Album Review: Iowa - Never Saw It Coming

Having self-released a bunch of spectacularly-colourful 7”s on their own Aerial Mines label, Never Saw It Coming is Melbourne rockers Iowa's first long player – and the title cannot be any more apt. It is nigh on certain that people haven't heard these guys before – but with the advent of Yuck and resurgence of the likes of Dinosaur Jr, the Pixies and Pavement, this act are on the cusp of something great here.

It's J Mascis' crew whose influence can be most readily felt on the album, with Dylan Stewart's aggressive buzz saw guitar prominent throughout. Complete Control and Panic Attack, the one-two single explosion that opens up the album, are a double-barrel blast to the soul, seesawing between melody and abrasion beautifully. There is more of the same in Should've Known, slowing down the pace yet upping the tension, whilst the slow burner Sunday offers a shake-up that is a welcome respite, despite the slickness of what came before. The trio – rounded out by bassist Jordan Barczak and skinsman Matt Rooney – crank it back up again for the latter stages of the album, and kick up their Dinosaur Jr fetish a notch on Love Song, whilst retaining the incessant hook.

Instrumental killer Serotonin allows the engine room to hold sway, something that is overlooked with the guitar solos and hero worship. It highlights the strength that this trio has, and that they can, at the opportune time, mirror their evident role models. What's more, there is no overt sense of grandiosity or pomposity. This is an impressive debut.