Album Review: Verticoli - Punching Bag

Verticoli’s Punching Bag was two years in the making and proof that good things come to those who wait. Raucous, with a divine malignancy, the young Tasmanian four-piece band delivers something truly notable.

Drawing on '90s post-rock influences, Punching Bag is an album that’s sure to grab fans of Fugazi, At The Drive In, Faith No More and Violent Soho. Verticoli’s first release opens with Head Things, a dry kick and the rush of simple guitar melody lines, a great introduction to the band showcasing a strong range of influences and impressive musicianship. Second track, Happiness, sees the band demonstrate their range, displaying the singer’s ability to shift between anthemic verse and the Faith No More-like epic screams that punch out from above the mix, as progressive down-step guitar riffs turn into fast, wild wasp-like strumming in the bridge.  

Punching Bag is an album that really shows Verticoli as an Australian band to celebrate. It's excellently produced by engineer Jake Long, and the flow of the album and song ordering shows world-class maturity and intelligence. While alt-rock is a genre that's been trodden into the dirt by thousands of acts, listening to Punching Bag is a complete joy. Maybe it’s the musicianship, the production or the intrepid sense of humour, but there's something special about Punching Bag that demands repeated play.