by Jare C (@jareccurtis)
Over the past 10 years, Amyl and The Sniffers have pushed the aesthetics, ethos, and energy of contemporary punk music. The Aussie act is known for their distinct, brazen femininity that flashes catchy guitar lines and ferocious energy. Their previous album, Comfort To Me, saw huge success on all fronts back in 2021. On Cartoon Darkness, we hear the band ruminating on that success, what has come with it, and what’s coming next.
Vocalist and songwriter Amy Taylor makes it immediately clear this period for the band is all about sensuality and defiance (which makes sense, the band is named after poppers, after all). Opener “Jerkin’” is a no holds barred attack on the misogynistic hate she’s experienced up to this point in her career, with an in-your-face, degrading vulgarity that’s as righteous as it is riveting. Crunchy, catchy guitars give way to a bouncy rhythm section, dense on snare and cymbals, giving Taylor plenty of space to take advantage of that momentum.
This sexy, tongue-in-cheek energy is plentiful throughout the album, whether on the driving and cheeky “Tiny Bikini,” the brash and shouty “Motorbike Song,” or anthemic and new-wave synth love of “Me and The Girls.” The sensual overtones of these tracks compliment the direct, classic punk worship of tracks like “Pigs,” “Doing In Me Head,” and “Do It Do It” with plenty of build ups and break downs. These songs are underpinned by more traditional indie rock tracks like “Chewing Gum” and “Going Somewhere,” songs that deal with romantic love and redemption, giving a full breadth of emotional and aesthetic context to the whole record.
These three brush strokes blend together for a portrait that sees Amyl and the Sniffers taking a very direct stand in who they are at this moment in their career. The band refuses to bend to outside pressure, creating on their own terms as playfully and defiant as ever on Cartoon Darkness. The production on this record has an indie rock tinge, giving the punchier tracks a lot more bite, but this sonic shift allows Amyl and the Sniffers to play with melody and discord even more. The band’s progression, femininity, and confidence make Cartoon Darkness a direct knockout and not to be missed.