Live Review: Release The Hounds, Hug Thearapist, The Acid Monkeys, Fat Chance

The venue is a small intimate bar, tucked into Capitol Theatre, which had the requisite sticky carpet and dingy stage that a bill featuring four DIY thrash-punk bands promised. Thrash and punk are genres that have not had much mainstream airplay recently, but all four bands were unapologetically loud, energetic and suitably aggressive.

Fat Chance opened the night and were more energetic than a two-year-old with a month's supply of red cordial. They moved between punk and ska interchangeably, and on finishing their set with a cover of NOFX's Linoleum were quite sweaty.

The Acid Monkeys were up next and were very loud. They thrashed their instruments and pumped out a very fast-paced set.

Brisbane boys Release The Hounds were the third band up, and were probably the pick of the bunch. Their set was riddled with fast-paced songs that commented on all manner of things that happened to annoy their charismatic lead singer – from topless barmaids to 'The Man'. Their DIY ethic was strong and very obvious from the intermittent banter between songs. They finished with the incredibly energetic Bullets, My Only Weakness, which was fast, tight and fun. It typified the entire set.

Hug Therapist began their set and sounded decent. They were definitely the most melodic band of the night, but still played in a similar vein: short, fast and loud. The Melbourne lads opened with 21CC, and played other favorites like Plain Cheese and Tone Kings.

Strings were broken, beers were drunk and all had a good time. Thrash and punk may not be super popular at the moment, but shows like tonight's just go to show there are many talented bands waiting in the wings for their chance, a chance that they will probably create in their own garage, with their own recording equipment, owing nothing to anyone. Rock on.