Amy Taylor’s lyrics on Amyl and the Sniffers’ previous discs could hardly be described as demure – especially with song titles like “Don’t Need a Cunt (Like You to Love Me)”. So, it’s encouraging to hear that the band hasn’t decided to censor themselves in any way as they hurtle towards what promises to be their big breakout with Cartoon Darkness.
In fact, the lairy “You’re a dumb cunt / You’re an arsehole”, which are the opening lines of the sharp and punky first track, “Jerkin”, couldn’t be more of a statement of intent from the Melbourne four-piece. That’s not to say that Amyl and the Sniffers are just out to shock on their new album and bar themselves from any chance of daytime radio. Recent single, “Chewing Gum” with its howling guitar solo by Declan Martens is very explicitly a love song with its “I’m stuck on you just like a chewing gum” refrain, and there’s even some laidback guitar pop heartbreak on “Bailing on Me”.
That said, most of Cartoon Darkness is superbly fiery and speedy with plenty of heft. “Tiny Bikini” lays down a monsoon of raw Riot Grrrl vibes and the nosebleed hardcore punk of “It’s Mine” is all over in little more than a minute and a half. “Doing In Me Head” has something of the Lambrini Girls’ sound about it, while the volcanic “Pigs” turns up the explosive biker rock beat to 11. However, it’s on the magnificent “U Should Not Be Doing That” that Amyl and the Sniffers really hit their stride with a hip-swinging blast against those that indulge in tall poppy syndrome takedowns for no good reason.
Cartoon Darkness is without doubt a truly glorious rock’n’roll album that is forceful without being simplistic and lairy while maintaining a good sense of humour. It might also end up being the best guitar-powered album that gets released this year by a country mile.
