Byrna like to make a thunderous fuzzed out groove whilst keeping enough space to give your ears time to reflect and prepare for what lies ahead. They are a 3-piece who've been honing there sound for nearly 4 years and started delivering it to venues across Melbourne in 2005. The "Knock Off The Edges" EP was recorded in 2005, and now in 2008, their second EP "Big Donk" has finally been released.
I can't help being transported back to the early 90's by Byrna's big lumbering fuzz.This EP is simple and raw sounding, as part of their cannon they apply Kyuss fuzz to the best of early 90's slacker rock, the likes of Veruca Salt or Gish-era Pumpkins, who so-well employed quiet/loud/quiet song dynamics, quiet contemplative verses and big heavy lumbering riff choruses. It also has plenty of Fu/Nebula's garage rock vibe.
'Dream Time' begins with solid and driving drums that don't let up, and the song proves to be one of the most straight-ahead rocking tracks.
'Smoke it up' opens with a fuzzed-out riff that swells and crashes in waves before breaking into the anthemic chorus that has a weezer-like quirkiness; "Smoke it up once again, now I'm feeling pretty lonely and the bowl's full come and join me, my friend".
'Train', the longest track here at an epic 9 minutes, starts on a darker tack, with head-down insistency and pummeling drums, this heaviness is interspersed with some clean guitar and hook-filled vocal lines.
The last two tracks veer off into some more experimental territory, using elements of post-rock or space rock. 'Metal waits for no-one' is an epic instrumental. It starts off with some echo'y space rock tinkling and quickly morphs into some chiming acoustic-backed rock. Those parts ebb and flow between swelling fuzz laden instrumental 'chorusses' as it were, It kinda has a post-rock structure but doesn't sound overtly post-rock..
I really like this record, at times it reminds me slightly of Thumlock's early output also, they are definitely coming from the same place, also it's un-pretentious and shows the band's unique personality very well. For a second EP it is stunning and shows so much potential, I am hanging on to hear an LP.
Review by - www.stonerdoom.co.nz
You can order either of Byrna's EP's for delivery anywhere in Australia here: