Negative Gears - Moraliser LP

Negative Gears - Moraliser LP (Static Shock/ UK)

The five year wait since their debut was worth it! I recall MRR describing this Australian post-punk group once as “a bit Wipers, a bit Iceage” and that has stuck with me because it’s so darn accurate. If a death rocker, a post-punker, and a new waver all walked into a bar at the same time, the punchline would be if this record was playing over the speakers, they would all raise a glass to Moraliser for capturing nihilism with such memorable insight and devastating power.

They Say:

Five years on since their debut 12" EP, Sydney's NEGATIVE GEARS finally return with their first full length 'Moraliser'. Taking cues from heavyweights like Crisis, Units, Siekiera, and Rikk Agnew era Adolescents with underground Australian punk sensibilities. Written, self-recorded and mixed by the band over the last five years in their shared studio in Marrickville, Sydney, the band took their time until everything was perfect and it shows with super-tight playing and songs that will be stuck in your head for days regardless of the downbeat subject matter:

"A lot of the record is about gross things that exist in this city, gross attitudes, selfishness, obsession with wealth and status, ignorance for anything outside of Sydney. It’s an abhorrently un-altruistic place. This shit hole wants to be America and it brings the worst out in people but also the best, the underground communities are stronger and tighter because the divide between the two is so vast."

That's not to say that there is no self-awareness flowing through. The record is called Moraliser after all and sometimes it's easy to think you have all the answers before realising that you really don't. Moraliser is calculated commentary, cutting observations with a magnifying glass, filled with reflection and evisceration in equal parts. A record from the city about the current cultural zeitgeist, for those who hate both.

Finally finished last year and mastered by Mikey Young (Total Control, ECSR), Moraliser is finally ready to be released to the world via Static Shock and Urge on July 12th.