Thank god Australia's G55 are a prolific bunch. Why? Because they're simply one of the best new bands to come from down under in 2005. Made up of 3/4 of the unimitable Brisbane kings, The Lost Domain, G55 takes the freedom of that quartet and pushes it off the cliff into a completely different sea. These are some cathartic damaged goods, built from bone and made to last. By coralling a giant mound of influences and inspiration and wrapping it all up into one, solid package, G55 are simply one of the best bands around.

Leighton Craig, Eugene Carchesio, and Simon Ellaby push the envelope further on "2" than they did on the equally impressive "1." The processional-jazz inspired "2.1" and "2.4" reprise brings to mind the historic districts of New Orleans (pre-hurricane). Volcano the Bear has taken similar paths as this, but G55 veer off course around the time Ellaby's guitar crunches break through the walls. This combination is deadly catchy. You can't help but hum along, which is pretty rare for something so out of the ordinary. These guys clearly know what they're doing.

Where G55 is perhaps most successful, though, is during the squalid improvistions of "2.2," "2.3," and "2.7." It's masterful as thick layers of distorted, razor-sharp guitars pierce through the guts of your CD player. Craig and Carchesio's casiotone playing is the real knife-thru-the-heart, though. Methodic and disciplined, they feed off each other like parasites to their hosts. Carchesio and Craig have done endless duo recordings together, honing their interplay to perfection. Ellaby's guitar mastication fits into the cracks they leave open, creating a daunting, impressive whole. Fans of Vibracathedral Orchestra, Bardo Pond, and the like will eat this up and digest it completely. These three guys are on a completely different plane here.

Everything about this release, like G55's "1," appeals to me. The minimal packaging, the shambolic recording techniques, the insane amount of energy... it's absolutely stunning. >From the first notes you know you're getting into something special. And then, when Ellaby let's go with short, but sweet missives on "2.6," you know you've been assimilated. I want to fall asleep and wake up with G55 blasting on my stereo. Pure magic. 9/10 -- Brad Rose (17 October, 2005)