Amy Taylor - Amyl and the Sniffers - 2021

Credit: Far Out / YouTube Still

The best new bands, according to Amyl and the Sniffers

Sun 16 June 2024 10:00, UK

Australia has spit out some incredible new artists over the last decade. Courtney Barnett emerged as the raw, rambling voice of a generation in the mid-2010s, while The Chats imbued punk with a new sense of chaos when their track ‘Smoko’ gained traction not long after. The latest addition to the Aussie scene to find success further afield are fellow punk rockers Amyl and the Sniffers.

After sniffing around the scene for a few years, Amyl and the Sniffers released their self-titled debut record in 2019, a collection of rough and ready guitar tracks that proved worthy of their nausea-inducing namesake. Amy Taylor’s distinctive voice immediately marked their sound out from the rest, purposeful and playful at the same time.

The band secured their reputation as one of the most biting new bands around when they released their follow-up album, Comfort to Me, in 2021. Tracks like ‘Hertz’ showed off Taylor’s driving voice, her ability to invigorate a catchy melody with gruff vocals, to urge you to sing along all the same. “I want you to love me,” she declares, “Do you love me?” She already knows the answer.

Three years later, Amyl and the Sniffers are still proving their place as contemporary punk innovators with cutting new singles like ‘U Should Not Be Doing That’. While we await the third full-length offering from the punks, their lead singer has her own recommendations for the best new bands right now.

During a conversation with Fred Perry, the leader of the Sniffers was asked to divulge the names of the bands she loved at the time, resulting in a reliable list of cross-genre recommendations. Perhaps expectedly, Taylor included a number of her punk peers on the list, including bands hailing from her home country and from further afield.

Aussie punks Sex Drive and Concrete Lawn both make the list, and it’s easy to see why. With their grating, growling guitars and punchy vocals, they’d fit in seamlessly on a playlist alongside Amyl and the Sniffers. One of the most distinctive punk outfits to receive a mention from Taylor are UpChuck, who hail from Atlanta, Georgia. Their take on the genre pushes the black experience to the forefront amidst driving, droning soundscapes.

Among other punky picks like ‘Sports’ lovers Viagra Boys, British duo Sleaford Mods and the much more obscure Ascott Stabber, Taylor sprinkles in some names from outside of the Sniffers’ sonic realm. She shouts out rapper Junglepussy, who has honed a voice and style just as distinctive as her own in a completely different genre.

Gordon Koang, who sought asylum in Australia from his home in South Sudan in the 2010s, also receives a well-deserved mention. Koang creates gorgeous music that borrows from his two homes, finding beauty and connection through music while tackling tough themes like Coronavirus and asylum-seeking.

A collection that spans her own punk leanings with wider musical styles, Taylor’s list of the best new bands is well worth a listen. It’s also clear that she looks beyond the sonic style of a musician, taking particular interest in artists who have something to say in their music, a story they need to get out there. If you’re a fan of Amyl and the Sniffers or a fan of innovative new music in general, her picks are essential listening.