Garage-punk foursome cement cult rockstar status with euphoric third album Cartoon Darkness.
Riding high off the back of mainstage sets at festivals like Primavera and Bearded Theory and sold-out tours across the globe, the expectation could not be higher for Aussie four-piece Amyl and The Sniffers. Their sophomore record Comfort to Me shot them into critical acclaim, a more mature offering than their debut exploring complex themes of gender with a sense of swagger and humour. The third album carries through frontwoman Amy Taylor’s signature brand of tongue-in-cheek humour, with first track ‘Jerkin’’ dragging you into Amyl and the Sniffers’ world like a friend pulling you into a mosh pit.
Joy runs throughout the album, lead single ‘Chewing Gum’ has Amy declaring she is “young and so dumb!” before a triumphant chant chorus of “I’m a winner!”. ‘Tiny Bikini’ borrows from fellow feminist icons Mannequin Pussy, adopting a Marilyn Monroe-esque lisp as Amy croons about her notorious scantily-clad outfits. But the shining moment comes from ‘It’s Mine’, a thunderous track with fuzzy, industrial basslines and hardcore sensibilities, showcasing what Amyl and the Sniffers do best: make noise.
Listening to Cartoon Darkness, it’s impossible to not become immersed in the world they create. Self-love is the thread that runs through this record, ethos adopted by the new punk generation like Soft Play and Idles.
And if that’s not enough, then their ferocious live energy might just do it for you.
Amyl & the Sniffers, Cartoon Darkness is out now on Rough Trade.
Featured image and gallery: Lucy Elson-Whittaker Fcukers headline a sold-out show at Manchester’s New Century Hall, in support of their long-awaited debut album, ‘ö’. Opening the night are Sydney-based Sleepazoid, whose hazy, atmospheric sound offers a sharp contrast to the headliners’ explosive energy. Their set feels cinematic and dream-like, serving as both a striking opener…
Featured image and gallery: Sub Khan Hailing from Manchester and playing a sold-out show at Manchester’s Lion’s Den, with an imminent EP on the way, aAh! speaks to Fred Farrell (vocals) and Danny Atherton (bass) of Dr Dr. Did you start the band during Covid times? Is that where it all originated? F: It was…
Featured image: Gary Walker Neo-blues soul artist Yellow Days, the stage name of Haslemere’s George van den Broek, returns to Manchester with his seventh album, Rock And A Hard Place, and a live show that proves just how far he has come. Before he steps out, London-based act Brian Nasty warms the room up nicely,…
Featured image and gallery: Sally Stretch The Royston Club perform alongside Overpass and Permanent (Joy) at a sold-out O2 Victoria Warehouse. Welsh indie rock band The Royston Club, school friends who began playing together in 2017, now headline O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester. Touring second album Songs For The Spine, they generate an energetic sold-out…
Leave a reply