Gyroscope is by no means new on the Australian music scene. Based in Perth, this Punk/Pop foursome has been honing their sound and playing gigs all over Australia for the past three years. Most notably, they have played Big Day Out in Perth and at the famed Metro in Sydney.

Their latest release, Midnight Express, the first on their new label, Festival Mushroom Records, is a remarkably solid EP. The album kicks off hard and fast with “The Lesser Me,” a song the band’s Drummer Rob Nassif aptly summarizes “…rocks you then finishes before you know it.” From there on, Gyroscope delivers five more tracks that range from hard rockin’ anthems to the self proclaimed “…dark and serious” “Midnight Express.” The whole album has a lyrical depth and musical cohesiveness that rivals that of bands like The Alkaline Trio or Weezer.

Lead singer Daniel Sanders has an impressive presence at the front of the band’s sound, and Zoran Trivic and Brad Campbell are more than able at backing him up. The melodic guitars of Sanders and Trivic set this band apart from much of the rest of Punk/Pop rockers. “I Wish I Did” shows off both their prowess at creating an interesting instrumental, and also their excellent lyricism. “Fire Away,” the album’s second track, is a seething, tight hard rocker, and is arguably one of the best new songs to come out of an Aussie rock group in quite some time.

While most of the album is incredibly solid, “Sharp Words,” a song described by the band as “different for us,” falls a bit short of the feeling and intensity heard in the other tracks. While in some respects this song might be the track best suited for radio play, it seems a bit forced and unnatural. It does however, have some beautiful harmonies and a good hook.

Overall, Midnight Express, is a real triumph for Gyroscope. This is a band that has been recognized by other bands and a loyal fan base for years, and with a bit of luck they should get the national and international recognition they deserve. In a time when much of the Punk/Pop scene has become over-produced and over-stylized, Midnight Express, with its raw energy and relatively straightforward, unapologetic purity is truly worth a listen.

Midnight Express hits the shops on the 5th of May

If you need a dose before then, check out the official site