Wasted Energy
Hassle, 2019
10/10
An outfit from Australia with a penchant for punk, garage, indie and alt-rock sounds, this sophomore album finds the quartet showcasing an incredible chemistry with a mature, intelligent and energetic presence where not a second is wasted.
“Separate Houses” gets off to a kinetic start with buzzing melodic punk alongside raw but sweet female vocals on the anthemic opener, and “Dead Or Dying” follows with a punchy and swift pace of angular, calculated instrumentation.
Near the middle, “Obession” puts the dynamic skill of the rhythm section on display with post-punk influences, while “Get Better” offers a scrappy, punky tune with plenty of attitude and memorableness.
Deeper cuts bring us the rowdy and tuneful “How Can It Not Be Love?”, and the record highlight, “I’m In Hell”, which finds the perfect balance between bristling punk rock and modern indie-rock with bouncy bass lines. “Twenty Three” ends the record on a strong exit with cautious moments in their head bobbin’, fist pumpin’ formula.
As someone who has spent decades listening to records across the entire spectrum of punk, let me say this: Press Club are better than 80% of the bands under the punk umbrella, and Wasted Energy is one of the best of 2019.
Travels well with: Save Ends- Warm Hearts, Cold Hands; Smoke Or Fire- This Sinking Ship