The Melbourne underground has long been a breeding ground for music that prioritises grit over glamour, and the latest offering from Naarm-based outfit Snailgun is a testament to that legacy. Their debut full-length, ‘Glass Walls’, officially landed on 17 April, and it is a masterclass in controlled chaos.
Snailgun — a three-piece post-punk and noise rock unit — have managed to bottle the frantic energy of a live basement show and refine it into something remarkably sharp. The album was brought to life across two iconic Victorian creative hubs: recorded by Jason Fuller at Goatsound Studios in Preston and Max Ducker at Cellar Sessions in Coburg, with a final polish from mastering engineer Al Smith at Bergerk Studios.
The result is a record that balances on a knife-edge between abrasive textures and undeniable hooks. In the words of Stacey Ratti from Bad Batch magazine:
"There's no wasted motion in snailgun's arsenal; every reverb-drenched chord and rhythmic click is engineered for maximum impact, creating an atmosphere of stylish menace that's both elegantly restrained and lethally effective. The band operates across borders of genre and fervour, tracking down the intersection of noir vestiges, New Wave nostalgia, and modern alienation with the methodical thoroughness of an elite unit, turning metropolitan menace and desolate souls into something dangerously engaging."
‘Glass Walls’ is a volatile journey. It careens between frantic, sub-three-minute bursts of adrenaline like ‘SD’ and ‘Straight Ahead’, before stretching out into sprawling, atmospheric epics such as ‘Screamy Cat’ and ‘Shadow Operator’. It is an album that feels both bleak and brilliant, capturing the specific brand of urban isolation that only a Melbourne winter can inspire.
Whether you are here for the clangy, aggressive guitars or the subtle pop sensibilities buried beneath the feedback, Snailgun have proven themselves to be one of the most vital new voices in the Australian noise scene.
Enter the shards and experience ‘Glass Walls’ on Bandcamp now, and stay tuned to Snailgun’s socials for upcoming live dates. For more, join Snailgun today on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.
