I know I say this in nearly all my local album reviews, but I love finding new music, and this time, I found a whole new genre. Meet Astrofuzz, a heavy, shoegaze band from Bendigo, Victoria. I love to see what the Bendigo music scene churns out, and Astrofuzz brings a raw, atmospheric, heavy edge that makes you wonder what other gems are waiting to be found.
Astrofuzz’s self-titled album is a heavy-hitting blend of distorted guitars, fuzz-drenched bass, rhythmic drumbeats, and reverb-laden vocals. I wasn’t sure how to describe it at first. It felt like an audial journey, a wave of sound you could get lost in. Before this album, I hadn’t heard of “shoegaze” as a genre, but it perfectly captures what’s going on here. That layered, wall-of-sound effect takes you deep, and once this album was on, I didn’t want to turn it off.
The album begins with Azimuth, an open, wall-of-sound introduction that showcases exactly what the band is capable of. There’s plenty of vocal effects, fuzzy bass, and a rhythmic drumline that feels both spacious and dense, pulling you into their world.
By the second track, Hex, the tempo picks up and there’s a hypnotic, droning vibe. Its ebb and flow has an almost trance-like effect, the rhythm grounding you before it breaks into new momentum. Screen Gazer ups the rock factor even more with hazier vocals and straightforward guitar riffs. There’s a slow, melodic solo here that’s backed by a big, open chord riff, creating a massive, immersive moment that hits all the right notes.
About halfway through the album, there’s Crucifix, a track that starts with an anarchic wall of sound. I’m not sure if they’re using a drum machine or real drums, but the layering of sounds is so intricate that even after a few listens, I’m still picking out new details. It might sound chaotic, but somehow it fits perfectly with the album’s overall vibe.
Howl, a track that leans into a punk aesthetic. This was probably the favourite for me, it’s short, punchy, and direct, with this crazy distortion effect on the vocals, giving it an added grungy layer, giving the album an unapologetic, raw edge. It’s brilliant!
I have now had the chance to review a few local Bendigo bands, and I’m starting to hear that bands in the scene just have a certain similarity or essential essence to them. Whether it’s something in the water or the air, I’m not sure but the Bendigo scene has this DIY underground sense that adds an edge to the music. This self-titled album was engineered, produced and mastered by the band themselves and utilising a local gem of a space named Yeehaa Studios, knowing this, you can appreciate the music and the process even more. It is 100% Astrofuzz, no outside influence, just the band trusting in their own music and journey to unleash it upon the masses.
Astrofuzz’s self-titled album takes you on an audial journey from start to finish. The heavy distortion, the introspective depth, the rhythmic drive, it’s an album that pulls you in and doesn’t let go. It’s the perfect soundtrack for getting lost, whether in thought or in life. After listening to this, I’m going down the rabbit hole of shoegaze to find what other surprises this genre has in store. Go and check this band out! Go and check out your local scene!