Album Review: Violent Soho - Everything Is A-OK

Violent Soho’s Everything Is A-OK gets off to an explosive start with opener Sleep Year with its thrumming guitars and smashing drum lines. It's swiftly followed by the gritty melodies of Vacation Forever, bringing with it daydreams of a cool crisp summer's afternoon. The pressures of modern expectations are heavily felt throughout tracks Pick It Up, Lying On The Floor and Pity Jar, all of which lyrically navigate the exhaustingly constant cycle of being beaten down by life over and over again, with lyrics such as  “Feelings never stay the same/ The furniture is falling apart” featured in the latter.

Musically dynamic, the album from the Brisbane rock outfit constantly changes pace, as songs like Slow Down Sonic’s reverberated guitar plucks and slides emanate a softer tone, complimented with the brash vocal stylings of singer Luke Boerdam. They work just as well on the flip side, as Shelf Life’s chaotic construction brings Violent Soho’s maniacally twisted grandeur to the forefront. As the album is wrapped up in a slightly battered and bruised package, final track A-OK is the shiny red bow on top, a reminder that despite the noise, “Everything is a-ok.”