Month: June 2023

Game Review: Company of Heroes 3 provides a solid blend of strategy and intensity

Company of Heroes 3 marches forward onto consoles, bringing with it a wealth of content and heart-pounding gameplay. Developed by Relic Entertainment, this WWII real-time strategy game sets out to capture the essence of war while delivering an engaging experience for players. Even though the campaigns have their flaws, the multiplayer matches and skirmishes shine…

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Interview: Writer/director Bill Oliver on Tribeca drama Our Son; “With gay marriage I think there’s a little bit of an expectation to be perfect.”

Premiering at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, Bill Oliver‘s Our Son is where drama meets mindfulness as audiences explore contemporary relationships between two men (played by Luke Evans and Billy Porter) trying to make their way in the world of parenting their child in the aftermath of their separation. This story unabashedly unfolds with the…

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Our Son details the dissolution of a marriage with a sense of wit and wisdom: Tribeca Film Festival Review

Whilst the breakdown of a marriage and the impending custody battle that will take place as to whose time favours the child in question has been a reliable staple for cinematic drama over the years – most recently displayed in Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story and perhaps most famously in 1979’s Kramer vs. Kramer – queer…

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I Like Movies celebrates the film bro, video store rentals and auteur filmmakers with a genuine gaze: Sydney Film Festival Review

In this era of streaming taking priority (unfortunately), there’s a whole generation of movie watchers – if they aren’t on their phone during said watch – who are unaware of just how special a time the video store truly was.  I Like Movies indulges in that time. Set amongst the backdrop of teen angst, Blockbuster…

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Sisu is visually exciting, shamelessly playful, and always, always unpredictable: Sydney Film Festival Review

There’s both a sense of adhering to the temperaments of action films gone by and embracing the current and future state of the genre present in Jalmari Helander‘s Sisu. Matching its dark sense of humour (and I mean dark) with a violently bloody mentality (and I mean bloody!), Sisu manages to present the simplest of…

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Asteroid City; Wes Anderson’s visually lush comedy is heavy on star wattage, but light on substance: Sydney Film Festival Review

Another Wes Anderson creation, where the sheer cast alone is unfathomable in their collective talent and the twee is as twee as can be, Asteroid City, with its distinct colour pallet and deadpan performances, won’t convert any viewers over to the Wes way of watching, but those that have stuck with the auteur through his…

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Game Review: Street Fighter 6 is a stellar return to form

I had spent the past couple of weeks wondering why it’s been a while since I had played a Street Fighter game. And then I remembered why. I loved Street Fighter 4 when it was released all those years ago. It was refined, fun and accessible. But Street Fighter 5 was a different story. Sure,…

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Dog Cosplay meets Final Fantasy XVI at Sydney’s Darlo Bar

Final Fantasy XVI is celebrating things a little differently leading up to its June 22 launch, by celebrating our beloved best doggo friends. The event will be known as Paws of Valisthea, and look to bring dogs of all breeds, shapes and sizes together at Sydney’s Darlo Bar on the 17th of June, from 10:00…

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Everything announced at Summer Game Fest 2023

That time has rolled around yet again. With the undeniably disappointing cancellation of E3 2023, we can take solace that game-related announcements are still hitting fast and strong, with Geoff Keighley’s yearly show providing the goods once again. There’s a bunch to unpack here, so buckle up and keep your head on a swivel. We’re…

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Photo Gallery: The Waifs + Mama Kin Spender – Northcote Theatre, Melbourne (08.06.23)

The Waifs graced Northcote Theatre for their Up All Nights 20th Anniversary Tour, and absolutely brought the house down with nostalgic tunes and reflective stories to match. Eloise was there to capture the joy of the night. Mama Kin Spender opened the night, a playful joint venture between Mama Kin and Dingo Spender. The two artists complimented…

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Photo Gallery: The Damned + The Neptune Power Federation – Metro Theatre, Sydney (08.06.23)

On a cold midweek gig legendary UK punk band The Damned smashed up Sydney’s Metro Theatre. Supported by the colossal power of The Neptune Power Foundation fronted by Imperial Priestess Screaming Loz Sutch. Pete Dovgan was there to capture the dark night.  

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Scrapper is an impossibly charming dramedy made all the more so by its central performances: Sydney Film Festival Review

Whilst it’s easy to pick how Scrapper – Charlotte Regan‘s impossibly charming comedy/drama – will end when all is said and done, the central performances from newcomer Lola Campbell and Harris Dickinson as a feisty, self-reliant 12-year-old and her man-child father, respectively, are what keeps the quirky narrative continually engaging. It’s one of those “message”…

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Late Night With the Devil has occasionally nasty, always unbridled fun with the “found footage” horror genre: Sydney Film Festival Review

“Before we continue I’d like to apologize to anyone who might be upset or offended by what you saw before the break. It’s not every day you see a demonic possession on live television.” Not the most typical sentence you’d expect to hear from a late night host, but such is the statement made by…

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New Music Discoveries 9th June: Grievous Bodily Calm, PJ Harvey, Shen Panthers and more

Another ten songs have been added to our Discovery playlist on Spotify and Apple Music this week, including one we premiered the music video for. Our Track of the Week is “Cascades” from Boorloo/Perth experimental jazz quintet Grievous Bodily Calm. “Cascades” is the title track from their forthcoming EP, which is due for release later…

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Carmen is a haunting and isolated tale that will entrance with its unconventional tempo: Sydney Film Festival Review

Though the title of Benjamin Millepied‘s feature directorial debut Carmen – the dancer-turned filmmaker having cut his teeth on short films and music videos – suggests a connection to Georges Bizet‘s French opera of the same name, his script – co-written with Alexander Dinelaris Jr. and Loïc Barrere – only mildly references its narrative mentality and…

