With the grouchy growl of an adolescent Lemmy and the pompous piano jilts of the Dresden Dolls nursed with the overblown pretension of hair metal the likes of Slayer, proudly eccentric Auckland duo The Murder Chord has certainly caused some murmurs for their shit-stirring new take on rock and roll. While the piano scales and flair can grate and the stuttery rants nigh on fake or staged, The Murder Chord seems to revel in shock rock style.

Truly interesting is the staggered reggae of third song ‘Ska Trance’ – a dubious, creeping song that lurks with David Hine (from Missing Teeth)’s unabashed Kiwi spit and wallowing organ sound with Ryan Sikes (from Real, Real Sick)’ subtley choppy drums gradually increasing the tension until it eventually devolves into a rubbery mess. ‘Fresh Zombies’ conspires Hine’s Motörhead-esque throaty growl with almost cabaret piano lines, making for a less-harrowing, more befuddling track. ‘Night Sweats’s pop sensibility brings back the strength of their song writing in more of a pop format.