Straight from Newcastle (Australia), Melvic Centre have cracked the code on making nostalgia feel like discovery with their new album Trawler (out now on Evil Tone Records). Their strain of punk rock is a far cry from the blistering take of countrymen Split System or the dark rock-leaning approach of Civic. Instead, Melvic Centre rely on an impressive sense of melody. Melvic Centre is closer in spirit to college rock, ’90s alt pop bands like The Lemonheads, the poppy punk of bands like Big Drill Car, and the more rock-leaning bands on Revelation in that era (like Farside, Shades Apart, and Gameface). Melvic Centre pull off that sound amazingly, and I quickly went from longing to play that old stuff to “wait, why not hang in on this record” to “holy shitballs, this band is right up my alley—I’m texting all my friends.”
The band likes to let the guitars ring, and that also applies to the singing. They stretch the vocals, always staying in tune, while playing with serious power and energy. Standouts include the powerful and rockin’ opener Exit Stage Left, the make-every-second-count poppy punk perfection of Stay Home, the alternative power pop hit Wheelin’ Feelin’, and the ’90s alt pop throwback Thin. But honestly, I’m loving this record front-to-back.
This isn’t the first Melvic Centre album (the self-titled debut came out a couple of years ago), but it’s the first one I’ve heard and I just love how the band’s songs combine heart, soul, hooks, oomph, and tuneful melodies. This is killer stuff and this band can flat out play!