Amyl and The Sniffers, the Australian rock sensation, are back with their third album, Cartoon Darkness, delivering an unapologetic attitude and sharp wit that pierces through the noise.
Despite three albums, extensive global touring, and continuous media attention, the Melbourne-based quartet shows no signs of slowing down. The album kicks off with the intense track “Jerkin’,” characterized by its gnarly distortion and powerful riffs. While Iggy Pop has long been known for his bare-chested stage presence, a punk-rock woman in a string bikini and high heels still draws unsolicited opinions from certain men.
Frontwoman Amy Taylor dismisses such criticisms with conviction, as demonstrated in the bold opening line of “Jerkin’”: “You’re a dumb c**t, you’re an arsehole.” This theme resurfaces in “U Should Not Be Doing That,” an anthem aimed at women who have faced judgments about their appearance or attire—a sentiment many women can relate to.
Since forming in St Kilda eight years ago, Amyl and The Sniffers have risen rapidly from house parties to international fame. Their 2021 album, Comfort To Me, catapulted them to the status of “next big thing,” earning them spots alongside giants like Green Day and Smashing Pumpkins. When it came time to record their latest project last year, Los Angeles became the logical choice, offering resources that had previously seemed out of reach for the band. Taylor and guitarist Declan Mehrtens had recently relocated to the city of dreams, which only added to the album’s potential.
Interestingly, Mehrtens was back in Melbourne when we spoke (“I come back for my mum’s birthday”) and revealed that the idea of making Cartoon Darkness in LA was not initially planned. “We can’t shake the Australian thing, not that we would ever try to,” he explained. “We’ve become this Australian band with the resources of a Los Angeles band.” They enlisted the legendary Bernie Grundman for mastering, whose resume includes classics like Thriller and Purple Rain, making their proximity to his studio a fortunate opportunity.
The band has always embraced a punk DIY ethos, born out of necessity. However, the new resources allowed them to expand their creativity. “It was like, ‘Alright, we’re serious. We’re part of the industry now,’” Mehrtens said. “We recorded in the Foo Fighters’ Studio 606, having access to the same equipment and engineers they used. We stood on the same stage that major artists performed on, asking ourselves what it would be like if that stage was given to an Aussie pub band.”
The resulting album is an eclectic blend of upbeat funk, snarly punk, and empowering anthems. Drawing on their Australian pub-rock roots (influences like Cold Chisel and AC/DC) and incorporating elements of pop reminiscent of Prince, Cartoon Darkness promises to captivate a broader audience than their earlier works.
Although Mehrtens, who boasts the unique Instagram handle @dickheadofficial, admits he doesn’t engage much with social media, he remains supportive of Taylor’s fierce stance against online critics in “U Should Not Be Doing That.” “Amy fires this song out, and I go, ‘Yeah, whatever, I support you, Amy,’” he reflected. “I’ll stand there and play guitar while you take fire at whoever.”
When it comes to guitar gear, Mehrtens is rarely seen without his beloved Gibson Explorer—his go-to instrument that serves as the backbone of Cartoon Darkness. “The Explorer that I play live is what I use on most of the album,” he shared. “I used a P-90 in the bridge during recording, but for live shows, I need more power, so I switched back to humbuckers.”
The band didn’t aim for a radical transformation in their sound, but the Foo Fighters’ studio offered a treasure trove of instruments and amplifiers. “We tried everything they had, and we found this custom Hiwatt amp to be the best fit,” he explained. “While I previously used Marshalls, the Hiwatt provides a cleaner yet aggressive sound, which suits our music.”
A significant change for this album was the switch to flatwound strings—a choice more commonly associated with jazz than punk. “I learned from Matt Sweeney that all the 60s recordings were done with flatwound strings,” Mehrtens revealed. “They don’t hurt your fingers as much and stay in tune better, allowing me to play for longer without discomfort. They shift the tone to blend better with the band instead of standing out as a lead instrument.”
The track “Pigs” offers Mehrtens a rare chance to showcase his solo skills, although it wasn’t an intentional decision by the band. “The solo came about during the writing process when we weren’t sure what to do next. It ended up giving Amy a breather. Most solos were added later, but this one was recorded alongside the drums and bass, capturing a raw energy that I wanted to preserve.”
Unlike previous albums, Cartoon Darkness incorporates a funk influence that’s particularly evident in “U Should Not Be Doing That.” Mehrtens expressed enthusiasm about the track’s connection to Prince. “We recorded at Studio 3 in Sunset Sound, where Prince worked in the 80s. We’ve realized how much we love funk and dance, and we’ve leaned into that for this album. Amy responds strongly to rhythm and groove, so we write riffs with her in mind, aiming to excite her about the music.”
As excitement builds around Cartoon Darkness, Amyl and The Sniffers look forward to future studio sessions after “a few more years” on the road, where they may attract even more high-profile fans.
Related Topics
- Ronnie Wood Collaborates with Irish Americana Band Seafoam Green on New Single
- Line 6 Introduces POD Express Black, Tailored for Metal Guitarists
- BOSS Launches GX-10: A Versatile Guitar FX Processor for Musicians on the Go
