Every preconception that hovered over this album was necessarily abandoned on the first listen. What is a reviewer to do? The artwork may annoy you, but the debut from Sydney boys Rich Uncle Skeleton packs a series of punches throughout the 49-minute running time, and has been on increased rotation since the tremendous realisation that it is not, in fact, a musical about idiotproofing.

Musically, the band is incredibly diverse, yet there is a backbone to the record that reinforces the strength of their songwriting, while allowing them to experiment with time signatures, instrumentation, and even choral interludes. Album opener, "Pressing The Any Key", proves this, somehow incorporating a Gregorian-type chant amidst a tribal drum line, before launching straight back into the rowdy chorus.

There are the obvious influences, like Primus, Faith No More, Metallica, and early System of a Down, and they wear the ancestral robes well. But in more experimental moments you can also hear At The Drive In and Tool, which somehow slot in alongside bastard-punk choruses reminiscent of Refused, The Bronx or the Dropkick Murphys. While the material on this album feels neither emotional nor political, the sentiments come across as a sort of cursory self-righteousness, redolent of punk greats like Dead Kennedys, The Saints, or Black Flag.

The arrangement on "Leviathan" is sophisticated, with surprising harmonies between guitarist Fil Molitor and vocalist Fox, while Molitor’s fluid guitar work serves to anchor Fox’s more emotive deliveries. The rhythm section smoulders like Queens of the Stone Age getting it on with Red Hot Chili Peppers in a filthy pub toilet, most notably in "Wave At My Grave". Luka Szczepanik’s bass lines are the key to this element, and impressive though they are, imperfections in the production make them hard to hear at times. In truth, the production was fumbled at a few crucial moments in Idiotproof; "The Hill Song" should have you pounding the floor, but instead feels crestfallen and thin at the wrong moments.

But the album as a whole is a great listen; this kind of mongrel metal really works for Rich Uncle Skeleton, and if the performances on the album are anything to go by, they’d be one to check out live as well.

Review Score: 7.5/10