Blacklevel Embassy...

It’s difficult enough to create your own musical genre. More so to remember the name of it the next day. Thankfully Blacklevel Embassy keep bed-side dream journals. Their genre is ‘AWESOME’. If Blacklevel Embassy aren’t already, with the release of their new album Asp are destined to become your favorite punk-rock unit. Bringing as they do the power and precision of acts such as Hot Snakes and The Jesus Lizard as well as the good-time power boogie of ZZ Top and ACDC - this powerhouse trio delivers both musical French kisses and kidney punches.

Here are the names you need to be writing on your school bags...

Brett O’Riley (Bass/Vocals), the dude likes it hot and loud. Adam Cooper (Guitar/Vocals), just Wikipedia “Australian kickboxing champions 1998-2002”
Dan McKay (Drums), best known for his work with Melbourne rock juggernaut the Nation Blue. It was his idea to record Asp at Sydney’s Megaphon studio not only because Midnight Oil did, but so that the band could work with producer Jonboyrock (Hard-Ons, Further, Spod, Nunchukka Superfly etc).

But let’s go back a little. Blacklevel Embassy were formed from the ashes of some fine bands (Warped, Ricaine, Little General, Hardware, Solaris). Their debut record Baroc was recorded by Bob Weston (Shellac, Polvo, Sebadhoh) at his Chicago Electrical Audio studio and was followed by a US tour that included performing at LA’s F*ck Yeah Fest to a bunch of hipsters-text messaging, “Crazy Aussie guys destroying the place”.

But that’s all in the past and with Asp we are listening to the sound of a band as much in touch with their musicality as their masculine identity. Asp sees BLE tackling issues such as the Cronulla Riots, the criminal dealings of venue bookers and... cobras walking on two legs. Asp is the smartest punk-rock album you’ll hear this year.

© RiSH Publicity 2008 : RiSH Records