Surprisingly layered in areas and absolutely kinetic on all fronts, Better Off Dread, the third record release from Melbourne’s The Bennies, delivers all the amphetamine-fuelled kicks expected from this ska-punk outfit.
Ranging from sweet reggae beats to a thrash-disco sound, genre appropriation by these four boys is done all in good form, true to their larrikin pun-loving swagger.
With acid-guitar bite, opening track “Mushroom Tea” is a mosher’s wet dream.
Full of bombastic sax phrases and finger-whipping bass runs, the full wrath of the song is only encountered towards the end of the pumping three-minute track. Where tight drum rolls finally unleash psychedelic chaos in the form of a face-melting electric solo and throat-bleeding vocals.
A throwback to anarchic Californian punk is made in “My Bike”, a satirical piss-take on cyclist-motorist warfare in Melbourne’s CBD.
While, the title track “Better Off Dread” ushers in an up-beat ska sound with a side of trumpet and muted guitar chords.
It is here that the complex musicality of the band is appropriately showcased. Where meditating melodies in the form of undulating bass gradually overrides ferocious distortion.
Ending with an ode to righteous slackerdom, “Return To 9-5” satisfies all the angry inclinations of disillusioned youth—with some drizzling brass and hardcore rapping to boot.
With hardly a fault to be heard on this ripper of a release, Better Off Dread will see The Bennies be taken to ‘higher’ places—all illicit drug innuendo aside.
