Issue 497

Grenadiers Songs The Devil Taught Us Casadeldisco Records The Grenadiers are a local Adelaide band whose name pops up every now and then on gig posters and Triple J. Almost out of nowhere they have released their debut album featuring ten tracks of gritty rock n' roll. As the group are native Adelaidians and the album was recorded at Capital Sound, a local Adelaide studio, it would be unfortunate if I had to bag this release. Luckily I don't, because it is damn fine indeed. Opening track Abandon Ship bangs along revealing early that the Grenadiers are Australia's answer to Queens Of The Stone Age, a similarity especially obvious in Jesse Coulters vocal delivery. Things speed up with No-One Listens and a punk influence becomes infused with the rock to amp up the energy levels. Album standout Leave It In Your Pocket is as fascinating as it is catchy and shows the song writing dynamics of the band. Radio favourite Old Uncle Scratch features heavier vocals which are executed brilliantly, something that the band should do more of, and contains the best break down of the record. A mention must be made to the amusing footnote in the album booklet which refers to a line from Good Advice which states "walk the line like Johnny Cash in '59" and claims that the band are aware the song was actually written in '56 but that doesn't rhyme with the word "line." The record ends on a high note with Bad Hand which manages to sum up it's predecessors in a riff filled power opus. As far as Australian rock releases go this is the one you should be paying attention to at the moment. Luke Carlino