The PanicsCruel Guards
Dew Process Records [2008]
Fire Drills Review:
There is a reason that the debut album from Australian group The Panics earned an ARIA award (an Australian equivalent to the Grammy). Cruel Guards was released last year Down Under and now sees a US release based on its strength. The record has a very mid-tempo pace to it but comes across to the listener with tons of bundled up energy in each tune that includes handclaps, strings and introspective lyrics. Lead singer Joe Laffer delivers a somewhat husky and narrative vocal which keeps each tune front and center while being backed by catchy harmonies that makes Cruel Guards memorable and worth checking out what all the hype is about!
Key Track: "Ruins"
Band With Similar Fire: Luna
Get Us Home (mp3)
Official Panics Website
The Panics MySpace
-Reviewed by Reece Michael
