Marlo Schorr-Kon

  New Zealand's very own Blindspott have returned for the first time in 15 years with their ferocious new single, ‘R.I.P. (Rest In Pieces)’. This song is, in many ways, a perfect summary of Blindspott’s sound. Relentless heaviness and progressive riffs combined with melodic vocals and guitar. Nearly 20 years on from ‘Nil By Mouth’, Blindspott has shown that they can still crank the heaviness and energy of their music through the roof and that they are still on the forefront of New Zealand rock.   ‘R.I.P.’ begins with a filtered guitar intro before the full band comes lurching in with a heavy, progressive sounding riff. Things mellow out as Damian enters on vocals. The song has a great drum sound, almost resembling 90s bands like Pearl Jam and Red Hot Chilli Peppers, with a tight, piccolo snare. The driving bass riff keeps the energy in the second half of the verse, before Damian’s scream of “take this knife” brings back the heavy section. ‘R.I.P‘ has an awesome, anthemic ...

  INTERVIEW WITH  After working on ‘Tangaroa’ for so long, how does it feel to finally release it? We're absolutely over the moon to finally have the album out, it's been finished since mid-February but of course you need to spend a lot of time building up to the release so it does so with a bang. That time spent waiting and not being able to show the world is a super long and somewhat painful wait.   Which song on ‘Tangaroa’ are you most proud of? I (Henry) would definitely have to say Kai Whatu, the super proggy riffs in that song were definitely a challenge to both write and play in the studio but damn does it feel good to get it spot on! The subject fits so well with the instrumentals, being about Kereopa Te Rau who was infamous for eating his enemies eyeballs, hence the nickname Kai Whatu (eye eater) How do you think ‘Tangaroa’ compares with ‘Tū’? I think it definitely holds its own while being very different to Tū, it still has all of the elements that represent Ali...

  The wait is finally over. Alternative rock band Concrete Castles, consisting of guitarist Matt Yost, drummer Sam Gilman, and vocalist Audra Miller, have released their vital debut album, Wish I Missed U, for the world to hear. Wish I Missed U is an album bursting with vibrant, youthful energy. The hooky melodies and anthemic choruses make every song on the album memorable. The album’s unique sound, blending elements of pop, electronic, and rock, along with the band’s talent makes Concrete Castles stand out amongst other artists.  Wish I Missed U begins with its title track. Matt leads the way on guitar, followed by Audra on vocals. The album intro takes its time and doesn’t rush the listener. At the chorus, the song bursts into action  The rhythm is held by the drums and guitar, with the vocals being the main melody. Another aspect of what makes this such a great song is Anthony Green’s feature on the track. Anthony and Audra have a similar sounding vocal style, which m...

  The time has finally come. Alien Weaponry have released their monstrous sophomore album, Tangaroa, for the world to hear. I would describe this album as not only a continuation of their 2018 debut, Tu, but an evolution. Tangaroa is a brilliant look at how the band has grown and matured over the last few years, both musically and as people, while still staying true to their sound as a band. They have honed in on what did well on Tu, reworked it, and done it again, better than ever before. Tangaroa visits subjects such as global warming and mental health, and also shares some interesting and gripping stories of New Zealand history, along with personal struggles. On the album, the band also explores the limits and boundaries of their sound, making for some surprises.    Tangaroa opens with the sedate sound of waves crashing onto the beach. Rowing sounds and chanting fade in, emulating a waka (canoe) coming into shore. This intro perfectly sets up the overall theme of the a...

  White Noise Mafia ‘Let It End’ single review A mere couple of months after releasing their monstrous debut single ‘The Divide’, White Noise Mafia are back on the scene with their sophomore single ‘Let It End’. This is a brilliant follow-up, showcasing more of White Noise Mafia honing their high energy sound inspired by the likes of Linkin Park and Shihad, while also introducing some new elements to the table as well.  ‘Let It End’ has an abrupt intro, featuring the full band. Upon first hearing the song, it initially reminded me of Green Day. It’s not as heavy as ‘The Divide’, with a more commercial rock sound, and more focus on showcasing the band’s musical talent. In particular, this allows the listener to focus more on, and appreciate Chris’ voice, along with Neo’s drumming. The heaviness ramps up in the chorus, and following this is an awesome harmonized guitar lick played by Matt (Holden) and Chris. The less heavy nature of this song creates a nice contrast in the band’...