Some of my influential friends have been touting Melvic Centre's new album Trawler. Having given the album a few listens, I feel compelled to do some touting of my own. Seconds after pushing play, I found myself instantly transported back to the '90s in a way that practically gave me chills. Remember all those old college radio favorites who walked the fine lines between fuzzy alternative rock, emo-ish melodic punk, and noisy power pop? Well that's where Melvic Centre lives, and this Aussie foursome pulls off this sound to perfection. With Melvic Centre, it's not just the vibe. It's also the quality of the songwriting, which is first rate all the way through the album. The brainchild of vocalist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Will Mitchell, Trawler delivers the perfect blend of punchy energy, mellow grooves, and infectious hooks. If you had told me this album was recorded 30 years ago, I would have had no reason to doubt you. Yet I wouldn't describe Trawler as a copy of past sounds as much as I would call it a reinvigoration. Sometimes these younger bands have a way of injecting something genuinely fresh into seemingly tried-and-true musical styles. Coming up with a filler-free 14-track album is a high bar to clear, but I can find no fault with any of these songs. This is that rare modern album that not only reminds you of classics from decades past but can also stand toe-to-toe with them. Hands down, this is one of the year's best long players.
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