I have long stood to the fact that there are some scenes out there that are not given nearly enough credit even if there are some of those that are slowly coming around to what they have to offer. While metalheads have always had large European bastions to rely on, there are plenty of countries out there whose scenes are so all-encompassing and compelling that one cannot help but find one treasure after another once they start looking. By all accounts, Australia has been one of those places for quite some time. An exceedingly dense and diverse country with all sorts of genres finding representation, psychedelic rock has never been excluded from Australia’s vast archives of greatness, and it’s now with the arrival of Emu that we’re reminded to that simple truth.

Just considering what Australia has put forth just in the last few years, it would be a gross understatement to claim that the country has put forth more than enough compelling material to keep anyone occupied for quite some time. As such, diving into the country’s depths can be quite challenging and tedious with only the very best rising to the surface and showing us what they’re made of. Having just thrown down their debut album, Emu’s already-impressive rise is something to be given respect with the material in question more than fitting for such a bombastic entrance. From top to bottom, this is the kind of mind-breaking and ball-busting psychedelic rock that we just simply do not see often enough. Made of but six tracks that one could forgive should they be a little clunky or feel a tad undercooked in some ways, this eponymous record is quite possibly the best possible first foot forward that Emu could have thrown down with everything about the record speaking volumes to the kind of band we’re dealing with here. Immense energy constantly backed by undeniable riffage, more than enough psychedelia and atmosphere to keep one enthralled right from the beginning, enough intensity to instantly put some hair on your chest, and more than plenty of intoxicating to rope you in to each fresh new, Emu executes everything brilliantly! The exact kind of injection of power right into the vein that everyone could use more of their lives, Emu’s light is brilliant and golden in such a way that many strive for but rarely achieve.

If I were to go off of this creation and nothing else, I would not hesitate to claim that Emu is part of the next big thing when it comes to psychedelic rock in Australia. I will refrain from doing so simply because we do not know what the future ever holds, but that doesn’t take away a single shred of greatness for what’s been thrown down here. Towering above much of the competition and constantly overflowing with energy to captivate many who come before it, Emu is a name we simply must keep an extremely sharp eye on.

LISTEN to “Emu” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Emu on Facebook here.