If you pay attention to the rock genre, you may remember a 2004 summer tour called “The Aussie Invasion Tour,” which featured the best rock bands from that corner of the globe. The tour featured The Vines, Jet, and my personal favorites, The Living End. The Living End have recently released their newest effort, “State of Emergency” in Australia. It is not available in the U.S. yet, but it can be purchased online through their website www.thelivingend.com.
The Living End is truly a band unlike any other. Chris Cheney on guitar, Scott Owen on bass, and Andy Strachan on drums incorporate so many different sounds and genres that they have created their very own.
Mixing rock, punk, blues, jazz, and even country, The Living End keep listeners on their toes with a unique and refreshing sound. Just like their previous albums, “State of Emergency” does not disappoint. In everything about it, from guitars to vocals and from bass to drums, “State of Emergency” is full of punk energy, rock sound, blues guitar, and jazz arrangements. Songs like “Wake Up” and “Long Live the Weekend” are destined to become Australian rock classics, while “‘Til the End” and “What’s on Your Radio?” are as punk as modern times allow.
Chris Cheney’s writing abilities are highlighted by the stand-out track “Nothing Lasts Forever.” Jazz and blues fans will be pleased with the eerie “One Step Behind.”
Fans of The Stray Cats, Green Day, and Agent Orange are sure to fall in love with the biggest Australian rock band since AC/DC. For further listening, check out the band’s MySpace.com site at www.myspace.com/thelivingend and their previous albums “The Living End,” “Roll On,” and “Modern Artillery.”
If you’ve never heard of the band, hopefully you will become a new fan, and if you’ve already heard of them, you appreciate their latest venture. You can see the group during the summer on the annual Van’s Warped Tour in a city near you.