Calling All Cars

Aussie trio Calling All Cars are just shy of turning ten years old. Starting off in a small town in 2005, the group steadily worked their way through tours before landing a damn good slot supporting Green Day in New Zealand. Since then, they’ve released four studio albums, toured with AC/DC, Queens Of the Stone Age, and Biffy Clyro, signed to Cooking Vinyl, and relocated to London. Their latest album, ‘Raise the People’ was produced by Steve Schram and Tom Larkin, and is sure to push these guys even further in their career.

Opening with title track ‘Raise the People’, the album roars to life with gritty and dirty riffs, and pack an absolute punch with their explosive energy. Haydn’s vocals immediately soar, despite this only being the first track – if this is how they’ve opened the album, then Calling All Cars have already set the bar incredibly high for themselves. Tracks such as ‘Black and White’ and ‘Every Day Is the Same’ showcase their electric riffs and big, monstrous-sounding drum work.

Despite falling vaguely in the rock genre, Calling All Cars have an eclectic style and tastes of music – no two tracks on the album are the same. For example, ‘My Red Light’ slows the tempo down, yet doesn’t lose any bite and strength that earlier tracks also display. ‘Werewolves’ falls back into the group’s comfort zone but that’s not a bad thing; a rough, abrasive song, it’s charged with buzzing energy that’ll get crowds either moshing or dancing. Closing with ‘Good God!’, these Aussies have kept the intensity and power consistent throughout the whole album, which is the same for Haydn’s vocals; never have they once faltered, and he’s constantly provided flawless, elephantine vocals that simply soar.

Sometimes, it’s easy to forget that not all bands from Australia fall into the metal category, such as Parkway Drive. Calling All Cars fall into another genre entirely – but even then, they can’t be really labelled as “just” a rock band. ‘Raise the People’ contains so many different tracks that swing from one sound to another without a hitch whatsoever. They possess some incredible and astounding talent; they’re a robust and exciting band, who have plenty of new things to offer the music industry. - Punktastic

It takes considerable self-belief, ambition, sacrifice and courage for a band to relocate to the opposite side of the world in order to chase a dream of rock n' roll success.

But that's exactly what Calling All Cars did earlier this year, uprooting from their native Melbourne to the UK, just as fellow Aussies AC/DC and The Birthday Party did in the '70s and '80s respectively. It's a bold move for the trio...and one which might just pay off, if they can carry forward the momentum, energy and spirit of this excellent album launch gig.

The Barfly's Jubilee club has a commendable record in showcasing emerging bands, but precious few young bands on this stage already have the musicianship, songs, charisma and charm displayed by Calling All Cars. It helps that the Australian three-piece are no rookies – formed back in 2005, their debut UK release Raise The Peopleis, in fact, their third album – but equally there's a hunger to impress evident here alongside the well-honed chops which makes their live show so compelling.

Rather well-mannered on record, the trio seem to shed their inhibitions when placed on stage. In fact, they're at their very best tonight when frontman Haydn Ing abandons the stage altogether and sets up first in the middle of the room and then on top of the Barfly's bar. It's hardly the most innovative tactic – everyone from Les Savy Fav to Baby Godzilla has pulled the same stunt here - but it's a hugely effective and engaging one, ramping up the excitement levels and making it utterly impossible for Ing to be ignored. Similarly, CAC's songs too are amped up in this setting, with the likes of Werewolves and Standing In The Ocean acquiring gloriously heavy RATM/Muse style codas which set pulses racing and heads nodding furiously.

With the likes of Royal Blood, Mallory Knox and Marmozets set to release eagerly anticipated albums in the coming months, it feels like the climate is right now for guitar bands to start making waves at radio again, and the strength of Raise The People suggests that Calling All Cars should be right in the mix. Much will undoubtedly depend upon the Australians' capacity to hook up with a more established act in order to take their vision to rooms bigger than this storied North London sweatbox, but for now, you won't see many sharper bands at this level.

FINAL VERDICT: 8/10 - Team Rock

Australian rockers Calling All Cars, who are actually based out of Bristol here in the UK, definitely give it their all when it comes to performances both live and in the studio. Hot of the stage at Sonisphere, the trio have been grabbing the attention of the British masses left, right and centre with their enchanting style of melodic rock. Their new album, Raise The People, has been highly anticipated and before its release it had already been set up to be a great record.

Their interesting use of harmonies and vocal effects in one particular track, ‘Black and White‘, is somewhat reminiscent of indie band MGMT - if they had also been hit by the metal bug. The lyrics are eloquent and not at all repetitive, which is a problem some artists have when it comes to songwriting, proving that Calling All Cars are more that capable of putting together music that people are actually going to want to listen to all the way through. The band’s use of electronics is also an intriguing concept, as it’s not necessarily something you’ll find in rock music unless it’s a specific sub-genre, but Calling All Cars showcase they can pull it off in, for example, ‘My Red Light‘.

Softer vocals are also a theme throughout, giving the listener a chance to listen to what’s behind it – the music, made up by several different instruments that are played by effortlessly talented people. It’s a rare occasion that you’ll get to listen to something that focuses its main attention on the melody; the backbone, even though it’s always there, but Calling All Cars give you the opportunity to do so. Want something more upbeat that you can perhaps dance to? ‘Werewolves‘ is the staple track for that, and is fairly successful on its own as it’s been released as a single with a music video previous to the release of the album. ‘It Don’t Matter‘ is slightly more sinister, giving the record a breath of versatility with its dark side.

No matter what mood the song you’re listening to sets out to put you in, and this album definitely offers an array, you’re going to find yourself caught up in the lyrics more than anything else. That’s what really shows off Calling All Cars’ almost unbelievable talent and will have you hooked on them without a second thought!

In summary, Raise The People, which is Calling All Cars’ third studio album, is completely solid from beginning to end and has very little weakness to it. If you’re looking for a new band to get behind, definitely give these guys a listen by grabbing this new album! - Hit The Floor Magazine

Australia is already well acquainted with Calling All Cars having played support to some of the biggest bands in the world down under: AC/DC, Queens Of The Stone Ages and Foo Fighters and more. Their rocky, riffy sound is not dissimilar from the bands they've played with. On record the band have an anthemic radio bothering sound, yet live is where this 3 piece are in their element. At Sonisphere they blew away the early morning punters, as they brought the riffs and a stage presence that captivates as the band clearly put their heart in to every minute of the set. As bands like Royal Blood and Lower Than Atlantis take a grip of the mainstream airwaves there is certainly a British market for their brand of accomplished modern rock and roll gaining momentum once more. There is no better time to be an aspiring band in Britain.

It must feel a little odd opening one of the tents at Sonisphere to a sparse crowd, yet the band deliver their set with passion, a live fervour you can see for yourself in this exclusive session of their recent single 'Standing In The Ocean' from their forthcoming debut worldwide release (3rd album proper) 'Raise The People' through Cooking Vinyl on July 28th. - Huffington Post UK