Album Review: Bats - 'Truthless Faithless'

'Truthless Faithless', the debut album from Perth-based rockers Bats opens with the kind of dissonant riff that is sure to get your mum and her book club friends in a right kerfuffle, and it’s full speed ahead from there. Well, metaphorically speaking at least. This band navigates between stomping riffs, speedy psych-sections and slow, muddy exercises in absolute filth; and a bloody good time is had all around.

Unfortunately for me, there was this constant nagging sense of deja vu; that little voice in the back of my head that kept tapping me on the shoulder saying “I remember this!” This isn’t to say there isn’t heaps of good stuff to be found here – there definitely is, and highlights like 'Tarantula' and '24 Hours' prove this beyond any doubt. But on 'Truthless Faithless', Bats step dangerously close to the line between wearing their influences on their sleeves and revisiting the best bits of the music they obviously love and want to pay homage to.

Though, in comparison to another album that struggled with this very same problem not all that long ago though (see here), 'Truthless Faithless' is a whole lot more fun to listen to.

Almost every track on 'Truthless Faithless' could get an arvo barbeque started with ease, and for the way in which Bats know their way around a track they should be commended. However, for the next step to be taken by the band something inherently "Bats" needs to emerge here. If that does happen, I’ll be there at the snap of a finger, because chops, charisma and energy these guys have aplenty!

Truthless

Tarantula

Who You Know

Beirut

Alexus Nexus

Big

Snaffles

24 Hours

Freedom

Bad Handshakes

Faithless

'Truthless Faithless' is out now.