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Hailing from the depths of Melbourne, this five-man punk-rock concoction can best be described as an energetic blend of soul and punk. With a five year long wait for the drop of their self-titled LP, Tyrannamen finally released the eight-track album on January 14 with Cool Death Records. With harmonised vocals, upbeat guitar riffs and Nic Imfeld’s charismatic voice, the album is surprisingly easy to listen to even if it’s not your go-to genre. With three live tracks included on the album, I Can’t Read Ice Age and My Concrete, the listener can feel Tyrannamen’s vibrant stage presence without leaving their own living room.
Are they the missing link between reptiles and man? Maybe not, but Tyrannamen will definitely fill your need for sincere, punk rock.
According to lead singer Nic Imfeld, all band members were in different bands before Tyrannamen came together to form what they call “sincerely naïve, rock and roll music”. “We started in 2010 and were all playing in other bands pretty different to Tyrannamen. I had some songs and we all just got together to play them, then we wrote some more songs and that was it.”
Tyrannamen just wrapped up supporting THE OH SEES last month in Melbourne, playing alongside psych-rock saints King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard. With a sound reflecting a combination of The Misfits and The Smith Street Band, Tyrannamen are the perfect dose of garage rock and soulful punk music.
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It’s refreshing to hear some upbeat, feel-good punk music even if the lyrics off the new record don’t entirely represent this, with lyrics like, “In the beginning, I could tell it would soon be over. Everything will cease to exist,” from track Ice Age and “I could kill him” as the opening lyrics from You Should Leave Him. Chuck this in front of some killer guitar riffs and you have yourself a flattering contrast.
Fortunately, not all songs on the new record are focused around killing someone or having negative thoughts, “The songs on the album are the first songs we wrote,” says Imfeld, “they were a mix of rock and roll and half-ass attempts at love songs.” With the R&B inspired Happiness Is Just A Stones Throw Away and lyrics like “I held myself so tightly, when I thought of you today,” from Diamond Ring, it’s about as heart-warming as punk music gets.
Tyrannamen are yet to lock in any tour dates over 2016 but are set on playing a handful of Australian shows, with the east coast next on their to do list. So if you’re a lover of The Bronx or The Bennies, keep yours eyes and ears peeled. You will be kicking yourself if you miss out on this head-bopping, uplifting brand of rock and roll music that is Tyrannamen.
