Description
Some might say the pursuit of rocking out via deafening amplifiers, crusty drums and a beer-battered PA is a spiritual one, an affliction that either strikes or doesnt. Few groups today embody this sentiment like Melbournes aptly-named Deaf Wish. Theyre a grisly rock group and theyve already signed to Sub Pop, which is to say theyve already succeeded beyond their wildest dreams, so anything that comes after (performing in strange new cities, meeting like-minded souls, maybe even selling a t-shirt or two) is a bonus.
Lithium Zion is the bands fifth full-length album (and second for Sub Pop following 2015s Pain), and, while its a rare case that a groups fifth album is their best, it may in fact be Deaf Wishs finest. Their previous albums were recorded in makeshift studios a wise choice for capturing the hazardous riffing, chemically-stained vocals and fiery rhythms conjured by a group such as this but this step toward a slightly more professional sound only enhances their power.
The record opens with Easy, a languid rocker in the rich Australian tradition of groups like X and The Scientists. From there its onto FFS, a moody downhill rocker sung by guitarist Sarah Hardiman that confirms Deaf Wishs relation to fellow Sub Pop employees like feedtime and Hot Snakes. The Rat Is Back is tense and epic; Hitachi Jackhammer pays a brief and noisy tribute to Hitachis second most notable device.
Lithium Zion is a veritable buffet of garage-punk energy, post-punk pathos, sardonic wit and the fearlessness that comes with Aussie rock, a natural consequence for anyone living on a continent teeming with grapefruit-sized spiders and man-eating mosquito swarms.
As has always been the case, the whole group shares vocal duties, even drummer Daniel Twomey (you know the band are slightly unhinged if theyre letting the drummer sing). Hardiman and Tjhung are as ragged and hairy as ever, chugging along as though Krautrock was trying to speed past the late 70s but got caught in the sticky grasp of punk. Such is the way of Deaf Wish, a group destined to write songs that are simultaneously stupid and sublime, vulnerable and ferocious and play them with the unbridled intensity they demand.
LP formats include digital download code.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.