The Love Junkies are a band to watch. Current leaders in Perth’s emerging punk x grunge hybrids, the trio are taking all of the right steps to ensure their music remains true, firstly by releasing an absolute banger of a debut in 2013’s Maybelene, before starting their own label and release platform, Blackbox Recordings and releasing the Flight Test EP, which holds 4 tracks (and an intro) including their latest single ‘Chemical Motivation’ which has received a lot of love Australia wide, on Triple J, I even heard it over the stereo where I work on a pre-programmed playlist by some soulless media company. Wowsers.

This EP is not truly a “The Love Junkies” release, it does feature two of their songs, but also 2 tracks which are stated as being solo releases by each of the members, both of which take a much more mellow approach, the first ‘Storm Troopers’ while still being a great track is certainly a stripped back affair in terms of distortion, however features some brilliant rolling drums and haunting melodies.

‘Gloria To My Dysphoria’ begins with an eerily similar piano intro to a Queens of the Stone Age song, before the haunting background melodies again chime in, and they begin singing some beautiful falcetto, “your son is half a daughter”. Written by drummer Lewis, thematically this song seems to be dealing with gender issues, being confused as to what their true identity is. “A birth defect in me” being chanted over and over at the back end of the song, and the opening verse being a very engaging discussion of the effects it has had on the protagonist. “for about 20 years, she’s been steeling all my air, and unless I drown as well, there will never be her death”.

EP closer ‘Blowing on the Devil’s Strumpet’ is an absolute punk as fvk closer, being the heaviest song The Love Junkies have created yet. With an aggressive chorus, this is no doubt going to go off live at The Love Junkies live shows. “She sucked the life blood outta me” will be screamed and screamed some more. A huge drudging sound eminates loudly, before a beautifully enchanting bridge brings back a sarcastic feeling to the song.

This EP has laid the foundations for what is to come from the Thornlie trio. It sees them apply a hugely DIY approach to their songwriting and recording and mixing and every other thing, a great indicator that they have plenty more to come.

The Love Junkies are touring their EP for the following dates:

Monday, 02/06/14 - Astor Rocks w/Meat Puppets, The Hard-Ons, and more

Thursday, 05/06/14 - The Prince Of Wales, Bunbury !!!FREE SHOW!!!