Music News

Weekly Roundup: Friday 20th July

Friday 20th July, 2018 4:32PM

It's been an undeniably powerful week of musical releases and announcements, with Auckland's The Others Way festival unveiling their all-killer first lineup of artists to appear at the annual multi-venue extravaganza in August, including the return of Christchurch noise rock icons Bailterspace, who are also touring New Zealand with Wax Chattels in September! More artists set to appear for the one night event include Taite Music Prize Classic Album winners Headless Chickens (feat. Fiona McDonald), 70s disco-funk artists Collision, 90s Flying Nun indie poppers Superette, and Auckland guitar-pop geniuses The Beths.

If the above wasn't electrifying enough, local metal maniacs rejoiced at the news brutal Belgium death metallers Aborted will be crushing skulls through the nation this September, while lovers of gentler sounds can check out Wellington-based alt-folk artist Fraser Ross and his group 04s on their extensive tour of Aotearoa in August and September. Shihad frontman Jon Toogood's star-studded project The Adults will play three shows in celebration of todays release of their album HAJA, contributers Estere, Raiza Biza, Ben Wood (Trinity Roots) and Emily C. Browning will join the artist on stage in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

We were stoked to premiere Wellington songwriter Finn Johansson’s steamy video for ‘Love Bomb’, accompanied by an in-depth and sometimes hair-raisingly candid interview with Kiki Van Newtown, of windy city witch-rockers Hex. We also had the privilege of premiering a senses-scrambling remix of Dunedin avant-pop artist Dudley Benson's single 'Zealandia' by Auckland-based composer Samuel Holloway (which swiftly followed a remix of the same tune by Stef Animal), as well as the sublime sophomore single from Wellington post-punk / dream-pop crew DEAF. Distant strangers to the concept of sleep, we also squeezed in a scintillating mini-interview with ex-Lower Hutt vaporwave artist Eyeliner (aka Luke Rowell of Disasteradio), ahead of the upcoming vinyl re-issue of his 2015 insta-classic album Buy Now, which you can peruse on your electronic device here.

Local release highlights included the excellent new album from Auckland punk innovator P.H.F., the long-promised debut album from LA-based electronic pop artist Chelsea Jade, a fuzzy video by superstar duo Fabulous / Arabia promoting their fresh new 'Tuder Reggae' aesthetic, a soulful track from local family rap ensemble Fanau Spa, a passionate and politically-charged video by Northland thrashers Alien Weaponry, and a trifecta of frazzled tunes from Auckland via Hamilton guitar adventurer Pumice.

Our Caught Live video for this week features Norwegian metal icons Dimmu Borgir, who are set to descend upon our shores like a merciless viking hoard for a headline show at Auckland's Studio in October. Here's the symphonic black metal pioneers unleashing a menacingly mind-melting rendition of their iconic song 'Progenies Of The Great Apocalypse' from their 2003 album Death Cult Armageddon, live on stage at Oslo Spektrum Arena in 2011 with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra and choir...