Release of the Week 22/10: 100 ‘Cortisone’
Launching last Friday at The Chippo Hotel, Sydney’s own punk rock band 100 has released their highly anticipated debut EP Cortisone. Having released single ‘Groove’ a few weeks ago and their debut, ‘If I Give Myself’ earlier in 2018, their distinctly Australian take on the punk genre has driven them from gig to gig, entertaining and exciting crowds across Sydney’s pubs. Now, with the release of Cortisone, 100 are ready to establish exactly who they are.
Cortisone epitomises their dark, aggressive and punk sound that infects the audience with the energy of the four-piece and initiates furious head banging. The opening track and debut single, ‘If I Give Myself’, hammers the audience with loud drums and a chugging baseline as the guitar plays a simple but catchy riff. The singer berates the listener, shouting and confessing with his final breath, “I’m alive”. As the grungy instrumentation establishes a foundational sonic layer, the lead guitar soars over the top in unison to the adrenaline pumping vocals. As the opening track, ‘If I Give Myself’ perfectly sums up not only 100’s sound, but what’s to come on the EP.
The next track, ‘Groove’, slows the tempo down, using a brighter melody to soften the anger heard on the previous track. The singer is able to actually sing, showing his skill not just as a punk rocker but also as a vocalist. As he repeats, “I’m waiting”, the instrumentation builds up to a crescendo, exploding in the chorus in an exhilarating sequence that grounds itself in its solid groove.
Their third and entirely new song ‘Ratchet’ is the most fast-paced and fun track of the EP. With an intense rhythm laid down by the fancy bass playing and quick drums, the lead guitar explodes as the band members call and respond to each other “when you gonna learn, when you play with fire, you’re gonna get burnt.” The grit of the Australian accent is in full effect as the singer talks the audience through a short but sweet tale of the band trying to make a point that “just won’t get through to you.” Over within two minutes, the EP then moves to the title track ‘Cortisone’. Taking their time to establish duelling guitar riffs and a fast tempo, this seven-minute behemoth is the essence of the band. With sections of melancholic rage mixed with tranquil musicianship, it’s their most emotional track and it reveals the depth that the four Sydneysiders are capable of.
Cortisone as a debut EP firmly establishes the Australian punk sound of 100. Just like the medicinal steroid it is named after, Cortisone will heighten the listeners blood pressure, triggering a flight or fight response that leaves the audience’s heart pumping.
