Every now and then an album comes across your path that will have a real impact and knock you off your feet, almost a physical thing that can be awe-inspiring and breathtaking. Not to be too hyperbolic but Punter did that when I was sent this to review I was instantly blown away. The first play was exhilarating and I had to take a break and do something else then go back to it a day later just to see if I’d lost my senses or if my first impression lasted into the second and then the third and so on. Fuck me sideways, this album is the dog’s bollocks I liked their debut EP from a few years ago bu tthis is next level. I have no idea why, it’s not original nor is it so groundbreaking it’s genre-defying or something so new I can’t make head nor tales of it. It’s a loud rapid punk rock record from Australia (der the cue is in the title) but the delivery and passion contained within touched me like a visit to Lourdes and a dunk in the holy water of punk rock n roll.
‘Safe In The Bubble’ starts it all off with a simple scuff of the guitar before going in both feet first it’s hardcore but with bells and whistles and so much more. The vocal spit in with more venom than I’ve heard in a while all whilst the guitars slash and hack but the sum of its parts only goes to make the devastating racket that is my soundtrack for the last month or so. Hell, there’s even bagpipes for fucks sake. Bon Scott would have thrown his pipes in the Sydney Harbour if he’d heard this and how to wheeze that bag of air.
The title track is along next with a swift metaphorical kick to the nether regions to take your breath away. There’s something quite beautiful about a band that captures such beauty in such visceral and punishing styles. Punter have their collective finger on the pulse as the music gets faster and more manic but it explodes into a calming acoustic guitar outro that I didn’t see coming. If you think that was brutal ‘Turf Layer’ is up next just to poke you in the eye with a very blunt stick but you keep going back for more.
It’s the soundtrack to the best bar brawl ever and could power a fleet of electric cars for days on one frantic play. ‘The Golden Hour’ almost eats itself before ‘Chin Stroker’ is like a rabid dog out of control in a supermarket taking out anything in its path – frantic – brutal take your pick this shit is happening and I fuckin love it.
Its not all thrashing about smashing everything in its path, oh ok it is but ‘Bone To Pick’ is a bit more mild-mannered and more measured with its twelve-bar riffage and a solo that’s tap tastic and like a missile boring into your ear.
The fact there are thirteen songs on this album is mental it’s spoiling us to the point that anyone hearing this should do so on their own it’s dangerous. ‘No Normal’ is tub thumping tastic – oh fuck it you get the picture this record is the bomb and you should just get a copy its as if Clowns have joined forces with Bronx and a whole host of other great bands and joined forces to write an album that sets the tempo for all future punk rock releases.
‘Rise OF The Technocrat’ is a runaway bassline and hack n slash rampage on the guitar it’s bloody dangerous, seriously don’t drive whilst listening to this or your heading for a world of trouble. In fact this album’s thirteenth offering is the album’s finest and it would seem that everything to this point has been merely setting the way. @It Aint Pretty’ is spot on and the absolute zenith of how to do punk rock hardcore style in 2025. Buy this album right now, don’t think about it just trust me and get your grubby hands on a copy it’ll blow you away. Absolute fuckin killer!
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Author: Dom Daley
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