July 11 - Noteworthy New Releases
Our favourite releases of the week.
TONIX – ‘Feel Alive’
Every now and again, you hear a track that instantly gives you a boost. A song that makes your day worthwhile, no matter how much of a clusterfuck it’s been. That’s exactly the type of feeling you get when vibing to TONIX’s ‘Feel Alive’. The band’s first release for 2025 will have you doing a jig in your living room. It’s got a real summer anthem feel, with the dual male/female vocals spot on and the playful synths reminiscent of the early 00s indie craze that ruled the charts. ‘Feel Alive’ is another step forward in TONIX’s evolution as a band and is sure to be a live favourite.
Sounds like: A hot shower after getting caught in the rain.
By Tobias Handke
Energy Angel – ‘Out of Sight’
While most of Energy Angel’s debut EP NRG is what we’d call hardcore-adjacent – standing next to hardcore in the pouring rain – ‘Out of Sight’ stands confidently under the hardcore umbrella. Excuse the repetition of such an overused, broad term, but in our defence, the song is indeed hard (at its core). On this track, Energy Angel intentionally holds back from adding any bells and whistles; it never slows down, lets up, or allows the listener any time to take a breath. The chugging guitars and cannon shot drumming are exhausting, and Noah Carter-Wignall’s vocals cut through the instrumental barrage like shattered glass, delivered like he’s writhing in pain. This discomfort drives the song forward, and the band aims it at the listener, as if to say, “If we’re feeling this, you have to feel it, too.” And we do, all the way down to our tired bones.
Sounds like: Ducking for cover.
By Jack Paech
Kurralta Park – ‘Into My GUms’
Like memories, music often finds itself tied to a time and a place. For indie-rock trio Kurralta Park, the place feels as though it’s sorted via their suburban moniker, but time is another question altogether. On ‘Into My Gums,’ which serves as a preview of forthcoming album Powell Place, Kurralta Park are a masterful summation of their influences, blending nostalgic elements of classic emo and indie of decades gone by, yet filtering it through a modern lens.
This cathartic rumination on pressure and anxiety feels like it could be an anachronistic artifact in this modern age, but if anything, it proves they’re a group who never forget where they come from while working out where they’re going. Impactful and resonant, it’s difficult to place a band like Kurralta Park, but it’s clear they don’t worry about things like that – at least not this time.
Sounds like: A gritty, faded snapshot of the future.
By Tyler Jenke
The Tullamarines – ‘Lying’
We wear masks and tell ourselves little lies because we all have insecurities. We should be able to tell our truth in a way that feels safe. The Tullamarines have done just that through the power of pop-rock with new single ‘Lying’, a melancholy track you can dance or cry to. This is a song that holds your hand on hard days and helps you work through the same topics on good days. The guitars are boppy and the vocals are clean, with a stripped-back third chorus drawing the ear in before an energetic bridge. ‘Lying’ has a retro feel with a fresh, honest perspective.
Sounds like: Gently healing while slow dancing with yourself.
By Jannah Fahiz
Dropsink – ‘Care It All’
“…it doesn’t make sense to live life unhappily.” – Bibi Bourelly
Whilst this German-born soul singer and songwriter is unquestionably universes away in sound from Adelaide’s indie-punk quartet Dropsink, they do share a remarkable characteristic that inspires revolt, and that is their “attitude”. Combining the punk-swagger of Dead To Me with The Ataris circa 1999, as well as the power-pop of Sunnyboys, Dropsink have crafted that carefree-punk-melody that needs to be on Spotify’s Cut Loose playlist, or the next Thrasher CD sampler.
Vocalist Lachlan Searles brilliantly broadcasts messages such as “Wait for the day we’re never going to change” and “I don’t care at all,” showcasing that defiant happiness does make all kinds of sense.
Sounds like: Beddy Ray’s younger brother.
By Will Oakeshott
Looch – ‘Schooner Ave’
Loud, wild, authentic, and undeniably Australian punk rock is Looch’s new single ‘SCHOONER AVE’. This song is a celebration of life, despite its many shortcomings. Yes, sometimes we work shitty jobs to get by, but the first sip of a schooner with mates at clock-off makes it all worth it. Energy buzzes through the track, complemented by Looch’s classic raw powerhouse punk vocals that put it all out on the table. Sweaty melodic guitar riffs and punchy bass lines pulsate, leaving listeners itching to catch this track live in all its glory. Once again, Looch demonstrate their undeniable ethos: live hard, cherish your mates, make music you believe in and don’t hold back. ‘SCHOONER AVE’ serves as a well needed reminder of the attitude we all should adopt: “Life is short, you shouldn’t get bored”.
Sounds like: Your local bottlo on Friday at clock-off time.
By Millah Hansberry
