ALBUM REVIEW: smile, you're on camera BY WINDWAKER

Reviewed by Steph Ure

Release date: 23 October 2026

Australia's genre-bending heavyweights Windwaker return with their third studio album, smile, you're on camera, and what an extraordinary musical journey they've created. Following their previous releases Love Language and HYPERVIOLENCE, Windwaker have continued to push the boundaries of heavy music, combining metalcore, hip-hop, punk, electronic and alternative influences into something distinctly their own.

Featuring vocalist Liam Guinane, guitarist Justin Keurntjes, bassist Indey Salvestro, drummer Chris Lalic and synths/samples specialist Connor Robins, the five-piece have developed a sound that refuses to be confined to a single genre.

Described as their most honest release yet, smile, you're on camera explores personal growth, sacrifice, emotional struggles and the challenges of navigating a complicated world. Across twelve tracks, Windwaker demonstrate not only their individual musical abilities but an impressive understanding of how to bring seemingly opposing sounds together.

The opening track ‘Low’ introduces itself through bright synths and higher-register electronic sounds before the drums arrive and the instrumentals take a heavier turn. Guinane dives straight into rapid-fire rap vocals, delivering impressive flow and precision before transitioning into a beautifully controlled melodic chorus. The contrast between the softer vocal delivery and heavier instrumentation establishes the album's emotional direction immediately. As the track progresses, the screams become increasingly aggressive, with the entire band shifting gears to deliver a powerful conclusion.

‘Closer’ follows with a low guitar strum quickly met by fast-paced drums, launching into a punk-meets-synth introduction. There's a distinct nostalgia for the emo and alternative punk sounds of the 2000s, but Windwaker bring their own modern energy to the mix. The instrumentation pulls back to give the vulnerable lyrics room to breathe before bursting into a high-energy chorus. A slower bridge, supported by intermittent drums and guitar chords, exposes the emotional weight beneath the track. What makes ‘Closer’ particularly effective is its balance of light and shade, allowing gentle, intimate moments to exist alongside hard-hitting instrumentation without either losing its impact.

Then comes ‘Click.’, featuring RinRin, and this is where things get wonderfully chaotic. Imagine Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park having a musical lovechild, only for Skrillex to turn up and introduce it to the rave scene. Somehow, Windwaker make that combination work.

Opening with a heavy hip-hop influence before diving into electronic synths and gritty guitar riffs, ‘Click.’ is an exhilarating collision of genres. The chorus brings the band's punk influences forward, while RinRin delivers a fierce combination of rap and screamed vocals that matches the track's intensity and somehow manages to push it even further.

I would love to provide more detailed notes on the second half of this song, but unfortunately I spent the remainder dancing around my house like I was attending some wonderfully strange heavy alternative rave. Sometimes actions, or in this case a surprise lounge room dance party, speak louder than words.

‘Do or Die’ opens with static-like synths and a playful spoken introduction before the drums, guitar and screams arrive with force. Just when you think the track is heading into relentless heaviness, everything pulls back into a beautifully controlled melodic verse. Spoken rap transitions into an atmospheric pre-chorus before the band launches into a crushing metal-influenced chorus.

The guitar work from Justin Keurntjes is particularly filthy and gritty, adding an important layer of intensity to the track. What continues to impress is the band's ability to move between genres without overwhelming the listener. Every transition feels deliberate, highlighting both their individual musicianship and their cohesion as a five-piece.

Leaning further into a hip-hop vibe, ‘DNA’ is delivered with Guinane's vocal skill and ability to move through incredibly fast lyrics while maintaining impressive clarity and pronunciation. It's easy to become completely absorbed in the rhythm without losing the emotional message.

The chorus is powerful and vulnerable, confronting feelings of internal struggle, identity and the frustration of not understanding your own emotions. The contrast between the rapid verses and emotionally charged melodic sections gives the track a deeply human quality. A brief acoustic passage provides a moment of vulnerability before the song builds into a dramatic, heavy conclusion.

‘Burn’ offers a change of pace, introducing a slower, synth-heavy atmosphere with bursts of intensity scattered throughout. The guitar riff becomes increasingly prominent around the halfway point, signalling another shift in tempo and style. Windwaker gradually build the tension before delivering a punchy, heavy finish. Much like its title suggests, the track feels like a slow-burning fire, steadily growing in intensity before finally erupting into chaos.

