A former housemate tells the story of a summer delivery job that had him riding in a truck with an older guy whose taste in music started with Dire Straits and ended somewhere around Jimmy Barnes’ Soul Deep. Driving through Melbourne’s northern suburbs mid-January in an unconditioned Hiace was made more unbearable by having to listen to the guy singing along to Barnesy slaughtering ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours’. After about a week and the 400th rendition of ‘Money For Nothing’, he miraculously found a burn of the New Christs’ classic 1989 record Distemper in among the glove-box junk. Divine intervention? He still claims that CD prevented near certain highway homicide.

The New Christs latest album Gloria doesn’t quite match the heights of Distemper, but then few records released in Australia in the last 20 years have.

Though vocalist Rob Younger (who needs no introduction) and bassist Jim Dickinson (Barracudas, Passengers, Deniz Tek Group, Radio Birdman) are the only remaining members from the Distemper days, drummer Stu Wilson has played in earlier incarnations of the band. As a result, Gloria is classic New Christs. On opening track ‘Try Something’, you get it all – guitar riffs a plenty, sensible but powerful drumming and Younger’s trademark dark and despondent vocal style. And while the production is a little more restrained than on earlier records, it’s Younger’s powerful voice that’s still a highlight. On tracks such as ‘My Existence’ and ‘The Posse’ he really lets it rip. Great stuff.

There are a few change-ups, however, including horns and Brent Williams’ subtle piano on ‘Psych Nurse’, both of which you wouldn’t expect on a New Christs record. On the other hand, the opening riff of ‘Impossible Now’ is the kind of straight-up, meat-and-potatoes rock they’ve become renowned for.

Despite a few weaker moments – ‘Animalisation’ and ‘On All Fours’ – the strike rate remains high, and by the last track ‘Bonsoir A Vous’, with Younger singing the French title in a uniquely Aussie accent, you realise just how strong Gloria is.

Cynics may say it’s more of the same, but that doesn’t stop Gloria from standing alongside Dinosaur Jr’s Farm as one of the best guitar rock records of the year.

by Tim Scott