Ratking: Nervous Nature | 4ZZZ Brisbane 102.1FM

- There’s a confluence of factors when you find a new band that gives you the impression that they're just starting out; and I’ve made the mental fault of painting that impression all over Ratking. You have the discovery of something that clouds your mind and makes you think they’re an undiscovered gem; the timing of where your listening habits are at that point; and how the record you’ve found seems to be perfect for that moment in time, like a master deciding when to drop a koan on a pupil. Despite my glib view, Ratking have been grinding away since 2014. Nervous Nature comes two years on from my introduction to them in 2020, and this EP is a perfect continuation of that. Ruthless hardcore energy balance on a perch of clever song writing, it is an ideal release for the right here and now.

Push Back pushes off with a modern take on melodic hardcore. It has an Angel Du$t vibe to it and that’s something I mean in absolute earnest. Pure, blistering energy is softened by melodic guitars and vocal harmonies. It lulls you into a serene state with the fast-paced crooning before we’re clobbered in the head like we’re Ken Shamrock in 1998, being twatted. Vocal harmonies continue on Take Your Time while aggression tags in a greater use of song dynamics. Here Ratking fully embrace the hardcore-tinged alt-rock that I cannot get enough of. Here is where interchanging good cop / bad cop shines through. Said shine does continue to illuminate sizeable portions of this release. Panic Station rides this wave having the harsh vocals hold the reins with a strong hand before the smoother vocals slide in during the chorus. Energy has been bumped up on the dial and it drives everything forward with aplomb.

From Explode until King Hit, we devolve with pure glee as Ratking cram us into a CWA Hall and soundtrack a blur of windmill and folks picking up change. To avoid one note beatdown energy, each song has its own inherent shtick. Explode revels in simple down strumming joy and finishes by detonating a chugging riff for the ages. A combined effort from an ugly guitar line, clean vocal appearances and one of the better breakdowns on the EP. Another monster riff dominates Talk To Me and I think the band knew what six string gold they had cooked up because everything is in service of that. In an adroit change of pace, Kinghit welcomes post hardcore to the fold. A droning guitar and distant vocal line kicks things off. It’s the most varied track here and rounds out the EP nicely.

Hardcore has a long, well worn and often idiosyncratic path it follows. The best of the modern crop take this path and install features that entice you to keep revisiting. Ratking, to me, are the newest architects to add a little something something to that. Smart songs that don’t rely on igniting the swinging of fists and spin kicks, while retaining some of that gruff edge, and mixing up the vocals. Nervous Nature is a release that is up there with anything from the likes of Turnstile, Knocked Loose, Code Orange and the like. Because of national bias, I actually think its better.

- Matt Lynch.