When I get an EP landing in my inbox and it mentions the phrase “screaming Les Pauls and thunderous drums”, generally, I’m going to sit up and pay attention. Flickertail have both in spades with their debut EP, Hurry Up and Wait. Citing influences such as Thin Lizzy, The Darkness and erm… Oasis, I was keen to get my ears around it.
So, ok, there’s no real Oasis influence other than the generic indie influence found at points. Wait, that is Oasis. That being said, it’s still a meaty offering of hard rock goodness for those into 70s hard rock with Kiss and Slade making their influence known. Naturally, because of that but with its modern production and vibe, there’s hints of The Darkness, albeit minus the crotch-hugging spandex which induces the harshest of falsettos.
Opener “Let There Be Love” is the standard no-frills, high octane, fist-pumping hard-rocker you’d expect to be cranked from a band wielding a Les Paul but it’s damn good and grabs your attention when it gets further into the meatier songs. Meanwhile, “Green Eyed Girl” has the lament and tone you’d find on Permission to Land but with more mature lyrics, not aimed at those with a 14-year-old’s sense of humour. As Liam Whelan and Jonny Goldrick trade their riffs, Whelan also providing the rasping vocals, there’s a definite homage to those bands which made the 70s so unique. Hard rock with a good helping of boogie from bands like T. Rex and Slade alongside Status Quo and AC/DC in their more playful moments.
Meanwhile, “Talk” and “Fade Away” lets the band explore their sound a bit more with acoustic sounds submerged in and gives off a modern indie/soulful feel. If Hunter and the Bear decided to roughen themselves up a bit more, this is what it’d sound like. So with those two songs book-ended with the two hard rockers, it’s only fair “Back of My Mind” combines all of it into one neat little package, taking the best of both shades of the band.
With the driving bass you’d expect from the best Thin Lizzy songs, softer vocals and pounding drums, there’s a big, British hard rock sound fuelled by the grit of Australia’s finest and slight pop tones to make for an engaging debut.
Hurry Up and Wait is out now
Flickertail: facebook
