SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS – CARTOON DARKNESS

AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS
CARTOON DARKNESS
VIRGIN MUSIC GROUP/B2B RECORDS

Punk is having a massive resurgence of late, and Amyl And The Sniffers are near the forefront. The band has made a name for themselves with their exciting live shows and full-throttle punk songs that are fun, explosive, unfiltered, and an ‘assault to the senses.’ Cartoon Darkness, the latest album to be added to the band’s catalogue is filled with some of the best songwriting from the band, with Amy Taylor delivering top-notch vocals, and has a great mix of entertaining headbanging punk tunes and songs that break some new ground for the band.

Cartoon Darkness has several empowering anthems with solid songwriting. “Tiny Bikini” celebrates the beauty of the body and is a critique of the male gaze and society’s obsession with the ‘perfect body’ and ‘the right fashion.’ In the uplifting “Big Dreams”, Taylor sings about having the confidence and belief in yourself to make your dreams a reality, all it starts with is: “Just take a breath and get yourself together”. Equally as inspiring is “U Should Not Be Doing That”, which tackles themes of self-expression and acts as a giant middle finger to all the haters. As lyrics like, “I know my worth/I’m not the worst/You told me once I was,” point out, just be you, no matter what, despite what others may think of you.

Amy Taylor is at the top of her game on this latest record. Her commanding vocal performance and rebellious and fearless attitude shine brightly on Cartoon Darkness. On tracks like “Pigs” and “Chewing Gum”, Taylor cements herself as one of the leading faces of punk working today. On the other hand, “Bailing On Me” highlights Taylor’s softer side vocally, which rocks just as much.

Cartoon Darkness demonstrates the range of Amyl And The Sniffers. Right away, the album opener, “Jerkin’”, hits you with a wave of an aggressive sound. They hold nothing back as the opening lyrics to this hard-hitting track are: “You’re a dumb cunt / You’re an asshole”. With harsh drums, loud and wild guitars, chaotic energy, vulgar lyrics, and Taylor’s passionate vocals, this is Amyl and The Sniffers at their finest. “It’s Mine” is a fierce punk meets thrash metal tune full of raw energy. This heavy and intense song features an exhilarating guitar solo that will leave you in awe. Meanwhile, the explosive “Tiny Bikini” is a throwback to the Riot Grrrl days of the 90s.

“U Should Not Be Doing That” has some glam influence. “Big Dreams” sees Amyl and the Sniffers go for a softer, somewhat folksy ballad-like approach. Similarly, “Bailing on Me” goes for a more melodic approach. Some fans might not like how tame some of the tracks are, but Amyl And The Sniffers do not want to be in danger of repeating themselves. They want to find new ways to experiment. These new styles that they have adapted into their sound fit naturally.

Overall, led by Amy Taylor’s iconic vocals, Cartoon Darkness, showcases what Amyl And The Sniffers do best: making magnetic punk tunes. However, they have also evolved their style a bit, and it will be exciting to see them continue to push themselves musically in the future.

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