‘Victory Lap’ immediately creates the feeling that you're an antihero preparing to take on the world. A swelling synth introduction builds anticipation before the vocals enter with attitude and rhythmic precision. The chorus carries a strong emotional message about growing older, recognising your worth and reclaiming your time. Around the two-minute mark, the instrumentation briefly settles, offering a momentary palate cleanser before the track turns absolutely feral.

Guttural screams, furious drumming and aggressive guitar work take over, delivering one of the heaviest moments on the album so far. It's an exhilarating shift that perfectly demonstrates Windwaker's ability to move from emotional vulnerability to outright aggression.

Following that intensity, ‘Lie to Me’ arrives with twinkling synths and soft background harmonies, creating an almost complete contrast to the track before it.

Drawing heavily from pop-punk influences, the song provides a welcome change in energy without abandoning the album's emotional themes. Its lyrics remain vulnerable, exploring heartbreak and difficult emotions, while the bright instrumentation creates a lighter, more uplifting atmosphere. The chorus is infectious, energetic and practically demands another round of dancing.

‘Wait for Me’ continues the electronic direction but takes a much gentler approach. At just under a minute and a half, the track feels like a small love letter tucked into the album. Soft electronic textures, understated vocals and quieter rap passages create a moment of tenderness that doesn't need any additional complexity. It's short, sweet and beautifully placed.

‘Loser’, featuring Mikaila Delgado, brings the energy straight back with a garage-punk-inspired introduction. A shouted opening gives way to increasingly heavy guitar riffs and energetic drums, creating a sound that feels deeply connected to the alternative music scene of the 2000s.

There's something wonderfully nostalgic about this track. Its combination of garage rock, pop-punk and metal feels familiar, yet Windwaker reshape those influences into something fresh. Delgado's vocal contribution adds another layer of intensity and attitude, complementing the band's existing sound.

It's music that reminds you of something you've loved before while simultaneously introducing you to something entirely new.

Then we come to ‘Overlord’, and it is an absolute monster of a track. Opening with heavy, filthy drums, the track wastes no time establishing itself as one of the album's most aggressive offerings. Around forty seconds in, the instrumentation pulls back to make room for gritty rap vocals before the band collectively drives the intensity forward again.

The bass, drums and guitar work together beautifully, creating a thick, aggressive sound that supports the anger behind the lyrics. This is one of those songs you put on after a particularly terrible day when you need to scream your frustrations into the universe rather than actually burn the world down. Relentless, cathartic and unapologetically heavy, it's an excellent choice for the album's penultimate track.

Closing track ‘Some Days’ takes the album somewhere entirely different. Beautiful synths and carefully controlled drumming establish a haunting atmosphere, immediately signalling a more introspective conclusion. The lyrics explore pain, uncertainty and the difficulty of navigating a world that can sometimes feel overwhelmingly dark.

For me, this was the most emotionally affecting track on the album. There's a beautiful balance between vulnerability and hope throughout the chorus, acknowledging life's darker moments while offering a reminder that those moments don't define everything.

Musically, it's equally impressive. Some of the album's strongest guitar work is accompanied by exceptional drum control and carefully considered changes in tempo. The instrumentation never overshadows the emotional message, instead strengthening it at every turn.

In my opinion, one of the album's most technically accomplished and emotionally raw compositions, ‘Some Days’ provides a genuinely beautiful conclusion to an extraordinary release.

As a complete body of work, smile, you're on camera had me captivated from the opening track.

Windwaker have taken elements of indie, hip-hop, heavy metal, electronic music, punk and alternative rock and blended them into a sound that feels both nostalgic and remarkably original. Their ability to transition between these influences so seamlessly is a testament to the musical skill, creativity and chemistry shared between all five members.

It's genre-bending on a level I genuinely wasn't expecting. Seamless, skilful and at times completely mind-blowing. As someone who enthusiastically explores music across almost every genre, this album has left me feeling emotionally overwhelmed and thoroughly joyful at the same time.

I don't think I'm quite the same after listening to it.

It's only October, but smile, you're on camera is already a serious contender for my album of the year. Windwaker haven't simply created an excellent heavy music album.

They've created an experience, and one I cannot wait to revisit.