Melbourne’s Punter already have a strong demo and a brilliant 2023 EP under their belt but if you thought that latter one was as good as it could possibly get, you’ve heard nothing yet! Building on that same familiar mixture of occasionally metal-infused, sleazy-ass hardcore- and garage punk á la Polute, Cheap Heat, Cement Shoes or Cülo, unafraid of over-the-top guitar solos and with further kinship to postcore acts like Dollhouse, Flea Collar and the larger-than-life drama and melancholy of Pist Idiots, Split System, these are thirteen deliberately and carefully crafted precision blows, every single one delivering without fail a meticulously planned and perfectly executed set-up and payoff. Yeah, these bursts of jet engine-powered rock’n’roll are anchored in tons of rock-solid song construction way smarter and more elaborate than you’d expect at first glance and peppered with plenty of unexpected stylistic flourishes and eccentricities that still never seem to overindulge and even their most extravagant – sparingly and deliberately placed – accents like the odd bit of organ, bagpipes and even an epic sax solo in the closing track It Ain’t Pretty never fail to hit their mark and enhance the impact of these songs.
