Taking Back Sunday

Pop-punk icons Taking Back Sunday recently released a self-titled album with all five original members. The new album, combined with the achievement of celebrating the 10year anniversary of their debut album Tell All Your Friends, has given them a new breath of life. They’re better than ever and kicking off an Australian tour tonight.

Since forming in 2002 they have had many lineup changes but the shift that happened in 2010 would be the most unexpected. In 2010 Taking Back Sunday announced that the original bassist Sean Cooper and guitarist John Nolan would be returning. This was not only exciting and unexpected news for the fans but also for the members of the band. “We definitely had no idea that this would happen,” explains Cooper. “When I left the band in 2003, I was very, very comfortable with that being the end. I was never longing to be back in the band when I wasn’t in it, but when my old band ended and Taking Back Sunday asked me to come back it was one of those things that of seemed to make sense at the time. When we all got in the room and started talking as friends again and we all started working on music it all seemed completely natural which is shocking to all of us. It’s a huge blessing to be able to do this, this much time later.”

http://www.tonedeaf.com.au/features/interviews/150177/sunday.htm

A Day To Remember

Florida’s A Day To Remember is returning to Australia for the fifth time as part of Soundwave Festival. These five guys are fun loving, energetic and enjoying the ride of their musical success.

“It’s just as a big surprise to me as it is to everyone else in the world,” says lead guitarist Kevin Skaff. “We just liked to tour around the world and see what happens. It just keeps getting bigger and bigger, It is awesome to watch. We’ve had a good time and hopefully it continues.”

http://www.tonedeaf.com.au/features/interviews/130787/a-day-to-remember.htm

Dashboard Confessional

Dashboard Confessional is hitting our shores this week as part of the Soundwave Festival.  It has been a couple of years since Dashboard have toured down under although time around it is just singer-songwriter Chris Carrabba accompanied by his trusty guitar.

“I am more than anything else excited that I get to go over on my own with just my guitar. The first time I came to Australia by then I already had a band. Other places I have gone like the UK or Canada and certainly America and Germany I started the same way. I just brought my guitar and showed up and played. I think that’s it an important connection to have. There is the backpacker mentality of going there without any kind of safety net. Just going over, you feel a lot closer to the people you are playing for, and ultimately you get a closer connection to the place you’re in. Well I do anyway.”

http://www.tonedeaf.com.au/features/interviews/134479/dashboard-confessional.htm

Enter Shikari

After recently releasing one of the most socially aware albums of our time titled A Flash Flood Of Colour, Britain’s Enter Shikari are heading down under  for the punk rock metal extravaganza known as Soundwave.

Growing up in St Albana, Hertfordshire, allowed Enter Shikari to explore many genres which make an appearance throughout their songs. Enter Shikari have managed to mix post-hardcore and electronica together perfectly creating their unique sound.

http://www.tonedeaf.com.au/features/interviews/129277/enter-shikari.htm

The Used

2012 is shaping up to be a big year for Utah’s rock band The Used. They are hitting our shores as part of Soundwave Festival and will be releasing their highly anticipated album Vulnerable through Hopeless records in March. The Used are a band who know what they want and dare to dream.

Before the release of Vulnerable, The Used cut ties with Warner Records and began working together with Hopeless Records to create Anger Music Group.

http://www.tonedeaf.com.au/features/interviews/125114/the-used-2.htm

A Day To Remember: 28th February 2012 @ UNSW Roundhouse

Thousands of fans made their way to Sydney’s Roundhouse on what looked like a miserable night. Florida’s A Day To Remember were playing their sold out Sidewave alongside of Utah’s The Used and UK’s You Me At Six. There was a diverse crowd with many veteran The Used fans and tonnes of teenage girls. This gig was designed to be a fun, energetic night.

It’s amazing to see how far You Me At Six have come since they formed in 2007; it’s shocking to realise that these five guys are still so young. The way they portray themselves on stage is amazing; as their sound improves on their CDs so does their stage presences. Vocalist Josh Franceschi manages to interact with the fans without missing a note, collecting gifts as well as kicking beach balls around with fellow bandmates.

http://www.tonedeaf.com.au/reviews/shows/139113/a-day-to-remember-2.htm

In Hearts Wake Album Review: Divination

The surf and sun up in Byron must be the main ingredients for an awesome metalcore act. Parkway Drive have been releasing killer albums for years and it seems that In Hearts Wake are on the same path with their first full length album, Divination.

There is an array of vocal patterns by vocalist Jake Taylor ranging from deep growls to mid-range screams that really set the group apart fro their peers.

These teamed with the clean melodies and guest vocals; from the likes of Winston McCall (Parkway Drive), Chad Ruhlig (Legend), Garret Rapp (The Color Morale) and Adrian Fitipaldes (Northlane), give the album that extra something without the added gimmick of auto-tune.

http://www.tonedeaf.com.au/reviews/new-music/206586/divination.htm