Last month was a massive for releases, so here are our top five picks to show that the naysayers are just looking in the wrong place for great Aussie tunes:
Melting – A Pathetic Excuse for a Life
One of the most furious bands in the Australian heavy music scene, Melting have followed last year’s breakout run with an even more vicious second release. Six tracks clocking in at just under 15 minutes, the full EP is a whirlwind of raw energy, explosive riffs and absolute carnage. Full throttle and full of rage, when the band said, ‘Camp Melting is firing on all cylinders, and that’s a nice feeling, especially with so much coming up!' they were not wrong.
It opens with an onslaught of noise in a 1:37 package, a track that is tailor-made to rip apart a room before diving fully into some of the most stank face-inducing heavy grooves that one can fathom. A Pathetic Excuse for a Life is only the band’s second release and with songwriting, production and an identity beyond their years as a band – it’s the ultimate time to jump on the Melting bandwagon before they absolutely blow up.
alt. – ‘Nevermore’
Last month was eventful, to say the least, for Adelaide’s alt. After delivering a stellar EP that is Nevermore, the band announced the unfortunate departure of their vocalist Dan Cullen-Richards. Despite this sad news, they can be proud that his parting gift to them and their fans was this spectacular new release.
This wonderfully dark concept EP is set in 2073; a world ravaged by war, corruption and greed. In this dystopian imagined possible future, the wealthy are fleeing a dying Earth while the rest are left to fight for survival and a chance to reach the promised new world of Nephilim. All is not well in this new world, as beneath its surface lies the same darkness that destroyed the old world. Which is where the story’s unnamed protagonist comes in, ushering the world toward revolution in a bid to break humanity’s destructive cycle.
The themes of this record suit alt. well. Since emerging, they have quickly built a devoted following through their fusion of punk, pop, electronic and alternative rock, a sound that is on full display throughout the release. While this record may signal the end of a chapter for the band, there is no doubt that fans will be eagerly waiting for what comes next – as Nevermore leaves you wanting more.
The Beautiful Monument – ‘Euphoric Thriller’
Newcastle’s emo-rock outfit The Beautiful Monument have returned to give us a preview of their upcoming album Euphoric Thriller with the title track, ‘Euphoric Thriller’. Sultry and groove-laden, the track is a perfect encapsulation of the band’s strengths. Being able to tackle the tough themes of life while delivering an absolute bop is something The Beautiful Monument excels at, and it seems the single is a signal of what is to come.
‘From dealing with the grief of not only physical loss, but the emotional battle that is existing in this world as a minority and navigating our way through the uphill battle of hate and bigotry from the society that surrounds us… but make it a party,’ says vocalist Lizi McIntosh. ‘If we don’t laugh we cry – so why not have a good time while internally wallowing in the fiery pits of hell that is the current state of the world.’
The album will be hitting us in August, but until then, run up the numbers on this banger – once you give it a spin, you won’t have to be told twice. It’s deliciously addictive and will have you waiting impatiently for what is yet to come.
BESTIES – ‘Deadmau5’
Surely you’ve seen the memes about the world being worse off since white boys put down the guitars and picked up the podcast mics? Well, never fear, Sydney pop-punk outfit BESTIES are here to rectify that.
Describing themselves as ‘just idiots with instruments’, their mission is to remind people to stop taking things so seriously. Remember when music was just fun? BESTIES do, and ‘Deadmau5’ is the perfect reminder for everybody else. The track is a fun, tongue-in-cheek anthem for the increasing number of millennials and Gen Zs who are refusing to surrender to expectations and conventional ideas of adulthood.
There comes a time in everyone’s life when they feel they need to grow up. Find stability and a safe path into the future. This song is an anthem for those doing the complete opposite: doing what they want, being who they are, and surrounding themselves with the people they want around them. In the band’s own words: ‘Life’s too short to be safe, take a risk and don’t forget through it all, you’re still that dumb emo kid at heart, just like us.’
Saving Face – ‘Open Casket’
Something is in the water in Melbourne. Something that is cultivating some of the country’s best melodic hardcore offerings. This month’s offering is the new single ‘Open Casket’ from Saving Face.
Taking the nostalgic sound that many elder emos grew up with and giving it a modern twist, Saving Face are one of the artists taking part in this melodic/post-hardcore revival. Visceral vocals, breakdowns, incredible guitar harmonies and an overall melancholic vibe – ‘Open Casket’ is a thing of beauty.
Angst-driven and delivering raw emotion at such a rate you feel it at a cellular level, it is the single you scream along to when everything feels all too much. It may not be as crushingly heavy musically as other releases, but it hits you with its full weight, leaving you breathless as the track fades out. It’s a feeling that will stay with you and make you an instant fan of Saving Face.
