Australia keeps putting out quality rock bands, and not all of them follow the AC/DC template, to prove this, Starcrazy are releasing a new album that continues to bring together the old-style glam with added metal and the more complex tinges of prog.
I liked their single from 2020 called ‘Long Way Home’ for the sentiment as much as the music, the band said ”We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, who are the traditional owners of the land on which we create, perform & share our music. Always was, always will be Aboriginal Land.” The 2021 release Played For Suckers was damned good too.
Their latest outing sees Marcus Fraser – Vocals, Odin Wolf – Guitars, Jack Barratt – Bass/Vocals and Jack Farmer – Drums supply half a dozen quality rock songs on the EP with the wordplay title, Another Day, Another Squalor…’ Opener, ‘Galaxy O’ Love’ is a great place to start as the ludicrously catchy riff leads to an imaginary Sweet meets Maiden song.
‘The Big Time’ is funky, glam metal if Alice is glam. The brilliant ‘The Open Sea’ has a clever staccato start before the threat of AC/DC dissolves into a heavy rock Beach Boys covered by Poison… sounds strange, but this complex, accessible and varied rock has everything you need in its sub-four minute running time.
The short, sharp blast of ‘Egging Me On’ is a melodic punk excursion. ‘Hysterical’ has notes of Hanoi Rocks and is another example of the ingenious pop-rock sheen they can slather over the rock. The final track, ‘Monday Morning (Prayer for Tony)’ is heavier, harder and very very good.
This is a good-time rock ’n’ roll album but with a snarl.
Another Day, another Squalor… is out on 10th March 2023
