The Panics - Cruel Guards on FasterLouder.com.au

For every band that manages to successfully mature it’s sound over the course of a career, there’s at least two that take their sound in dire directions, and at least a dozen that just don’t change their sound at all, and fade into obscurity. Such a fate is not for The Panics, whose new album Cruel Guards sees them develop their unique brand of low-key rock into a bigger, more expansive sound, and signals their arrival as truly great Australian band.

The Panics don’t waste any time introducing their new sound either. Opening track Get Us Home begins with a staccato drum roll, before a giant orchestral sound crashes into place. Once the lyrics begin, the old Panics sound shines through, with acoustic and electric guitars complementing each other perfectly to create a shimmering Western vibe.

Don’t Fight It, the first single to be released from the album, is an absolute cracker, with a slow organ opening underpinning frontman Jay Laffer’s trademark vocals, before a piano and horns section gives the song weight and bombast. A brilliant singalong chorus about seizing the unknown means this is probably the Panics’ best ever shot at a hit single.

But even when they try something different, this still the same Panics who wowed critics and audiences with their first two albums, A House On A Street In A Town I’m From and Sleeps Like A Curse. Panics fans looking for a bit of the old sound will find it in Ruins, Creak, and Feeling Is Gone, with the interplay between the pianos, guitars and vocals creating layered songs with a depth that few other artists can match. Ruins is particular mesmerising, as a break-up song which will leave listeners supporting the break, rather than with any sense of pity for the protagonist.

Title track Cruel Guards slows the tempo a little, but some beautiful harmonisation and piano work make this a song that will stick in your head. Live Without ramps the energy back up again with a marching drum beat and handclaps alongside the excellent piano and guitar work. And album closer Sundowner uses a beautiful piano line and guitar lick to bolster Laffer’s vocals – this is probably the first time Laffer has given himself a cocky swagger, and it works beautifully.

It’s impossible to single out any one of the band members as making the biggest contribution to this album. All five musicians have contributed superb work to create an album that feels like a living document, a testament to a band which is continuing to grow and thrive. These songs are complex and layered without ever feeling pretentious, which is perhaps a testament to the simple, honest lyrics, which lovingly lay out tales of heartbreak and cherish with equal aplomb.

One thing is clear: the Panics didn’t want to just release another Panics record. By taking their sound in a natural direction, rather than forcing change on themselves, they have created an album which has instant appeal, but will also grow on the listener with each subsequent listen. Cruel Guards is a stunning album which should find a place in any music listener’s collection, and is definitely a contender for album of the year.

Catch the Panics as they tour around Australia on their Cruel Guards tour, proudly presented by FasterLouder;

Wednesday October 17: Barwon Club, Geelong
Thursday October 18: Golden Vine, Bendigo
Friday October 19: Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
Saturday October 20: Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
Thursday October 25: Prince of Wales Hotel, Bunbury
Friday October 26: The Bakery, Perth
Sunday October 28: Newport Hotel, Fremantle
Thursday November 1: Miami Tavern Shark Bar, Gold Coast
Friday November 2: The Zoo, Brisbane
Saturday November 3: Sol Bar, Sunshine Coast
Friday November 9: Karova Lounge, Ballarat
Saturday November 10: Jive Bar, Adelaide
Sunday November 11: Jive Bar, Adelaide
Wednesday November 14: Oxford Tavern, Wollongong
Friday November 16: Annandale Hotel, Sydney
Saturday November 17: Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
Sunday November 18: Brass Monkey, Cronulla
Friday November 23: James Hotel, Launceston
Saturday November 24: Republic Bar, Hobart