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Series Review: Based On A True Story is a darkly comic satire on society’s obsession with true crime podcasts

To say society has a fascination with true crime would be putting it mildly.  No longer just contained to a select audience who got their grisly fix on news-skewered programs, true crime – or, more specifically, murder – is now a multi-million dollar business in itself, cornering the market on books, podcasts, docuseries’ and the…

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Game Preview: F1 23 returns with new mechanics and a Braking Point sequel

It’s that time of the year again. With the Formula 1 season off and running, we recently got some hands-on time with the upcoming F1 23. In many ways, F1 23 is looking to return in strong form, with various adjustments to physics, a direct Braking Point story sequel and a whole new F1 World…

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Katy Steele

Interview: Katy Steele on Big Star, striking a chord on Tik Tok and her upcoming tour

Katy Steele won our hearts with Little Birdy, with a voice that is instantly recognisable. She dropped her debut solo album, Humans in 2016 and on Friday this week, the follow up, Big Star is about to be released. The first single for the album was “Feel So Bad”, which was released in September last…

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Game Review: System Shock is a fantastic and faithful remake

The original System Shock was admittedly released the year I was born, but even though I’ve had plenty of time over the past 28 years, I had never gotten around to playing it until only a few years ago. I had understood its impact as a spiritual predecessor to one of my favourite games of…

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Crows Nest

Book Review: Nikki Mottram’s Crows Nest is an intense, suspenseful thriller set in country Queensland

Crows Nest is the debut novel from author Nikki Mottram. Mottram, has used her extensive experience in child protection and psychology to great effect, crafting a thriller that is intense and grounded in reality. The novel is set in the late 90s in Toowoomba, Queensland. It’s a novel that delves into the often secretive world…

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Eliza Hull

Eliza Hull shares five of her favourite artists with disabilities in honour of her new single “Running Underwater”

The Australian singer-songwriter Eliza Hull returns to the music scene with a mesmerising new release showcasing her ethereal vocals and poetic lyricism. “Running Underwater” sees Hull collaborate with ARIA Award-winning producer Pip Norman to create a powerful and introspective song that explores the experience of living with the condition Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) and challenges societal perceptions…

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Film Review: The Flash conjures awe, emotion and humour as it speeds to the upper echelons of its genre

The wants and needs of comic book fans is something of a tall order when it comes to successfully executing a story that has a certain level of lore attached to it.  In terms of The Flash, there’s perhaps an even stronger necessity for the film to prove its worth off the back of certain…

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Slim Jimz

Exclusive Video Premiere: SLIM JIMZ “25” (2023)

Sydney’s SLIM JIMZ have been winning hearts and minds in their hometown and beyond through their infectious and heartfelt indie rock. A track that deftly captures their ability to resonate is “25”, released a week ago. We’re thrilled today to have the video premiere for the track ahead of its release on Friday. The track…

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Tech Review: The Corsair Xeneon 27QHD240 OLED Monitor is gorgeous, but incredibly expensive

Look, I get it. You get what you pay for. Corsair’s Xeneon 27-inch, QHD, 240Hz OLED monitor is many things. It’s sleek, crisp, responsive and vibrant. As many would have come to expect in recent years, any OLED option is looking to take the crown when it comes to panel quality, proving some of the…

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Series Review: Appetite delivers insight into the dark side of the gig economy

Short-form series Appetite, the only Australian production to be selected for in-competition screening at Canneseries, starts an important conversation on the effects of the gig economy through its bite-sized episodes. The mystery-comedy follows a group of housemates turned food-delivery riders who find themselves at the centre of a conspiracy as they unravel the truth behind…

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Young Henrys and South Sydney Rabbitohs collaborate to launch Glory Haze XPA

Celebrating South Sydney Rabbitohs‘ supporters and five years of friendship, Young Henrys have produced a limited edition Glory Haze XPA. Young Henrys is a group of passionate brewers, beer lovers, distillers, musicians and artists, united for the love of good beer. Established in 2012 in the back streets of Newtown and in the hearts of…

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Cover of The Anniversary

Book Review: Stephanie Bishop’s The Anniversary dives deep into the writerly mind

Award-winning Australian author Stephanie Bishop published her fourth novel The Anniversary in late March, though you may be forgiven for having missed it given the proliferation of big names with novels due out around the same time. (Pip Williams, anyone?) Centring on the relationship between a novelist J B Blackwood and her filmmaker husband, Patrick (who…

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Tech Review: The Asus ROG Harpe Ace Aim Lab Edition Gaming Mouse nails the essentials

Wow, that title was a mouthful. But unlike the Asus ROG Harpe Ace Aim Lab Edition’s overly long name, there’s a much simpler, refined review to unpack. Firstly, this version of the mouse is inspired by Aim Lab, the very home of FPS aiming training, meaning it’s specifically made for those hardcore FPS fans. While…

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Foo Fighters return to Australia & NZ this Summer – dates and supports announced

Fresh from the release of their new album But Here We Are last week Foo Fighters have announced their return to Australia and New Zealand this summer, with a run of stadium shows across the two countries from November through to January. The band were last in the country for a one off show in…

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Photo Gallery: Ethel Cain – Vivid Live, Sydney Opera House (04.06.23)

Ethel Cain played her third sold out Vivid Live show at Sydney Opera House in the Drama theatre. Unfortunately Ethel collapsed during her second show and was unable to finish her set. There were concerns that she may not make an appearance tonight, but she announced on instagram that “all this touring and traveling has…

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