The Gnomes – ‘More’ EP review: Not a reinvention but rocking anyway
Whoever said rock and roll is dead? There is constantly a stupid article out there declaring something like ‘guitar music is back!’ every time a new band releases a new riff. The Gnomes feel like a strange antidote to that – nothing new, but exciting exactly because of that.
The Skinny: Hailing from Melbourne’s ever-thriving music scene, The Gnomes’ music hums with the ethos that always prevails in the Australian spheres. There is always a palpable energy of fun prompted by the dedication to DIY and the way that so many of the greatest bands grew from garage gigs or rowdy pubs.
Found in acts like Amyl and the Sniffers, even as the band get bigger and bigger, the devotion to keeping the crowd moving just as much in an arena as they would in a sweaty basement venue remains. It’s music that cares little to be all that technical or overproduced or difficult – that’s not at all what interests them. Instead, the interest lies completely in a good time.
The Gnomes capture that perfectly. On their new EP, all four tracks have power. It’s the sort of EP that would translate note by note into a live set, and you’d want to hear it start to finish. Setting them up to be a must-see act on the gig circuit now that their name is spreading, that again ties them back to their roots, where it was their hometown shows that first caught attention.
But let’s be honest – it’s nothing new. The Gnomes aren’t reinventing the wheel; they aren’t even really inventing anything. This is classic, simple, standard rock and roll.
Isn’t that what we want, though? It’s not that it’s uninspiring enough to be boring or pastiche or uninteresting. Instead, it’s exactly expected enough to be completely electrifying. You can predict some of the next moves, but that just helps you dance. You can catch the groove in an instant, and from that moment on, you’re involved.
The EP catches you in moment one and keeps you there – making it the perfect release to hit play on and let run through parties, pre-drinks, picnics, whatever. Anywhere you need a solid sound, The Gnomes can provide.
Standout Track: ‘Magic Man’
The Verdict: Does everything need to be innovative? Is it not enough to be energetic? If we boil rock and roll down to its absolute basics, the whole point of the genre is moving and grooving, thinking less and letting your body feel. With plenty of riffs and drum hits to do that, I’d say The Gnomes’ More is perfectly fit for purpose.
Release Date: May 15th, 2026 | Producer: Jay Millar | Label: Self-released
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