Review: “Non-Violent” by Haters
The down-low on Haters debut album Non-Violent and where to see ’em in Syd!
The Brisbane indie-punk trio Jai Sparks (vocals/guitar), James Priest (drums) and Kaitlyn Hold (bass/vocals) known as Haters are making their way around the country for their debut album tour. They’ll be stopping by a little way up the road from us Wollongong folk on May 2 to perform at Surry Hill’s Low302. Supported by Wifecult and DEDPAN, a night of Haters in Sydney is the perfect way to get acquainted with your new favourite band.
But if you’re still a bit hesitant and you’re keen to figure out their sound, let’s take a moment to dissect Non-Violent…
Haters were clearly not afraid to jump straight into the infectious energy that is the core of this great opening track. It is angry and cheeky and can’t help but be the perfect little mosh anthem. Lyrically and musically, it continues to build you up – let us all be ‘liberated’.
Non-Violent’s second track leads us into a vulnerable, candid and messy exploration of the struggles that try to break us down. But in its vibrant and relentless sonic garden, we are called to find solace in the music. A catalyst for igniting the will to change.
Haters provide us with our new on-repeat tune for the dreaded commute to that job we fucking hate. If you’ve been egged on to quit that 9-5, make sure to thank the trio for making life that bit more bearable. And if it goes horribly, don’t hold it against them – “we’re all just fuck ups in the end.”
Again, Haters seamlessly pull us into a personal space of rage that we can all see ourselves in. Fourth in line in the album, ‘Dead Inside My Head’ continues to invite the listener into the LP’s catchy swell of punk.
‘Ted Bundy’ springs to life with the band’s rhythmic buildup that has been defining a signature sound throughout the album so far. Then we are swung into a groovy, yet still gritty, chorus that is a surprising (but certainly not unwelcome!) departure into a more indie-rock sensibility. If a song is making you itch to sing along to the lyrics “I can’t be as sexy as a serial killer”, it’s pretty safe to say that Haters has got a killer sound.
At the half point of the album, we begin to appreciate the sonic movement of the Hater’s debut album. We see Haters now lean even further into the indie tones of the previous track and we are gifted a nostalgic, warm and endearing song that subtly resonates a sad underside. The stripped back acoustics elicit a feeling of reconnecting with a youth that we long for.
This time the feeling of youth has been stained by memories of resentment as Hater’s dive back into a heavier sound again to bleed out our collective bitterness.
We’re back into head-banging territory with a track that makes us want to pick up our feet and jump at the front of a stage. There’s a power we feel rising within us as we too start chanting “I’m a weapon.”
The energy of the LP spurs into an ever more intense atmosphere with ‘Last Night.’ Unapologetic in its declaration for love and fun and an indulgence in “memories we won’t forget.” We see the conflicting and contrasting trajectory of love for yourself and love for others. We are reminded of the opening track ‘Liberate’. An unbridled joy emanates from the song towards its end, a liberation of sorts. A liberation to love yourself.
Haters are unflinching as they unfold some of the heaviest themes and lyrics of the album, with the sounds of angry grunge to match in ‘Jimmy Says.’ As the third last song of the album, Haters continue to flex their ability to emote through music and prove that they’re here to make an impact.
In a song that is a rage-filled confrontation with the reality of violence against women, Haters transcend their relevance even further into the spotlight. Haters perform a thrashing of sound that is embedded within a deeply concerning and continual nightmare that many listeners will all be too familiar with.
Non-Violent draws to a close with a track that is an emblem of the unique blend of anger, hope and contemplation that has encompassed the entirety of the album. As we listen, we are engrossed in the band’s poetic performance of sounds that drive home the very clear message that this debut album has been produced with care and for a love for music. We are lucky to get to share this love with the talented trio Haters.
Catch ya at the gig? Buy tix here!
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