Emerging from the concrete sprawl of Melbourne’s thriving underground scene, Jaded Memory are proving that guitar music is at its best when it’s allowed to get a little bit messy. Formed by a tight-knit quartet of friends—vocalist Jyah Eagleson, drummer Matt Testa, bassist Max O’Reilly, and guitarist Amrafel Guitierrez—the band has carved out a sonic identity that feels like a deliberate punch to the gut.
Their latest offering, ‘Year Of The Freak’, is a robust, unwavering blast of alternative rock. It manages to capture the specific, brooding energy of the early 2000s indie-sleaze era while injecting a dose of modern grit. There are no soft corners here; the track is built for sweaty, low-ceilinged rooms and the beautiful chaos of a live performance.
From the first note, the single unfolds with a hypnotic, rhythmic bassline from Max that locks in perfectly with Amrafel's transient guitar work. It’s a masterclass in tension and release. The verses are cold and bass-driven, dripping with post-punk attitude, before inevitably erupting into a wall of heavy distortion and raw power.
Stylistically, Jaded Memory occupy a unique middle ground. Think of the cold, intellectual atmosphere of Interpol’s ‘Turn On the Bright Lights’ colliding head-on with the seething grunge undercurrent of Nirvana. Jyah's vocals, sharpened with a distinct industrial edge, cut through the mix with an urgency that feels both timeless and vital.
What makes ‘Year Of The Freak’ particularly compelling is its "unpolished in the right ways" aesthetic. In an age of over-sanitised studio productions, Jaded Memory embraces the friction. It is music designed for concrete floors and loudspeakers—a driving, rhythmic force that refuses to pull its punches.
As the band fuses indie rock hooks with the sheer weight of grunge, they aren't just looking back at their influences; they are dragging them kicking and screaming into the present day. If this single is any indication, the "Year of the Freak" has well and truly arrived.
You can stream the new single above via Spotify, and for more, be sure to keep up with the band on Instagram.
