Melbourne art-punk's, It Thing are bound to get your spirits up on their latest EP.
Having emerged as fresh contenders on Melbourne’s art-punk scene after 2021’s debut Syrup, It Thing are back with new EP Spirit Level – four blistering tracks of wailing guitars, futuristic new-wave punk rhythms and howling vocal harmonies, all bundled into a crisp 10 minutes (as punk should be).
Label: Marthouse Records
Release Date: Out Now
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Channelling elements of 60’s Aussie psychedelic merged with 80’s new-wave, ‘Persian Rug’ merges sharp, repetitive notes akin to Status Quo’s ‘Pictures of Matchstick Men’ alongside untuned guitar melodies, stabbing punk riffs, and high-pitched B-52 inspired vocals.
‘Roman Baths’ teases sharp angular riffs and heavy distorted breakdowns before stripping back into a tought, tension-evoking bridge of reverb-laden vocals and shimmering guitar licks.
‘..In Ruins’ maintains the energy, balancing chaotic new wave rhythms and boppy vocal cadences alongside rapid drum hooks and deeply melodic surf-punk riffs reminiscent of 70’s era Radio Birdman. ‘A Fireplace’, on the other hand, sees the four-piece offer up a more refined grunge approach, allowing the heaviness to breathe momentarily while they explore spacious indie-rock rhythms and shoegaze dissonance.
Although possibly the funnest part of Spirit Level is the catch and release approach the four-piece have taken in the studio, with the EP really evoking the feeling that the group went into the studio, smashed out all four songs out in an arvo, and threw it out to the world the next day. It’s rough and spontaneous, capturing exactly why It Thing is quickly becoming a notable inclusion amongst Melbourne’s gig roster.
Spirit Level for It Thing is out now. You can listen to it here.
