REVIEW: Useless Children – Post Ending // Pre Completion

Useless Children are definitely not your average punk band.

To listen to Post Ending // Pre Completion is like witnessing your own mind collapse - that is, if you were able to escape and become an impartial observer to your own mental decay.

It's an aural experience of psychosis.

Useless Children's sound is defined by swirling, menacing psychedelic textures, where cacophonous feedback is offset by warm space echo and reverb. The guitars oscillate so wildly that they screech like a buzzsaw; their constant movement recreating the effect of motion sickness.

The pounding drums and bass suggest an ominous march toward an impending apocalypse. The vocals are distorted and dripping with menace, often echoing around your field of hearing. It's not unlike being tormented wailing wraith.

To me -- and without any literal interpretation of the lyrics -- Useless Children's sound signifies mental and spiritual death and decay. The angst being expression goes beyond simple political doom and gloom. They deal with psychology and psychic matter; matters of the soul. It's like an acid trip gone horribly, horrible wrong - as you depart into into hostile territory within your own mind, you can feel the searing scars and trauma being burnt into your psyche. It is not overly pleasant, and it is incredibly intense.

Being raised on the idea that most hardcore punk was reserved for weight-lifting, tattoo'd jocks to preach about self-empowerment and brotherhood -- or political commentary that often seems shallow and farcical -- Useless Children are forging a far more interesting sonic space.

This is the most psychedelic punk record I think I have ever heard. It really pleases me to hear something like this coming out from Melbourne's underground; it's powerful, unique and doesn't overstay it's welcome. A sure-bet for one of Australia's best releases in 2012.

Check out the album, and buy an LP. I did.