Riff Raiders: Welcome To Mars (CD)

Melbourne hard rock outfit Riff Raiders has released its third studio album Welcome To Mars, unveiling a tightly constructed 11 track set. The release arrives after a steady rollout of singles and marks the group’s first full album cycle since their earlier work established them as a fixture in the Australian live rock circuit.

Musically, Welcome To Mars spans multiple shades of hard rock, in their inevitable spirit of riff raiding. The lead singles Welcome to Mars and Nothing to Lose are high energy classic hard rock with a modern edge, while Climbing the Walls lean into a swampy groove driven structure. Feels Like Something pushes a more melodic three-part power pop framework. The huge riffs in the songs Sound Mirror, introducing psychedelic textures layered over stoner grunge influenced guitars, and latest single Broken Halo anchors the darker end of the record with modern active hard rock. Across 11 tracks, the album prioritises riff driven arrangements, sharp hooks and a consistent live energy that reflects the band’s reputation on stage.

The CD release features the bonus track Walk of Shame, previously only available in physical format on the Murder in the Rue Morgue Vol II collection.

Riff Raiders have emerged carrying Welcome To Mars, a record that doesn’t just revisit the band’s hard rock roots—it kicks the front door off the hinges with sharper riffs, darker moods and enough swagger to remind you why Australian rock refuses to die quietly.
CRANK June 2026

“A damn fine hard rock record… remarkably well-rounded, energetic, and evolving without losing its core.”

“an album that feels familiar, but also like a genuine step forward.”

“This still has all the riffs, hooks, melody, and infectious energy you expect from Riff Raiders. But they’ve also moved into darker, moodier, and more atmospheric territory, without losing what makes them such a fun hard rock band.”
Australian Album of the Week – The Hard Rock Show July 2026 (8.5/10)