The streets of the southernmost capital in Australia are filled with crazed youths, and at the front of the pack is the rampant Lutruwita band TEENS spreading discord and riotous energy everywhere they can with a wild-eyed blend of punk, pop and anarchy.
They have today released their second album ‘Negative Energy’ through No Sleep Records / Psychedelic Salad Records, following rapidly from last year’s self-titled debut.
Opening track ‘Like An Animal’ is like a twin set of chainsaws being whirled around the head advancing with bad intent but with a glint of humour hidden behind the baseball mask. I can’t help think of this being the antithesis to the exhortation from The Elephant Man or the song ‘Bodies’ sung by another famous punk band. Nevertheless, it’s visceral stuff and awfully cathartic.
Careering along like a fully loaded semi-trailer that’s lost its brakes, ‘Shallow Grave’ is a visceral cavalcade of guitars and melody ringing out like a chemically enhanced ghoul in chains. Guitars crash with a sound like fenders in a motorway pile up in a delivery that reaches a crescendo to a full stop then a civilisation-ending clatter of feedback. Be still my beating heart.
It’s thoroughly satisfying fare that is further enhanced by the accompanying single-shot music video, directed by Oli Potter, and filmed at the long-abandoned Willow Court asylum in Tasmania’s Derwent Valley, which adds a demented perfomance from the band.
The title track is a brief instrumental interlude filled with white noise, feedback and clanging guitars before ‘Bad Breeding’ thunders in with its metallic scything guitars and melodic thrum recalling a little Smashing Pumpkins or Interpol with lyrics that display a dissociation and bleakness that reflects the southern wilderness:
I’m not sure I’m even real
you move right through me like piece of glass
It wasn’t supposed to be like this
It’s how I feel, but it don’t matter, ‘cause what I need, you can’t deliver.
As time creeps we’ll move apart
You’ll hold me forever in your heart
blood in the sink you can’t see why
lost in a haze this isn’t you
‘Human Again’ coasts on in-synch brooding bass and guitars with dissonant sardonic vocals in the distance while ‘Pigs’ briefly continues the explosive guitar crunch as the vocals become even more unhinged and the song builds up like a tornado. ‘Late July’ adds a little speed to the mix while ‘Dog by my Side’ suddenly presses on the brakes and delivers a brief psych infused sparse dreamy reverie with falsetto vocals.
Final track ‘God in the Trees’ splashes some cold water on the face with its fuzzy guitar intro before the rest of the band lumbers in like a bulldozer. The vocal dampen the onslaught to create something a little more nuanced and considered: with an ominous drive and sardonic, wry vocals. This is something less punky and visceral and more cold post punk with an Antarctic chill and an anthemic delivery.
If comparisons were to be made, TEENS joins bands like Shame and Idles with their committed delivery and unabashed fury mixed with cathartic joy. ‘Negative Energy’ sees a band that is willing to innovate and create far beyond any easy cliché or niche. The anger and energy is balanced by tracks that are far more subtle and nuanced, indicating a band with more than one arrow in their quiver.
The distinctive artwork for the album is part of a striking artistic partnership with Serbian-based artist Davor Gromilović’s 2021 work ‘Murder In Front Of The Hotdog Eater’.
‘Negative Energy’ is out today and can be ordered in a variety of formats through the link below.
The band are playing tonight in Hobart at The Twisted Lime, as part of a fundraiser show for Woolworths//Flushot’s mainland tour, and they’ve also been announced for this year’s Edge Radio fundraiser/birthday show at Altar on November 15th.
Feature Photograph: @ryanstangerrr
