Dune Rats ‘Hurry Up and Wait’
Album Review By Adam McCann
Ratbag Records/BMG Records/Pop/Punk
Nine times out of ten, what is often asked is this: “can someone recommend me some music for feeling down and depressed” and whilst that is absolutely fine, what is often overlooked are bands that have that feel-good factor. Dune Rats are one of those bands, it almost impossible to listen to the Aussie desert band without cracking a smile and enjoying yourself. Dune Rats hit the international community with their 2017 sophomore album ‘The Kids Will Know It’s Bullshit’ and now, the band have released their third studio album ‘Hurry Up and Wait’.
As expected, ‘Hurry Up and Wait’ continues this good-time vibe, yet this is the album that nearly wasn’t; having been sucked into the big leagues, picked up by BMG Records, the Outback lads found themselves in Los Angeles under pressure to write an album that fit within in American culture. Obviously, this didn’t work out and the Aussie’s went back to doing what they do best and that can be seen on ‘Hurry Up…’. Although the band class themselves as ‘Desert Punk’, there is a sound here that is distinctly pop/punk; this is an album that is full to the brim of bouncing melodies and gang vocals that are exceptionally memorable and fun to listen to. Tracks such as ‘Crazy’, ‘Bobby D’ and ‘The Skids’ have all the hallmarks of Sum 41, The Offspring and Blink 182 in their prime; yet, there are touches here of Weezer, We Are The In Crowd and The Used with the album bringing back memories of Drive-Thru Records circa 2002.
This album isn’t a blatant nostalgia trip, of course there is plenty here that punks from this era will absolutely adore, but ‘Hurry Up…’ has a real modern feel to it, it is a 21st century pop/punk album that will undoubtedly do exceptionally well.
Rating : 80/100
MHF Magazine/Adam McCann
