Hitting a similar sweet spot as Terry Malts’ debut record, Killing Time on Slumberland Records, Australia’s Royal Headache approach power pop with a punk spirit, adding loads of screech and breathless urgency to an already fine-tuned sense of melody. Both “Down the Lane” and “Girls” get on and get done with their business in under three minutes.  While the production, shared by Eddy Current Suppression Ring’s Mikey Young and Straight Arrows’ Owen Penglis, finds the perfect balance between the expressive and deceptively soulful vocals of Shogun (The man has a range that belies his punk rock roots) and the sharp and tangled guitars of Law.  Consider me stoked for May 8th, the date this one comes out on What’s Your Rupture?

MP3: Royal Headache – Down the Lane
MP3: Royal Headache – Girls