Jails, Death & Institutions – Van Ruin (Crankinhaus Records)
This five-song CD EP is the new project for Sydneysider Phil Van Rooyen, also of Chickenstones and late of Sonic Garage, Circus Chaplins and Panadolls, and for those with short attention spans, in two words it’s: “compellingly great”.
Phil’s on vocals and guitar and is joined by producer Al Creed (New Christs, Panadolls and a million others) on bass and additional guitar, and Stu Wilson (Aberration, New Christs, Lime Spiders, Chris Masuak’s Dog Soldier) on drums. If those credentials strike a chord with you, you’ll take to “Jails, Death & Institutions” like a long-term inmate to a remand hearing.
Urgency is the by-word on the title track with dive-bombing guitars and a steamroller engine room giving the vocal major wallop. It doesn’t let up until the closer, “Is It Enough”, which is a reflective and restrained ballad in the style of the Celibate Rifles’ “Ice Blue”.
Phil Van Rooyen has seen a lot in his day job as a drug and alcohol counsellor and the lyrics about remorse and loss reflect as much. The starkly Birdman-esque “Let Me Down” and gutter-gutter-punk cage rattler “Threw It All Away” burn like strips of magnesium after a match has been applied.
“Laying Here With You” winds back the pace, but not the intensity, and is the pick of the litter. At least until next week.
The layered guitars are a treat and Al Creed’s production is lucid, transparent and rocking. Steve Corrad has added some mastering punch at Sage Studios in Nashville.
There’s depth and emotion to burn and that’s where the line is drawn between Van Ruin and 95 percent of the competition. Shoulda been a full album.
Buy here without reservation or remorse. Listen first here if ye are of little faith. The rest of you can rot in jail. 
1/2
