Melvic Centre are a four piece from Newcastle, Australia. Trawler is their second full length, and was initially released via Australian label Evil Tone Records in July. Luckily for us on the flipside of the world, Scott at Brassneck Records is handling a UK pressing. The release has been pretty well received in the land down under (never shy away from a Men At Work reference, innit), a country that seems to be producing some great bands over the last decade – top picks being in my opinion Clowns and Civic, but there’s probably loads I’m not cool enough to have heard of because I’m 48 years old. Yep, I’m that guy vicariously clinging on to the notion that punk rock is not just for the kids, yo.
Anyway, Melvic Centre and their album Trawler, which Scott Brassneck has kindly sent to me for review, as he’s a top dude… Brassneck Records is a pretty reliable label, and I’d be pushed to think of a duff release. I’m happy to confirm that Trawler continues a solid hit rate.
Stylistically, the sound here seems grounded in a blend of melodic punk and power pop. There’s hooks and harmonies for weeks, here mate. It’s enthralling stuff. There’s definitely a harking back to sounds of the early 1990s here; I’m talking the UK’s own Mega City Four and Ned’s Atomic Dustbin here, a pair of bands from the so-called “greebo” scene at the time that paired speed with melody in a particularly unique way. Small wonder that Wizz (RIP) from Mega City Four went on to join Canadian band, Doughboys. If you’ve never done a deep-dive into those bands, you should give it some serious consideration – you can thank me later. I’m also led to draw comparisons to the output of US indie rock bands of the time, such as The Lemonheads (see It’s A Shame About Ray) and The Gin Blossoms .
For more modern reference points I’m gonna throw out there Joyce Manor, Grumpster and Cheap Girls. All of whom I feel have successfully updated the aforementioned 90s indie rock reference points in their own way, as have Melvic Centre. Think bright sounding yet fuzzy guitar jangle over a well structured backbeat… The Ergs! meets The Pains of Being Pure At Heart with a Descendentsesque heft anyone? If Tony Sly (of No Use For A Name) was still around he’d be wishing he could pen pop songs of this quality. Evan Dando is obviously still around and he can’t, so who knows…
Absolutely nowt wrong and everything right with this, in my opinion. I also find it particularly reassuring that there’s no flab in need of paring away here. Yet another release in a strong year that sets out it’s stall with an assured and well deserved confidence.
Tony of Nurgle rating 10/10
Pick this up on prawn orange vinyl from Brassneck Records
