(Disclaimer: Strong Language) Australia’s punk scene is thriving, and there seems to be no stopping it.
Punk rock started in the 1960s as a form of garage rock and transitioned into an aggressive, anti-establishment scene with a distinct look, with punks sporting vests with spikes, studs, and band patches with liberty-spiked hair. The scene was prominent until the 1990s, with no major comeback since. However, Australia’s Amyl and the Sniffers are set to reignite the fire.
Australia has never been the most popular when it comes to punk music or its roots. However, the continent (and country) has provided some incredibly popular rock bands over the years, such as AC/DC and INXS. Its punk relevancy, though, derives mainly from Nick Cave’s bands, such as the Bad Seeds and The Birthday Party. While those bands can be described as darker and more gothic, Australia had many bands that were more punk to the core, such as X and The Saints, which are both great examples. These ’70s bands played fast and loose and went under the radar in their time. Despite the lack of popularity, these bands and their contemporaries helped influence the climate of current Australian punk music. Upcoming band Amyl and the Sniffers look to bring awareness toward the abrasive and revolutionary sound Australia can produce.
The future of Australian punk music continues to shine, and while many current punk bands have different ways of expressing their sound, they all adhere to the same ethics. Punk ethics is the unspoken collective agreement that it is important to empathize with others, especially those oppressed. This rule of thumb has carried generations of punk and stands today among all punk bands. As long as this rule stands, the cult followings will continue to grow amongst Australian punk bands.
Amyl and the Sniffers
Amyl and the Sniffers are in your face and not afraid to call out anybody on their shit. In Amyl’s song “Jerkin’,” they speak out on David Seymour, a New Zealand politician, and his strong views to push apartheid on Indigenous groups in New Zealand. Although the lines “You’re a dumb cunt, you’re an asshole/Every time you talk, you mumble, grumbles” can apply to anyone in this context, many people online have attributed the lyrics in this song to David Seymour’s political views. Amyl and the Sniffers express their political views prominently in their track “Capital,” emphasizing these same punk ethics. The song addresses critical issues such as opposition to patriarchy, capitalism, and settler colonialism.
All of their non-conformity has pushed them toward the mainstream. Amyl and the Sniffers opened up for Foo Fighters over the summer, giving them an even larger audience. With Amy, the lead vocalist’s flashy style and old-school angst, it is hard not to love the band. The band has so much character, despite being more traditional, and even more character in their fans. Muscly men in flannels, people of color, teenagers double-fisting beers, and purple-haired people all wait for the same band. The powerful messages that the band has brought have made a common ground among their fans, regardless of appearance. Amyl and the Sniffers have successfully brought together diverse demographics, with more success on the horizon.
Genesis Owusu
Among the many punk bands in Australia, Genesis Owusu is a solo act focusing on blending elements of neo-soul and dance-punk. Genesis is yet another musician following punk ethics. At the ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) music awards last year, Genesis Owusu called for a ceasefire between Israel and Palestine. The conflict went mostly unspoken at music awards internationally, but Genesis shook things up for the better.
Genesis Owusu’s 2021 album Smiling With No Teeth had the most critical acclaim of his discography. The album blended elements of synth-punk with neo-soul and conscious hip-hop, as one critic (Mark Salisbury of Earmilk) described it as “a visceral sonic attack on the senses and should cement Genesis Owusu as an international renaissance man.” There seems to be nothing more punk than genre-bending to the point of non-conformity, and Genesis executes it well. Genesis’ unconventional sound leads Australian punk toward a more distinct sound and future.
Tropical Fuck Storm
Tropical Fuck Storm is an art-punk band that is classified as one of the few melodic yet noisy punk bands out there. Their sound is beautiful, yet providing ear-piercing riffs that are energetic enough to headbang to. The band also establishes itself as anti-QAnon and anti-Trump, as said in an interview by Honi Soit. Most of these Australian punk bands describe themselves as left-wing in a general sense. The statement, however, does not serve as a universal commentary on politics within the punk genre, particularly due to the presence of right-wing bands such as the Ramones and the influence of Neo-Nazi elements affecting the punk scene. These bands are reaching for a common goal of sound ethics and keeping these ideas out of Australia’s punk scene.
Tropical Fuck Storm has released six projects featuring abstract album covers that immerse listeners in the band’s world, and the band’s noise rock and art punk ideas revitalize the Australian punk scene with loads of energy. This is simply the sound of a disgruntled future nobody is ready for.
The Chats
The Chats are a more traditional punk band, combining garage rock with a traditional punk sound. The band most popularly featured on the hit show “Outer Banks,” which might not be the most punk show, but it introduced a new audience for the band. The band’s retro sound, drawing inspiration from iconic ’70s bands such as the Buzzcocks and Wire, authentically captures a rebellious “screw you” attitude that boldly challenges discriminatory practices within parliament.
The Chats may be a bit more brash and indecent toward an older audience, but that is their whole appeal. They want to cause disorder to anyone who deserves it, and their album Get Fucked proves it. Punk continues to stir up meaningless controversy to deter the masses from real problems, but punk lives on regardless.
