Melbourne power trio Stepmother is fronted by Annihilation Time’s Graham Clise, alongside Lee Parker (Deafwish) and Robert Muiños (Saskwatch). On their second LP Absurdus Manifestus, they deliver twelve originals and a cover of Journey to the Center of the Mind.
This is a rock record at heart, but punk in spirit. The reference points make sense. Blue Cheer, The Pink Fairies, Nervous Eaters, The Damned. It is loud, riff-driven, and built to move air. Tracks like New World and Gimme Mine hit with that instant adrenaline rush, the kind of riffs that demand you turn the volume up. Running straight into Beast and Man, that stretch is the record’s peak. Still, there is plenty to grab onto elsewhere. Fast, catchy burners like What’s New, Space Invader, and Don’t Be Long keep things moving.
This is no-frills, high-energy rock done right. Nothing fancy, just riffs, volume, and a band that knows exactly what it wants to sound like.
LP out now on Tee Pee Records.
New World giving some definite Radio Birdman vibes.