WITH a solid reputation as an exciting live act, Sydney punks Tantichrist have been building to this release for some time now.
Explosive bursts of swirling surf guitar combined with Nicky Steps’ snarling, unsung vocals give a Dead Kennedys vibe to the opening barrage with tracks like “Thoughts and Prayers” taking aim at shallow insincerities.
The straight up punk attack is a spirited start and a short dose of what can be expected in the latter half of the album, but Tantichrist like to keep it interesting and audiences guessing. After the opening release of anger as an energy, the band changes things up a little.
“AfterImage” takes a different tack as Leigh Hawkins’ jangly bass lays down the foundation for some New Wavish flavour that throws PiL shades. “Learning Deep” goes into more unexpected directions as Yoshi Hausler’s steady beats and Mitch Hertz’s spiralling guitars build to a howling cacophony. “Fight or Fuck” brings that DKs feel back, launching heavily into more socio-political rants like “Fire Sale” and “Frackenstein”.
Tantichrist save perhaps their most scorn for the next-to-last track. “Sad Boys (Need Loving Too)” is a withering, sarcastic putdown of incels and the manosphere, with Steps at his snarkiest and Hertz unleashing a caustic solo. Final cut “Kids of the Lane” is a rousing, catchy anthem like something the Dropkick Murphys do, closing out the album with a rallying call-to-arms.
With its sarcastic social observations, hook-ridden tracks, sharp playing, and little surprises that reveal themselves with subsequent listens, Tantichrist have put together a solid gem of a punk rock record.
