Not the Queen Bees

Americans have been slow coming around to the Drones, the Aussie quartet rightly beloved in its homeland. Perhaps it’s the grim songwriting and pull-no-punches gnashing of frontman Gareth Liddiard. This year’s Havilah -- the Drones’ fifth album, and second for All Tomorrows Parties’ house label -- may seem unnecessarily brutal at first, but like Liddiard’s mean growl, the rangy music works its way past the best defenses. The nearly seven-minute opener “Nail It Down” yields a sublime sprawl, while the single “The Minotaur” nicely skewers a pasty generation of obsessive gamers. Beyond the bluesy muscle and pub grit of the louder songs, about half of Havilah is stripped down to an acoustic twang and tiptoed backing, freeing Liddiard of his bear suit but proving him no less incisive. The closing “Your Acting’s Like The End Of The World” is especially devastating, despite its gingerly strum. Liddiard doesn’t do it alone: guitarist Dan Luscombe is as flexible or flinty as needed, and bassist Fiona Kitschin and drummer Michael Noga have enormous gravity. Newcomers to the Drones should start with Havilah and work their way back, treasuring each unflinching album one at a time.

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More About

• Gareth Liddiard
• Windsor
• Michael Noga
• Fiona Kitschin
• Dan Luscombe

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Model/Actress, the Spyrals, and DJ the Duke Of Windsor open.
Fri., Sept. 18, 9:30 p.m., 2009