Sounds Of Spring - Giants Of Science

I won't bullshit you. As debut EPs go, Blueprint For Courageous Action by Brisbane's Giants Of Science is exceptional. No fat, just five lean songs that exude style and integrity. So to hear two of those five tonight - hard-hitting opener 'Complete This Progression' and 'The Letter B' - is thrilling. Singer/guitarist Ben Salter purposely stuffs up the intro riff of the latter a couple of times to mess with us, before the quartet drop into the groove for real.

The song's mid-section is where things really go haywire. It’s reduced to just Matthew Tanner's bassline and Steve Lynagh's bouncing hi-hat for a few bars, before the guitar interplay between Salter and Benjamin Tuite climaxes in a series of increasingly huge riffs and runaway drum fills.

And that's just one song, released in 2000. Before a few hundred witnesses, they play about nine more including 'I've Tried' and 'I Got It' from 2002's History Of Warfare, 'Dead Sea' and the title track from 2005's Here Is The Punishment. A dust storm descends, which gradually reduces visibility. But while conditions aren't ideal, the band are still firing. Not that we're only here for the nostalgia factor - a couple of new creations are aired, and well-received - but fuck, they've come up with some excellent hard rock songs in the last decade. Here's to continuing the trend.

by Andrew McMillen