Half the album was recorded in a beachside shed during Covid lockdown, the other dates back to 2018. Vocalist-guitarist Spaceman Dave (Mergatroid, Labrat, Spacefarmers) croon-growls in brooding style and is an adept fretman. He and keyboardist Phil Honey provide the colour and movement while a solid engine room (that’d be Rick Porteous and bassist Phil Smurthwaite) provides the grooves.  

Contrary to its title, “Terror Australis” is about as scary as a ride on a country fair ghost train. It’s more like tremelo twang meeting Morricone cool on the ferris wheel. “Swamped” is a reverb-laden garage groovefest with a spidery guitar-line set to love-lost lyrics that are dripping with remorse.   

Spaceman Dave delivers a commanding vocal on the transcendentally spooky “Restless Hearts” that could have won a place on a ‘50s teen movie soundtrack. Likewise “Blue Caves”, which is another standout.  

“Back to the Sea” delivers what’s written on the label but has a vibe that’s more trash vibe than “Blue Hawaii”. “Monster Girl” has way too many words for its own good but who cares? “Too Ghoul For School” is total schlock – like The Verntures guesting on an episode of “My Favorite Martian”.

You want pathos? “Invisible to You” flicks the switch to boy-lost-girl balladeering and sounds like it walked off a good old compilation of early ‘60s Oz punk like “It’s a Kave In”. Fuck it, the whole record reeks of “Back From the Grave” – and you just try and tell me that’s not a good thing.

It's a short run on vinyl only so click on that link below before it's too late.

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