Draped in black leather and black denim, Melbourne’s full-moon rock’n’rollers ROT T.V. are on the cusp of dropping their very first 7-inch single. The single’s A-side track F.D.A. is a suitably full-throttle introduction. Here – fuelled by a hungry intensity and boasting a carnivorous edge – ROT T.V. circles like a pack of predatory animals, gradually wearing down your defences until they’re close enough to bite.
High-octane Melbourne hardcore outfit 2 Stroke dropped a new track in late July, one where the aggro four-piece grapples with the thought of a meaningless existence. ‘Crisis, Crisis’ is a forceful rebuking of modern living and the dissatisfying ache it produces.
Good news for fans of Melbourne-based proponents of post-punk-indebted gloom EXEK – the band has returned with news of a third LP. The record, entitled Some Beautiful Species Left, is dropping on September 6, and is a split release between France’s SDZ, Digital Regress in the USA, and Australia’s own Anti Fade Records. The record’s lead single ‘Unetiquetted’ is a slinky-and-irregular piece of outsider new-wave pop that hints towards a greater level of studio immersion.
After a strong series of creature-feature singles, Dr. Sure’s Unusual Practice brings the same atmosphere of comic dread to its debut album. But while there are moments of political ire, the band is more notable for hanging back and snidely deconstructing the world at a self-imposed remove.
Relocated from Perth to Melbourne, Hideous Sun Demon frontman Vincent Buchanan-Simpson doubles down on his surprising power-pop prowess with the new single from his solo outlet turned side band.
Words: James Frostick Band image: Barry C. Douglas
A trio of Melbourne-based music veterans have teamed up to form an exciting synth-laced outfit. ATOM, which features members of Crime and the City Solution, The Moll Flanders Band and REPAIRS, is premiering the debut single from its forthcoming record In Every Dream Home. ‘Run Out’ is the name of the track, and it paints a grim picture of the inevitable finality of our system’s rampant excess.
Masters of harsh soundscapes and monumental noise My Disco is back with news of a forthcoming record and a new song to boot. ‘Rival Colour’ is a masterclass of threatening minimalism. It’s a sparse collection of elements have been pieced together to create a truly unsettling arrangement.
Weirdo Wasteland is an Australian-based music blog that examines musical endeavour from the cultural fringe. The site regularly features reviews and interviews from the underground scenes from Australia and New Zealand. Weirdo Wasteland acknowledges the original custodians of the land upon which it operates. Sovereignty has never been ceded. To get in touch, contact: weirdowasteland (at) gmail.com