Opinion: Principled Stand, Plummeting Poll?

Winston Churchill remarked that, “Some men change their party for the sake of their principles; others their principles for the sake of their party.” This was especially true for William Morris “Billy” Hughes, our most principled – and arguably audacious – Prime Minister.

Originally a Labor man, he pushed for conscription and held two plebiscites on the issue which were defeated. His caucus was fed up with him and threw him out in 1916. He challenged those who, “thought like him to follow him.” And he did and clung on to the Prime Ministership until 1923.

In this day and age, it’s more likely that the politician in question will sanction their party to electoral oblivion.

Read more at Onya Magazine.

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Review: Fair to Midland - Arrows and Anchors

“We wanted something simple because all of our other titles have been so long-winded,” gossamer-tongued vocalist Darroh Sudderth said of the title, talking to a local Texan newspaper about the record.  “We also just wanted to keep it simple because after all, you know, it’s a rock album.”

Fair to Midland can't really be termed a rock band but by the same token, Fair to Midland aren’t your typical metal band. You’d be hard pressed to find anyone that would be prepared to go on record to say that they were. In fact, some metalheads would begrudgingly agree to insert them into that category to begin with. The band’s signature sounds are bright piano lines, bluegrass twang and angelic twee moments tangling deftly with devastatingly hulking riffs, hitting like a freight train desperately trying to halt itself. Sure, the latter element is as hard as steel can be, but the former parts just don’t compute.

But on Arrows, it does. It really, really does.

Read the rest of the review at MetalasFuck.net here.

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Interview: Lexxi Foxxx of Steel Panther (The AU Review)

Forming in the late 80s but never finding success until the release of their debut “Feel the Steel” due to infighting, substance abuse and “fucking the other band member’s bitches” (the biggest problem, apparently) Steel Panther are itching to bring metal back and generally just itching, due to their many wild and wanton flings with women worldwide. The glam metal superstars direct from the famous Sunset Strip in LA are finally finding their way to Australia, playing at the Soundwave Revolution alongside their heroes Van Halen and Alice Cooper. The fast-talking, mirror-gazing and wise-cracking bassist Lexxi Foxxx (the extra “x” stands for “sex”) passionately explains their “metal” mission, uncovers parts of their murky history as well as their plans after finally “driving” down under.

Read the rest of this irreverently funny interview at the AU Review.

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