NEGATIVE GEARING - Roadkill 66 (EC Productions)

This is a limited edition album from a hard rocking Adelaide thrashing machine that draws members from South Australian bands Repo, KT-26 and Z28.

Not quite your "back to '77" punk but plenty of that attitude, delivered more in an Onyas vein with tongues planted firmly in cheeks most of the time. Any band that namechecks Thredbo landslide survivor Stuart Diver (in "Diver", a song dissecting media fame) without inducing a cringe is OK with
me. So is anyone that manages to upset the neighbours in sleepy Adelaide without having to resort to pure noise (which some bands from the City of Churches have tended to do.)

Not only are the Onyas an obvious reference point, but so are the Cosmic Psychos with whom Roadkill 66 share their modus operandi. That means a big bass sound and frenetic timekeeping with Dave Maning's wah-wah'ed out guitar running rampant on most cuts. Tony Grudge doesn't have the greatest vocal range, but who gives a shit when you're kicking up this sort of storm?

As for lyrical content, you can work it out yourself from song titles like "Gimp Boy", "Killed a Thousand Men", "Get a Grip" and "Wet Kiss Insult". And if you're intent on pigeon holing consider, for a second, their cover of the Smithereens' "Behind the Wall of Sleep". Delivered with guitars turned up to stun level, it's done really well and puts a couple of the self-penned efforts in the shade. Ultimately, that proves the lack of memorable songs is this album's weakness.

All in all, not a bad effort but not a barnburner either. Dunno how often they venture out of Adelaide but you can catch Roadkill 66 at that city's sole Radio Birdman gig. - The Barman

BACK TO THE REVIEWS PAGE

BACK TO THE BAR