Hungry Ghost

It seems like far too long since we’ve had the chance to get our ears around a full offering of tunes from Mansfield’s Violent Soho.  Thankfully, since signing with Melbourne based label I Oh You, they’ve very much been back in the forefront of Australia’s music scene.

Following the release of ‘Tinderbox’ and ‘Neighbour Neighbour’ last year, anticipation for their next record was understandably high. Some preview shows also served to remind fans just how bloody awesome and powerful their live show is.

That build up of anticipation and long wait has been well worth it. Hungry Ghost shows Violent Soho at their fiery best but also indicates continued growth musically and melodically. Once again they deliver bucket loads of energy but most importantly it’s not just on the heavier tracks.

The mellower contemplative tracks really standout, highlighting frontman Luke Boerdam’s strong sense of melody. ‘Fur Eyes’ in particular shows the band exploring a more straightforward pop rock formula underpinned by the immensely catchy guitar line and vocal melody.

There’s also a shift away from introspective lyrics to more of a study of the bands hometown and mixture of eclectic characters as outlined in the first single ‘In The Aisle’.

One’s inability to nail down a favourite track is always a good sign of an awesome album. Every listen of this record delivers new stand out tracks for different reasons. ‘Covered in Chrome’ simply shows the band at their very best in terms of dynamics, blistering energy, and creativity.

This album stays true to Violent Soho’s grunge roots, there are head bangers and yelling a plenty, but most importantly it shows their continual growth as one of Australia’s best rock acts.

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