SHADOWQUEEN AT THE BENDIGO
The Bendigo Hotel in Collingwood sees an electric and eclectic lineup of local heavy rock acts explode onto the stage on Thursday November 20. Blistering female fronted rock act Shadowqueen headline, with nuclear strength support coming from exciting new Melbourne act Tragic Earth, who are dropping their ripping debut single Feels Good, Could be Better the Lacuna Coil and Evanescence-inspired symphonic rock band Amaronix launching their brand new EP and awesome five piece rock act Ablaze returning to the live scene after an extended hiatus. This is a four pronged rock assault that must not be missed.
BROOZER AT THE BENDIGO
Describing themselves as tough technical modern sludge metal, Broozer have been around for about two and a half years, spewing out sludgy riffs mixed with quirky time signatures, pulled together with dark droning grooves and topped off with self-abusive tough-guy vocals. If you thought innovation was dead in modern heavy music, this three-piece will prove you completely fucking wrong. So, get on down to the Bendigo Hotel in Collingwood on Friday November 21 as they destroy the joint with Red Sky Burial who are launching their latest EP with the help of old mates The Firing Line and Spider Goat Canyon. The first 25 payers get a free copy of the disc. For everyone else, it’ll be a mere $5 on the night.
FACE THE MUSIC HITS A HIGH NOTE
Over 850 punters flocked to Arts Centre Melbourne for the seventh year of the two-day Face The Music summit, where they soaked up vital industry knowledge. The highly anticipated Vote For Me! State Election session shone a spotlight on five of our main political parties and their election promises, while music legends The Living End revealed details on their seventh record and forthcoming solo albums, and world renowned industry heavyweight Steve Albini offered his thoughts on the positive changes that have developed in the new digital world. Playing host to over 150 industry experts, delegates were treated to smorgasbord of unique opportunities across group sessions, master-classes, speed meetings, free legal consultations and small group workshops. Stay tuned to Face The Music’s YouTube channel for main session highlights – www.youtube.com/user/facethemusicaus.
TRIVIUM & IN FLAMES
Trivium and In Flames hit town this weekend for a monster pair of shows at 170 Russell, on Sunday November 23 and Monday November 24. Trivium’s Matt Heafy has never missed an opportunity to pay tribute to how In Flames influenced his music. Obviously a tour of this scale and stature would have been perfect for the now-defunct Palace Theatre, but in the absence of other appropriately-sized venues, we’re instead treated to two more intimate shows.
PRONG TOUR
US metal favourites Prong tour Australia for the first time ever this week for Nightmare Music. “I personally haven’t been there with any other band or on a trip,” singer/guitarist/fucking-legend Tommy Victor says. “I’ve only heard great things about the place. So it’s wonderful to have the opportunity to get down there. Finally.” Prong has cast a long shadow – bands like Korn, Slipknot and Nine Inch Nails openly acknowledge their influence. New album Ruining Lives is the follow-up to the acclaimed 2012 release Carved Into Stone and continues to show the band on an upward trajectory, proving that despite having a long, illustrious career, Prong can still make records that matter and re-invent themselves without negating their roots. They’ll be at The Hi-Fi on Friday November 21.
YNGWIE UNLEASHES THE FURY
Shred legend Yngwie J Malmsteen is hitting Australia in February to unleash his neoclassical rock fury upon all and sundry. Malmsteen’s a hugely influential guitarist who frightened everybody into working a lot harder in the ‘80s, inspiring a legion of copycats in his wake. “And that’s why I call myself Yngwie J Malmsteen, with the J, so as not to be confused with all the other Yngwie Malmsteens,” he jokes. So what can we expect from Yngwie’s Aussie tour? “It’s gonna’ be high excitement, high energy,” Yngwie tells Crunch. “A perfect example is the concert DVD I just put out. That was from Orlando, Florida, and they’re two days apart. No two shows are going to be the same. If you see two shows, they’re not going to be the same. But obviously, having said that, I’m going to play the songs that you guys would expect plus some other stuff too. It’ll be what you expect but with some different nuances.” He’ll be at The Forum on Saturday February 7. Tickets are on sale now.
YOU NEED YOUR SLEEP
US Doom/Stoner legends Sleep (featuring High On Fire’s Matt Pike) are here later this year for the Meredith Music Festival and they’ll also be playing some of their own shows. They’ll be at The Corner Hotel on Saturday December 6, and tickets are on sale now.
