Talons

Tonight, Talons are commanding. Members of the local support bands scrutinise from the front row; a keen three-man moshpit throbs and jolts throughout and a couple hundred arm-folders watch from behind. If only the trio's energy were contagious. But then, inserting a noise-punk band atop the bill of this city's trendiest indie club was always going to be a divisive decision. Not that they're unappreciated, but the dirty guitar, militant vocals and staccato canter of songs like 'Mudrockets' might be a bit of a musical stretch for your average, 20-year-old Brisbane punter.

No matter, Talons burn through most of their newly released self-titled LP, pausing only to catch their breath with the "slow one", 'Dazzling Metallic Stations'. 'Gravitron' is the direct opposite; their most enjoyable two minutes of impassioned degradation. They're uniformly impressive, and it's a shame that their feedback is immediately superseded by the DJs club beats at set's end.

by Andrew McMillen