for the full box set, the albums are also available on vinyl, CD and download. The rest of the studio albums will be released this year and next.
DIAMOND NOIR DEBUT EP
The Diamond Noir debut EP Monsters, recorded last year in LA and produced by Logan Mader (Asking Alexandra, Limp Bizkit, Devildriver, Fear Factory, Soulfly), is set for worldwide release Friday July 4 through all digital music stores and will also be available on CD DigiPak at JB Hi-Fi and all music stores. The first title track single, Monsters, music video will also go live from the band’s YouTube channel on Friday July 4.
RECLINK COMMUNITY CUP PLAYING TIMES
Playing times have been announced for the 2014 Reclink Community Cup on Sunday June 22, featuring the Triple R 102.7FM/PBS 106.7FM Megahertz vs. Rockdogs at Elsternwick Park. Playing times are 12.10pm: Elmo & Friends Live, 12.45pm: Fraser A. Gorman, 1.30pm: Smith Street Band, 2.10pm: Teams enter ground, 2.25pm: National Anthem by David Bridie, 2.30pm: Match commences, Half Time: Saskwatch, Post-Match: Painters & Dockers.
KUNVUK RELEASE ALBUM #3
After touring multiple times around Australia in support of their second album Consume Rapture, the Sydney-based experimental groove metal trio Kunvuk retreated to their Shadow Mekanik Studios to work on the third Kunvuk album. Recorded, engineered and mixed again by the band’s guitarist and singer David Hart, Twitcher is the most focused and deadly release the band has ever recorded. “We set out to write a huge batch of songs with the intent to pick the most promising tracks and work those up into a dense and multi-layered flurry of noise, intensity and groove,” Hart says. “We are going through a process of continually working to evolve our sound and with this EP we have made another leap forward introducing new elements and refining our established sound.” The album was again mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music (Death, Swans, Mastodon, Converge, Baroness, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Clutch) in New Windsor, New York.
INTRODUCING SLAVES
Former Dance Gavin Dance and Emarosa frontman Jonny Craig has added another arrow in his musical quiver with the formation of Slaves featuring Hands In Heart guitarist Alex Lyman. The band’s debut album Through Art We Are All Equals will be released nationally on Friday July 4 via Faction/Sony Music and features the singles Starving For Friends, featuring Pierce The Veils’ Vic Fuentes and The Upgrade PT II. They’ll be at the Evelyn Hotel on Friday October 10.
JOHN GARCIA TO TOUR
John Garcia is instantly recognisable as the voice of a genre. Single-handedly bringing the California Desert Rock sound to the world via his works with Kyuss, Slo Burn, Unida, Hermano and Vista Chino and spawning a million copycats in the process, on Friday August 1 John will release his highly anticipated self-titled debut solo record. Full of first class, catchy as hell rock’n’roll that effortlessly drifts between classic and stoner. The album features some quality guest performances from The Doors’ Robby Krieger laying down some mean guitar on Her Bullets Energy plus John’s former Kyuss bandmate Nick Oliveri, Mark Diamond, Tom Brayton and the one and only Danko Jones all drop in to stir up more dust than a California sandstorm! John will be bringing his solo material to his Australian fans this September as part of a Desert Rock Showcase that sees Palm Springs USA natives Waxy and Melbourne’s ‘good time murder fuzz‘ exponents Mammoth Mammoth rounding things out. He’ll be at the Gershwin Room at The Espy on Friday September 12.
VOYAGER COMING TO TOWN
Legendary Perth progressive act Voyager are coming to town to promote their new album, titled V. Out now on Bird’s Robe Records, V is their best yet, a powerful but melodic feast for the senses, a bold and dramatic statement. The tour kicks off on Friday July 4 in Canberra, and takes in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide before a tour finale in their home town of Perth. They’ll be at the Workers Club on Saturday July 12.
