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The growling Waxhead combine soul and gritty rock magnificently

You know how some people are super cool without even trying? Well Waxhead are the latest chums who are blessed with this gift. Their music is just really cool. Like, really cool. Describing themselves as a “band of long-haired surfer-musician tribesmen impregnating people’s souls with their cosmic vibes”, which seems pretty spot on, Waxhead have produced some pretty soulful and gritty sounds over the past couple of years, making for some pretty infectious music. These Byron Bay locals ooze surf culture, grunge and rock sounds, with some psychedelic undertones.

Waxhead

The long growls, soulful vibes and healthy riffs of Waxhead secure the Byron Bay boys as a rock band worth watching.

The foursome of Froggy (vocals and guitar), Finny (guitar and backing vocals), Mofo (bass) and Beggson (drums) have been pretty busy over the last couple of years. After playing their first show on Australia Day 2013, the lads have recently toured Australia, Japan and Indonesia, as well as playing festivals such as Falls Festival and Byron Bay Blues Festival. Set to release their debut EP in April, Home was recorded in the hills of Byron Shire and produced by George Carpenter, before being sent off and mastered by LA’s Brian Lucey who has previously worked with the likes of The Black Keys and the Arctic Monkeys. So far Waxhead have released two singles off this album, Home and Walking on Air.

Home is a super up-beat, and quite mainstream sounding track, and has more of a surf/beachy sound than a grunge sound. The first 20 seconds of this song really catches your attention. The song starts off with the layering of the heavy drum beat, guitar and vocals, which gives it a catchy, pop vibe, then as the song keeps going, the raw, garage rock sounds come through.

The second single off the EP Walking on Air, straight away is reminiscent of The Strokes, from the vocals to the beat and rhythm. This track is a lot more grunge than Home and is quite heavy and rock n roll. I actually think this may be my favourite song the boys have released so far. Like Home, there are some real heavy drum beats, as well as some gnarly guitar shredding, a killer bass solo, screeching vocals…basically it really packs a punch. Hopefully these two songs are an indication of what the rest of the album will be like.

Waxhead are most definitely a band to keep an ear out for. Already featured on triple J’s Unearthed, and with the release of their debut EP, there will undoubtedly be big things to come for the guys in 2015 and hopefully announcements for a tour will be soon.

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