KING PARROT - Holed Up in the Lair
Pictured: Andrew Livingstone-Squires, Matthew Young, Wayne Slattery, Ari White + Todd Hansen - KING PARROT
Photo by: Danin Drahos
Short, Sharp and Vicious
Written by: Tom Wilson - Sense Music Media
As famous for their piss-funny music videos as they are for their work ethic, Melbourne noisemakers KING PARROT have shown what is possible when you combine talent with putting the work in. Their last release, 2017’s Ugly Produce, was a high benchmark, and had the rare distinction of being the heaviest album ever nominated for an ARIA. It’s been a long time since we last heard from the boys, but the wait is finally over.
Originally recorded while staying with Phil Anselmo at his home in New Orleans during a tour stop-off, Holed Up in the Lair has been sitting in KING PARROT’s metaphorical sock drawer for three years. “We never did anything with them,” Matthew Young told us recently. “We were probably going to re-work them for our new record, but considering we can’t really rehearse or jam right now, we just thought, let’s put these songs out just to get them out there.”
The Review
Pictured: Holed Up In The Lair Album Art
Done and dusted in seven and a half minutes, there isn’t a pinch of fat on this EP. Opener Banished, Flawed then Docile sputters to life like a chainsaw being drop-started – leaping into a whirlwind of serrated riffage, blast beats and Youngy’s shrieking vocals. Savage and punky, with a snare that sounds like it’s being played right next to your ear, this is searing, caustic stuff.
Blunder to Asunder begins with a guitar that is best described as “threatening”, before surging into a circle pit banger (remember circle pits?). “Blunder to Asunder / Your ship is going under,” Youngy screams like a demented sailor, gripping you by the ankle and forcing you to go down with the ship.
Nor is Yours is a whirlwind of jangling AC/DC-style guitar and jackhammering drums, like THE MARK OF CAIN playing grind. Young’s vocals normally sound like they hurt – here, they’re on another level entirely, and Phil Anselmo lends his smoky rasp to the chorus, before Youngy tells us all to fuck off. Potty mouth.
Kick Up a Stink immediately lurches into a chaotic maelstrom of grind that sounds like they’re playing two songs at once, before plunging into high-velocity punk. A fist-pumping gang vocal will make you want to punch a hole in the ceiling, and the guitar work is savage.
Just in case you thought that KING PARROT might be taking themselves seriously – global pandemic and all – fear not. Kick Up a Stink ends with a short but no doubt pungent fart. For some reason, I must know who supplied it. My money is on Youngy, but I will update you when I find out.
- UPDATE - It was bassist Andrew Livingston-Squires. You’re welcome.
The Verdict
Actually, “short but pungent” is a perfect way to summarise this EP. Get it up you.
7/10
Buy Now
Get the 7” vinyl here - limited to 1000 copies
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