Global Domination | Reviews | Silverchair: Frogstomp

Recent updates

Recent discussions

Reviews

Silverchair: Frogstomp

29/11/10 || InquisitorGeneralis

Yes, this is Global Domination. A site that focuses mostly on the darker, grvmmer, more extreme side of metal. However, we are all not soulless, teched out sycophants who only sing the praises of the most satanic, nun-raping bands from above the Arctic Circle. So, with that being said, let’s talk about a grunge record from a bunch of Australian teenagers from back in the mid-90’s!

I had mostly forgotten about this record, and band, until a few weeks ago when me and my gang were listening to some tunes drunk off of our monkey asses in the wee hours of the morning. We had just finished a long night of guzzling Long Island iced teas and shots of Hungarian honey liquor and began rummaging through my friends old Napster library which had been uploaded to his XBox 360. A furious assault of 1990’s rock followed as we relived our drunken youthful glory days…while drunk. “Tomorrow” by Silverchair came on and the bromance level almost blew out the windows of my friend’s century-old townhome as we screamed…

YYYYYYYOOOOOUUUUUU…..WAIT TILL TOMORROW!!!!
You gonna wait till fatboy, wait till tomorrow!

Long, boring story short this motivated me to dig out my copy of “Frogstomp” and give it a full listen. Surprisingly, unlike much of the grunge/hard/radio rock of that time, “Frongstomp” holds up relatively well. Why do you ask? Catchy riffs and lyrics combined with just a bit more heaviness than other band of the same mold. Sure, they looked like Hanson but back in 1995 Silverchair could write and rock a decent tune. Most of what I have heard of them after this record sucks Koala kock, but I could give a fuck because “Frogstomp” is solid, simple hard rock done right. Apparently, the band has pretty much divorced themselves from this record because they feel it is too “teenage” and not as “mature” as their more recent material.

Newsflash Silverchair, this record sold millions of copies and still holds up. Your more “mature” material with symphonic and pop elements sounds like Eddie Vedder fucking Lady Gaga in a Gay Porn Theatre that has Lord K playing the house organ. Meh, enough hatred. Let’s get back to “Frogstomp”. Besides the radio hit “Tomorrow” there are several quality tracks on here. “Pure massacre” features a killer main guitar riff and another catchy chorus. The opener “Israel’s son” is also quality and almost gets into stoner metal territory. The back half of the record is certainly not as strong as the first, but overall “Frogstomp” is pretty solid.

The production is great; no surprise considering this was a major-label release. While the boys in the band are certainly not virtuoso players (this ain’t a Rush-style power trio) the musicianship is fine. There are not Yngwie solos or Kolias gravity-hyper blasts. However, there is lots of groove and songs that flow well together. If you are looking for something step down from Deeds of Flesh and Devourment but still want to stay heavier than Kenny G and Lady Ghaal Ghaal I recommend giving “Frogstomp” is listen. There is nothing fancy going on here but the guitar riffs and catchy hard rock style of the tunes makes this worthwhile.

Note to Silverchair: Don’t turn your back on this record because you were in high school when you made it. It takes a big Kangaroo-sized shit all over your material from the 2000’s.

Information
Released: 1995
Label: Murmur/Epic
Website: www.chairpage.com
Band
Daniel Johns: guitar, vocals
Chris Joannou: bass
Ben Gillies: drums

Tracklist
01. Israel’s Son
02. Tomorrow
03. Faultline
04. Pure Massacre
05. Shade
06. Leave Me Out
07. Suicidal Dream
08. Madman
09. Undecided
10. Cicada
11. Findaway

Reviews