Sound Republic: Album Reviews

The Drones, Havliah (10 Track LP, Released 2008)

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By Jess White
28 October 2008

The Drones, Havliah (10 Track LP, Released 2008)

Album Rating: 4.5 / 5

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The Drones

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Havliah

“Nail it down, nail it down just come back home and nail it down”, the opening lyrics on the fourth studio release by the Perth natives demonstrates exactly what the Drones have achieved in the fourth studio release. Havilah is a lyrical masterpiece from start to finish, as Gareth Liddard intertwines stories of travel, death, famine and longing for home.

After spending the best past of the last few years traversing the globe and wooing audiences at festivals such as All Tomorrow's Parties, the Drones returned home to record their latest studio offering in the lush surroundings of Mount Buffalo in early 2008. The constant touring, combined with the success of the band sees Liddard on this current release, shifting his songwriting from about battling his own personnel demons to writing song about how he sees the world.

“Nail it down” the opening track on the album showcases everything, which makes the Drones one of the most important bands in Australian Rock. Liddard and Dan Luscombe going head to head on guitar, Fiona Kitschin on bass and Michael Noga combing to make a thunderous rhythm section with Liddard spitting out amazing stories. Following it up with the first single “Minotaur” leaves the listener reeling and begging for more after only the first two tracks on this album.

“Oh My” sees Liddard taking aim at society and in the inequalities of the world… “People are a waste of food and you won’t ever hear the end, they are only ever happy when they are burying their friends. And they take take but they never take a hint. Still the ice caps are getting skinny but still they are not concerned”. Respite comes with “The Drifting Housewife” a tale of woe and heartbreak, which slowly builds from to its crescendo with the acoustic guitar of Luscombe a highlight. And the Paul Kelly esq closing track “Your acting’s like the end of the world” rounds the album off perfectly.

If their previous two albums “Wait long by the river and the bodies of your enemies will float by” and “Gala Mill” didn’t hook you as a fan then Havilah will. If they did, this album will only reinforce the lofty status that, the Drones are held by rock fans over the globe!

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