In-Frequencies #8: Taco Leg, Martyr Privates, Loose Grip

A hardcore-heavy round-up of some new-ish cassette, CD-R and vinyl releases including Loose Grip, Taco Leg, Martyr Privates and Negative Reinforcement. Words by TIM SCOTT.

[Historical image is withheld pending rights review.]
Loose Grip
Cereal
(7”, Bedroom Suck)

By far the best 7” I've heard so far this year. The debut for this Brisbane weirdo/super group hits all the right buttons. It's five tracks of fun speedy US hardcore punk without the goon factor – well, maybe a little bit. There's also a good sense humour – one song is called 'Baked' the other 'Cereal'. Kieran's vocals are manic but controlled, but more on the manic side, and drummer Joe Alexander (Kitchen’s Floor, Slug Guts) and bassist Harry Byrne (Per Purpose, Loomer) seem to keep things together. I haven't seen them play live yet but from all reports they’re as mental as you’d imagine. I wish more “hardcore” bands sounded like this.

[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] Loose Grip - Cereal by bedroom suck

[Historical image is withheld pending rights review.]
Nite Fields/Happy New Year
Nite Fields/Happy New Year
(Split 7”, Lost Race)

Brisbane label Lost Race offers up a split of hometown bands: the ambient Happy New Year featuring Eleanor Logan formerly of Gazoonga Attack, who I remember once appearing on a Cosmic Psychos covers album, and is now based in NYC; and Nite Fields, a shimmering shoegaze type of band. Of the two sides, it's Nite Fields’ 'Come Down' that brings the drone-y kaleidoscopic feel – as cliched as that song title is.

[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] Nite Fields - Come Down by lostracerecords

[Historical image is withheld pending rights review.]
Grim Fandango
In the Rough
(7”, Poison City)

Melodic, poppy and “beardy” punk from Perth. The follow-up to last years Birthmark Blues LP sees vocalist Tom Ware and the band change it up a bit on the A-side 'Modern Aliens'. 'Switch' goes back into more earnest and urgent territory with Ware's raspy vocals and jangly guitars that build as the song progresses. I imagine there would be a lot of singalongs at their live shows. Recommended for fans of the Smith Street Band – who I know they have played with before.

[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] Grim Fandango-Clear Lines by cellarsessions

[Historical image is withheld pending rights review.]
Martyr Privates
Bless/Native Son
(7”, Bon Voyage)

Insanely good psych rock from these Brisbanites. Bringing to mind the drone-y repetition of early NOTV with blues – I'm talking Mississippi Delta via Fortitude Valley not “Blues Hammer”. Spacemen 3 has been mentioned. Yeah, I can hear it. B-side ‘Native Son’ is good, but it's 'Bless' with its cool Stuvy-hanging-from-bottom-lip swagger that makes for repeated listening. Drowsy, don't-give-a-fuck rock done well.

[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] "Bless" - Martyr Privates (7") by bnvyge

[Historical image is withheld pending rights review.]
Short Life
Mentally Unstable
(EP, Mentally Unstable)

Debut five-track EP for this Brisbane hardcore band. 'Motionless' starts with a slowed-down Charles Bukowski sample that sets the tone for their brand of crusty misanthropic punk. The next song 'Tremors' has a Charles Manson sample. It's bleak and crushing; music for dudes who are into fine line pencil illustrations of Vikings, hardcore punk and Swans.

[Historical image is withheld pending rights review.]
The Kremlings
The Kremlings
(EP, independent)

One of a bunch of up-and-coming Geelong garage bands that also includes Living Eyes, Bonniwells and The Hierophants. Four tracks of standard poppy garage that’s good for what it is. They’re still young, and there’s room to improve, but songs like 'About Clusters of Crawling Sapiens' is fast and buzzy while 'Know Nothings' channels some more Stooges-like riffs.

[Historical image is withheld pending rights review.]
Taco Leg
Printed Gold
(7”, Richie Records)

It's odd (or maybe not) that this west coast Australian band seems to have more fans on the east coast of the US then they do in Australia. First Baltimore’s Fan Death Records release their debut 7” (with an LP on the way) and now Philadelphia’s Richie Records have put out these three songs. There's a lot to like here though. From the buzzy 'Printed Gold' to the awesome reworking of Fang's 'The Money Will Roll Right In', which has the line, “I'll get to fuck Brooke Shields”, and one of the best punk riffs ever.

[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] Printed Gold by TACO LEG by TestosterTunes

[Historical image is withheld pending rights review.]
Idle Minds
Demo
(Demo, independent)

Hardcore punk from Melbourne with buzzy guitar and an exhaustingly fast vocal/asthma attack. Four songs in just over five minutes, with enough time to squeeze in a guitar solo on 'Genetic'. I've seen these guys live and they bring the energetic “stacks on” feel you get at hardcore shows. Definitely one of the more promising of the new Melbourne hardcore punk bands. Apparently Miley Cyrus' Australian boyfriend is a fan.

[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] Genetic by IDLE MINDS

[Historical image is withheld pending rights review.]
Citizen Sex
Soda Pop
(EP, independent)

Melbourne four-piece who play a style they like to call “glock rock”, but which has a more NME feel to it. There is a real indie UK vibe to tracks like 'Chronic of Narnia' while the closer 'Sodapop' is more of a poppy garage jam. Known to nude up on stage.

[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] Sodapop by Citizen Sex

[Historical image is withheld pending rights review.]
Negative Reinforcement
Enemies in High Places
(7”, Viper Death Lock)

Members of Suffer release one of the best Aussie hardcore records in a long time. Flailing and angry, it brings to mind the best of the mid-1980s – bands like Negative Approach – with the edge of Crossed Out or Urban Blight. 'Enforcer' addresses the blind following of hardcore dudes, namedropping Wes Eisold (Cold Cave, American Nightmare) and J Bannon (Converge, Deaf Wish Records): “If J Bannon drew it, would you get the fucking tattoo?” Elsewhere 'Critic' has the line, “All I see is Ray Cappo clones” in reference to the New York hardcore icon. But it's the fiery vocal approach and super-fast guitar and drumming that makes this so good.

[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] Salesman by NEGATIVE REINFORCMENT

+

IN-FREQUENCIES #7: Wax Witches, Blank Realm, Cured Pink, Degreaser

IN-FREQUENCIES #6: Baba-X, Woollen Kits, Rank/Xerox, Bed Wettin’ Bad Boys.

IN-FREQUENCIES #5: Dro Carey, Mad Nanna, Circle Pit, Chaos Kids.

IN-FREQUENCIES #4: Pond, NoTV, UV Race, Johnny Casino.

IN-FREQUENCIES #3: Kirin J Callinan, Bare Grillz, Hammocks And Honey.

IN-FREQUENCIES #2: Tough Troubles, Lakes, Brainwaves.

IN-FREQUENCIES #1: Absolute Boys, Pageants, Southern Comfort, Taco Leg.