Suffering Jukebox

This morning's episode features an interview with Chloe from the brand new, local hardcore band I Have A Bomb. Check them out live this weekend at Bardon Hall on Friday 23rd May with Verminate, Lobotomy Girl and Lavender Threat and on Saturday 24th May at Coorparoo Hall with Human Condition, Flail, Verminate and Lavender Threat.

Nick's Pick of the Week is McLusky's The World Is Still Here And So Are We. You can hear the whole album in all the usual places, or purchase it here https://mcluskymclusky.bandcamp.com/album/the-world-is-still-here-and-so-are-we and my review can be read below.

McLusky: The Word Is Still Here And So Are We (Ipecac)

Released May 9th 2025

Mike Patton’s Ipecac Recordings is fast developing a reputation for releasing shockingly good come back albums from long-dormant noise rock bands. First, there was Rack by The Jesus Lizard, perhaps THE comeback record of 2024. Now, in 2025, they release —the aptly titled— The World Is Still Here And So Are We, McLusky’s first record in twenty-one years and a potential candidate for 2025’s comeback album of the year.

McLusky formed in Cardiff, England in 1996. Their lineup has frequently changed over the years, with the only constant member being vocalist and guitarist Andy Falkous. Despite calling it quits in 2005, the group have reformed sporadically since 2014 —in various incarnations— for occasional one off gigs and special causes. The World Is Still Here And So Are We is their first collection of new material since 2004’s The Difference Between Me and You Is that I'm Not on Fire.

Unpopular Parts Of The Pig opens the album, with two minutes and twenty seconds of abrasive, but bizarrely catchy, noise rock, setting the tone for the rest of the record. After twenty years of silence, the reformed McLusky know their strengths and they play to them, rarely deviating or straying off course. This isn’t a criticism, for there is enough sonic variation to keep new and old listeners entertained for the album’s half hour duration.

Chekhov’s Guns, one of the album’s pre-release singles, hits hard, nestled in the second half of the album, it’s all gritty, overdriven bass, punchy rhythms and jagged guitars. Elsewhere, The Battle Of Los Anglesea channels In Utero era Nirvana whilst Autofocus On The Prime Directive resembles the ramshackle swagger of The Birthday Party’s Junkyard. Ultimately though, McLusky can’t help but sound like themselves, distorted, derisive and (more than a little) deranged.

Comebacks can be difficult, the last thing any band returning from retirement wants to hear is, “Why did they even bother?” Thankfully, McLusky can rest easy knowing that their efforts have been well received; and with good reason. The World Is Still Here And So Are We may not reach the heights of the 2002 classic, McLusky Do Dallas, but it is remarkably solid album from a group who clearly have nothing left to prove, but plenty more to say.

Nick Stephan