For a while it felt like there might not be another Living End record. The punkish Melbourne three-piece – comprising Andy Strachan on drums, Scott Owen on double bass and Chris Cheney on guitar and vocals – released their last LP, Wunderbar, in 2018. Seven years is a long time for the Living End: the three-piece has released eight LPs and six EPs since forming in Melbourne's beery punk and rockabilly underground in 1994. And into the picture is Cheney's 2022 solo record The Storm Before The Clam, which could have signalled a shift in creative priorities.
Their new LP I Only Trust Rock n Roll allays these fears. Not only does it sound like The Living End never went away (though they've still played live during their recording intermission), it almost sounds like The Living End never crossed through to the 21st century. This is the most impactful, hook-laden record the group has released for decades. The rockabilly, psychobilly and punk influences are still abundantly present, but the songwriting focus has shifted towards something akin to power pop: no substandard chorus or hook is granted entry here. For anyone who has forgotten what made this group distinctive, it's here in all its melodious, harmonious – almost bubblegum-like – glory.
