At this point in their career, Melbourne-based punk rock outfit Amyl and The Sniffers have all the makings of the genre’s next big thing. Their lo-fi vocals cut through dense distortion to deliver nimble melodies and youthful tales of angst, and on the surface, it may seem like their sonic recipe is far from new. The band’s deep passion for nostalgic sounds could be seen as a hindrance to the nuances of their approach, and on their latest album, Amyl and The Sniffers attempt to separate themselves from the burgeoning punk scene. Cartoon Darkness is a heavy set of songs that introduces us to a newfound fearlessness in the band, allowing their lofty visions to manifest into a sprawling 12-track statement piece. This time around, Amyl and The Sniffers are not worried about tradition or pleasing the punk purist. Cartoon Darkness is an album meant to be a middle finger to anyone with expectations of what Amyl and The Sniffers will do next, and the band’s risk paid off handsomely.
Underneath the surface, Cartoon Darkness is an experimental punk album. Amyl and The Sniffers pieced together a head-spinning tracklist that transitions from slow-burning psychedelia to the blistering punk fans have come to expect from the band, but Cartoon Darkness is not about what you desire; It’s about the current moment. Even during those moments when the band slips back into their old punk tricks, feel elevated as the searing guitars and acrobatic vocals elevate Amyl and The Sniffers’s fast-paced brand of punk. This is the band as you’ve never heard them before, and they sound better than ever.
Miraculously, the dramatic sonic shifts never seem disconnected. Cartoon Darkness puts the band’s songwriting in a brighter spotlight than ever, allowing their sonic risks to roam freely as the vocals tie everything together. Singles like “Jerkin’” and “Chewing Gum” would have you believe that Amyl and The Sniffers found a lane and are sticking to it, but that is far from the truth. The chanting vocals on cuts like “Doing In Me Head” and the face-melting guitar solo on “Motorbike Song” showcase the band’s improvements to their signature sound. Buried under the nuanced sonic tricks are heavy hooks and aggressive poetry that hits the hardest during the slower moments of the LP. Songs like “Bailing On Me” and “Big Dreams” show a more sentimental side of Amyl and The Sniffers, forcing their lyrics to the forefront gave their words more vibrancy and impactfulness. Allowing their lyrics to drive these songs makes their heartfelt nature even more palpable.
The sonic juxtaposition that runs through Cartoon Darkness introduces us to the complexities of Amyl and The Sniffers. These 12 songs prove this band thrives on challenging themselves to find solace in unexplored territory. Amyl and The Sniffers have more eyes on them than ever, and they take those skeptical gazes and filter them through their restless creativity. Cartoon Darkness is brimming with successful experimentation that allows Amyl and The Sniffers to begin carving their legacy in the world of punk, a legacy that promises to grow and evolve as long as the band delivers a shocking change of pace in a rugged yet grandiose fashion.
