Introducing, from good old Melbourne town - The Thod and the 12 rattly country guitar songs that make up their newest album, Welcome to Thod Country.

Opening the album is ‘Oh Misery’, with a jerky combination of hand claps and a metallic, bluesy guitar riff, setting you on a path of all the highs and lows of life this album travels through. Though ‘Oh Misery’ has a bit of a sly feeling, third song in, ‘Love Starts With...’ is more of a heartbreaking, nostalgic number, emphasised by the little things - such as the bluesy harmonica and nonchalant tambourine. 

‘Caltex’ lets loose with a swinging enthusiasm, the words drawled out like some Texan tale of alcohol and all its troubles. ‘Leave I On’ continues to demonstrate the different ends of the spectrum this band cover, as it slows right down to just a metallic electric guitar and lone vocals, though as the rest of the band slowly climb into the song, it’s those vocals you concentrate on, giving a feeling of hopelessness and desperation.  

‘Yeah, Take That’ brings out the balladeer in our lead vocalist, and though it still has a country feel, that twang is replaced by a calming atmosphere. Though that twang is never too far away and ‘Ace O'Brien’ is the jangly song to bring it back into the forefront, with all involved singing along to the chorus before it all breaks out into a whole bunch of cheering and applause. Though it is ‘I'm Going Down to The River, Katie’ that closes the album in a tranquil but slightly sad manner.    

Welcome to Thod Country travels along a lengthy gravel road, red dusty flying as the wireless spits out a static mess of country, blues tales about the high and low adventures of life. It’s a great representation of the solid songwriting this emerging band has to offer.

Review Score: 7.5/10