Biography
The Murlocs deliver their garage blues foundation through direct, assured playing, yet they repeatedly experiment with fresh styles and influences on each successive release. Assembled from players tied to King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard and ORB, the group launched with lean rock & roll on their 2014 debut Loopholes. Later releases expanded the garage template, introducing smoother production values on 2017's Old Locomotive before arriving at piano-driven, introspective rock on 2021's Bittersweet Demons. That same versatility surfaced again on 2022's Rapscallion, where heavy metal and post-punk elements were grafted onto the core sound, and on 2023's Calm Ya Farm, which shifted toward country and classic rock in a loose, unhurried manner.
Formed in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia in 2010 alongside King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, the band centered on vocalist and harmonica player Ambrose Kenny-Smith, who participated in both projects. The original lineup also included Callum Shortal of ORB on lead guitar, Jamie Harmer on rhythm guitar, Andrew Crossley on bass, and Matt Blach of Beans on drums. Early shows leaned on covers of Ray Charles and Creedence Clearwater Revival before original songs entered the repertoire. After building a live following, the group issued a self-released, self-titled five-song EP in 2012, tracked in a makeshift eight-track space, followed later that year by the Teepee EP. Signing with Melbourne's Flightless Records, they delivered their first full-length, Loopholes, in 2014; by then Andrew Crossley had departed and Cook Craig of King Gizzard had assumed bass duties. In 2015 the Murlocs joined King Gizzard's Grizzfest touring festival, after which they began work on a second album. 2016's Young Blindness introduced rhythm guitarist Mladen Milinkovic in place of Jamie Harmer and contained the minor hit single "Rolling On," which broadened their audience.
Old Locomotive, released in 2017, extended that momentum with the successful singles "Oblivion" and "Noble Soldier," becoming the band's first Australian chart entry at number 15. Mladen Milinkovic had already exited by release, with Tim Karmouche of Crepes joining on guitar and keyboards. The album prompted the Murlocs' first European tour. Their fourth album, the polished Manic Candid Episode, arrived in 2019 and reached number 16 in Australia; ATO Records subsequently licensed it for North American release, enabling the band's inaugural U.S. dates. While touring that record, Kenny-Smith dealt with the sudden loss of close friend Keegan Walker, an experience that shaped the contemplative tone of 2021's Bittersweet Demons, much of which was composed on piano yet retained prior rock energy. 2022's Rapscallion reversed that inward focus, restoring volume and drive while incorporating stoner metal weight and post-punk edges. Maintaining their pace, the group returned in 2023 with Calm Ya Farm. Initially framed as country-rock, the sessions broadened to encompass Faces-style barroom rock and misty ballads recalling Ronnie Lane. Its open production, a departure from earlier density, yielded the Murlocs' most relaxed and easygoing set to date.
Formed in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia in 2010 alongside King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, the band centered on vocalist and harmonica player Ambrose Kenny-Smith, who participated in both projects. The original lineup also included Callum Shortal of ORB on lead guitar, Jamie Harmer on rhythm guitar, Andrew Crossley on bass, and Matt Blach of Beans on drums. Early shows leaned on covers of Ray Charles and Creedence Clearwater Revival before original songs entered the repertoire. After building a live following, the group issued a self-released, self-titled five-song EP in 2012, tracked in a makeshift eight-track space, followed later that year by the Teepee EP. Signing with Melbourne's Flightless Records, they delivered their first full-length, Loopholes, in 2014; by then Andrew Crossley had departed and Cook Craig of King Gizzard had assumed bass duties. In 2015 the Murlocs joined King Gizzard's Grizzfest touring festival, after which they began work on a second album. 2016's Young Blindness introduced rhythm guitarist Mladen Milinkovic in place of Jamie Harmer and contained the minor hit single "Rolling On," which broadened their audience.
Old Locomotive, released in 2017, extended that momentum with the successful singles "Oblivion" and "Noble Soldier," becoming the band's first Australian chart entry at number 15. Mladen Milinkovic had already exited by release, with Tim Karmouche of Crepes joining on guitar and keyboards. The album prompted the Murlocs' first European tour. Their fourth album, the polished Manic Candid Episode, arrived in 2019 and reached number 16 in Australia; ATO Records subsequently licensed it for North American release, enabling the band's inaugural U.S. dates. While touring that record, Kenny-Smith dealt with the sudden loss of close friend Keegan Walker, an experience that shaped the contemplative tone of 2021's Bittersweet Demons, much of which was composed on piano yet retained prior rock energy. 2022's Rapscallion reversed that inward focus, restoring volume and drive while incorporating stoner metal weight and post-punk edges. Maintaining their pace, the group returned in 2023 with Calm Ya Farm. Initially framed as country-rock, the sessions broadened to encompass Faces-style barroom rock and misty ballads recalling Ronnie Lane. Its open production, a departure from earlier density, yielded the Murlocs' most relaxed and easygoing set to date.
Albums
Calm Ya Farm
2023
Rapscallion
2022
Bittersweet Demons
2021
Manic Candid Episode
2019
Old Locomotive
2017
Young Blindness
2016
Loopholes
2014
Singles
