Carrying the fire of 1970s arena rock into ancient halls of lust and glory.
My first introduction to rock music was undoubtedly the car trips to junior soccer games where my parents would take me back to their time with AC/DC, The Angels and Cold Chisel.
It lit a carnal fire inside me that pushed me towards the endless horizon of music.
Now I’m brought back to those early days and the arena rock classics of the 70s with one of the newest Australian bands to fly through the Happy Mag Radar.
Australia is still carrying the fire, and Necko might just be one of its next torchbearers.
They’re arriving at a good time for it, too, with a new crop of Australian guitar bands once again embracing big riffs, bigger choruses and the kind of unapologetic rock ambition that spent a few years decidedly out of fashion.
Necko is a Sydney-based trio draped in denim jeans and leather jackets, inspired by the atmospheric and hooky rock bands that dominated the 70s and beyond.
Their sound taps into that nostalgia, while bringing a whole new light into the ancient halls that once dominated the space.
The buzz surrounding lead singles, ‘You’ve Got What I Want’ and ‘Sinner’ is definitely well earnt and forms the perfect gateway into their sound and the domain they precide over.
‘You’ve Got What I Want’ is the EP’s opener, immediately launching the listener into a build up of crashing drums, smooth and swaggy guitars and the wildcat “oh yeah” wails of the lead singer.
The bass forms a groovy and essential component under the charismatic musings of Alek Necko, before launching into an infectiously catchy chorus that will definitely launch sardined crowds into dancing frenzies.
They’ve got all the makings of being a stellar act, one might say they’ve got what you want.
‘Sinner’ is equally catchy and lustful, but pays a further homage to the sounds that inspired the band by launching straight into cowbell fun.
Even the chord progressions of the roaring guitar and the wailings of the chorus feel like a snapshot taken straight from the past, with the whole band joining in to chant their desire to a “little sinner”.
Speaking of chanting, sandwiched between these two tracks is ‘Hymn Of The Broken’, another banger that features echoing lead vocals and harrowing backtracking from the rest of band.
This is what I’d imagine to be played in the still air and blinding lights of the gothic halls portrayed in the EP’s cover, especially with piano leading components towards the end.
‘Bathed In Glory’ continues the epic, biblical and fantastical soundscape of the band.
The acoustic licks added into the mix help the track feel like an ancient tale told throughout the ages, enhanced further by a pre chorus of collective chanting and harmonisation.
Immediately after, ‘Beggar On A Throne Of Gold’ gives some breathing room from the explosive and grand design of their work, with gentle acoustics, minimal bass and patient drums.
Despite it being a gentler track, it’s still able to take you on a winding journey through beautiful singing, wavy strums and marches to the drums.
By the time ‘What Remains’ finally breaks open, I’m back in that car on the way to junior soccer, hearing guitars that feel impossibly big for the first time.
Closing out the project is the almost six-minute ballad of ‘What Remains’ that showcases the band’s ability to create angelic ambience and tension with bare components.
This tension is bent back slowly and slowly until it snaps into a rocking epic frenzy that puts the electric guitar and the wailing vocals on a grand podium.
And on a grand podium they shall remain, as ‘Necko II’ gives folks the most fleshed out, fantastically grand and impressive release to date.
The road of their journey may be an unknown distance, but so far the trio have created something truly special that makes the future so full of hope, adventure and more melodic falsettos.
Till that time, new listeners can head to their Spotify, Instagram and YouTube for more epic rocking fun.
If that’s not enough, you can check out their shows under their ‘Come As One’ tour, taking on halls, hotels, taverns and pubs across Australia during late September, October and early November.
