From the record companies’ website: STEPMOTHER is an Australian power trio fronted by Graham Clise on vocals and guitar (ANNIHILATION TIME, LECHEROUS GAZE, ROT, TV, WITCH), and are poised to release their debut album “Planet Brutal Icon” on September 29, 2023. Equal parts motor city proto-punk and feedback-drenched fuzz on the darker side of psychedelia. STEPMOTHER plays anthems for the poor depraved sickos and rock ‘n’ roll miscreants with influences ranging from BLUE CHEER, THE PINK FARIES, NERVOUS and THE DAMNED. Chocked full of tunes about nuclear Armageddon, torture and supernatural entities, “Planet Brutal Icon” is a perfect soundtrack to your next bad trip. The upcoming LP was recorded by Robert Muinos (SASKWATCH) at Rat Shack and mastered by John Davis (THE DAMNED) at Metropolis Mastering. “The music was pretty much done all live with very few overdubs and maybe one or two rehearsals. We have a no rehearsal policy. We don’t want it to end up sounding like TOTO or some shit.” explains Clise.  Back to your curious reviewer: Curious because I’m not sure which way this album is headed, I know I’m in for some punk and stoner rock and some pretty wicked song concepts. The question is, can they pull it off and make a listenable and memorable album?

I always give a quick glance at the song list before I start my listen and see that more than half are under three minutes, two songs just over three minutes, which means I’m preparing definitely for that punk style of “get in, get out” song approach, but I’m not jumping to conclusions and hoping for the best, fingers crossed. “Fade Away” opens up with a fuzzy laid back grooving riff with some really nice ripping guitar licks and a pretty catchy chorus. There is a punk feel without being punk if that makes any sense. Surprisingly rocking good vibe and way more guitar dominance than I would have expected. Back with drastically more punk feel on “Scream for Death” with its RAMONES style of manic guitar riffs and quick, fast talking vocals. The nest two tracks “The Game” and “One Way Out” are simply clear cut cross breed between punk and stoner rock with not much substance or crunch. “Do You Believe” thinks outside the musical box as it has a slower more melodic tempo with glossy hooks coupled with edgy and brawny vocals that deliver a moody, hushed rendition of faith in the human race.  The following two tracks “Dead & Gone” and  “Here Comes the End” are both straight from the golden era of early rock and roll with a mixture of funky, rhythmic tempo and distorted guitar overture basted with playful and spirited vocals. “Signed D.C.” displays some imaginative diversity with a slow paced beat giving way to a hardened, rocking undertone that would have been a perfect 70’s era protest song.

“Planet Brutal Icon” is the best of both worlds for fans of stoner rock and punk. They obviously set out and met their goals of creating a uniquely distinct album with puzzle pieces from different genres and musical eras. While there’s not much drawn from the hard rock or heavy metal playbook, they did deliver some pretty powerful guitar jams throughout the album to give it staying power.