Live Review: The Peep Tempel, Damn Terran, Them Bruins

In honour of The Peep Tempel's single launch, Melbourne's hard-rock enthusiasts slowly dribble into Workers Club. First on for the night are howling four-piece Them Bruins. The frontmen shred their guitars and bounce around stage, sweaty and animated, performing noisy rock songs. The band's lead singer casually informs us that he's “bleeding profusely” from the mouth before launching straight into their single Black Widow, an anthemic rock song. All in all it's a strong, boisterous set.

Next up are the popular Damn Terran, an energetic, hard-rock outfit with a sound reminiscent of '90s grunge – The Smashing Pumpkins producing a metal lovechild. The band incorporate jarring, sharp treble sounds with frenetic punk sections. Lead singer and guitarist Lachlan Ewbank throws himself around like Harry Potter on his rogue broomstick and it seems his guitar is the one leading. Their single Rebels is a particular highlight, with Ewbank's screaming vocals alternating nicely with bassist Ali Edmonds' deep female timbre. At the close of the set, Ewbank throws his guitar at his brother, Leigh, on drums – a conclusive gesture to their growling '90s shtick.

Headliners The Peep Tempel pack out the band room in a way that's rarely seen. An energetic, post-punk influenced outfit, The Peep Tempel come across similarly to The Stooges; that mix of boppy, fun melodies and a harsh distorted sound. Lead vocalist/guitarist Blake Scott has an unusual voice that's akin to a rapping Jack White as he spits out songs to a cheering crowd. Scott has a jovial interaction with the audience, informing one rowdy fan, “I'll do the jokes, fuckhead”. After raucous laughter from the crowd, Scott immediately apologises.

Dark Beach, the single they launch tonight, is a hard rocking, chord-driven song with an effective build that makes many fans up front pogo madly. Later, Scott mentions the birthday of (presumably) their biggest fan. The anointed is eventually allowed to perform some solo, celebratory moshing onstage (despite being forbidden at first on the basis that he'd wreck all their equipment “again”).

Scott gets slowly drunker and more filthy-mouthed throughout the set, but maintains quality of performance with his deep voice and high screaming notes while both he and bassist Stevie Striker convulse and stagger about the stage. It's a fun, electrifying and noisy set; alluring to even the most tentative hard-rock fans.