There’s a track on here called “Dad, I Joined A Rock ’N’ Roll Band” and honestly, that tells you pretty much everything you need to know. This is all Avalanche have ever wanted to do. And when they say they were chasing the sound of classic Aussie pub rock, they really, really mean it. Better still? They couldn’t give a shit what anyone else thinks.
Every stop is pulled on this debut, recorded with Grammy-nominated and ARIA-award-winning producer Steve James, and the result is a record that doesn’t so much knock on the door as boot it clean off its hinges.
“On The Bags Again” kicks the whole thing into gear and, genuinely, you’ll know within 15 seconds whether you’re in or out. No build-up, no messing about — just straight-up Australian rock ’n’ roll, rolled hard and thrown at your head. From there, the title track lands with a riff so gloriously Angus-shaped it should probably come with a school uniform warning, and suddenly Avalanche are off the leash entirely, charging headfirst into whatever comes next.
“Blondie” is nothing more — and nothing less — than a filthy boogie, played like a band going for broke and loving every second of it. That sense of abandon carries into “The Hand That Feeds”, anchored by a thick, muscular bassline, while “Ride Or Die” leans a little more bluesward. There’s a hint of The Who in the guitars, sure, but mostly it just wants to wear denim, sweat a bit, and get down to business.
“Open To Retribution” sounds like a band having an absolute blast — and the best bands always sound like a gang. That’s the magic trick here: Avalanche sound like they’re having so much fun on tracks like “Blondie” that it becomes impossible not to get swept along with them. Even “Kick Your Heels” feels like the last thing these lads would ever actually do.
“Hells Hotter With You” wants to cause trouble. “Bottle Of Sin” sounds like exactly how they’d go about it.
So yeah, you know what this sounds like. But here’s the thing — so do Avalanche. And it sounds exactly like they wanted it to. Because let’s be honest, you po-faced pricks: Angus isn’t going to be in that school uniform forever.
“Armed To The Teeth” isn’t chasing trends, irony, or approval. It’s the realest of real deals — loud, grinning, and absolutely unapologetic.
RATING: 8.5/10 🔥
