Tasmanian alt-rock powerhouse Verticoli return with their stunning new long play release, Silverlinings — a raw and reflective collection that finds light amid the storm. Premiering exclusively today on the AU review, the album captures the band at their most anthemic and emotionally direct, exploring anxiety, loss, disconnection and the desperate search for meaning through waves of thunderous guitars and soaring hooks.
We premiered one of the singles, “See You Around”, in July, and have been keenly awaiting the album. That track took inspiration from Tom Petty and Kurt Vile, and this led in beautifully to the remainder of a record that has been a joy to listen to this past week.
Recorded at Sing Sing Studios in Melbourne with Luke Cincotta (Airbourne, Jet, Karnivool, The Amity Affliction), Silverlinings interlaces the punch and power of 90s alternative rock with the emotional honesty of modern post-punk and hardcore. The result is a sound both nostalgic and fiercely current — a record that feels as cathartic as it does energising. It’s incredibly impressive how big a sound and rip-roaring variety they produce for a trio.
Since their 2013 self-titled debut EP, Verticoli have steadily carved a reputation as one of Australia’s most electrifying live acts, sharing stages with DZ Deathrays, Cog, British India, and Kingswood. With every release — from Punching Bag (2015) through Free Will (2017 EP), Heavy (2021 EP) and The Echo (2022) — the Hobart trio have refined their signature mix of grit and melody. Silverlinings continues that evolution, its introspection balanced by the playful, boisterous energy that has always defined Verticoli.
The album will be launched December 5 at The Grand Poobah (Hobart), alongside a killer local lineup. Tickets HERE.
Sit back, press <PLAY> and enjoy the rousing and uplifting Silverlinings
Track by Track: Verticoli – Silverlinings
“A Kick in the Teeth”
This song is one of our favourites off the record. It’s just three chords and the truth! It’s about our last album tour, which was amazing but a huge mental and physical drain! The song deals with the excitement and disappointment of pursuing your passion. Kind of a song about unrequited love. The gang vocals and the end are super fun and have gone down great at the last couple of gigs we’ve played!
“Milk & Honey”
“Milk & Honey” is an angry song about hyper-capitalist pigs and the consequences of corporations pulling strings and being king-makers. We are very much leaning into our post-hardcore and grunge influences on this one. The song’s genre was dubbed ‘Grunk’, a clever portmanteau of grunge and punk, by one listener, which is pretty accurate. The guitar solo was literally pulled straight from the demo, it’s rancid and dank and a super fun.
“Trash King”
This song is one of the two tracks off the record inspired by the Marion Bay Falls Festival (RIP). Musically it is an ode to Pearl Jam, and to me sounds like a Vitalogy era track. I don’t remember writing it, it just turned up one day. When you’re in a rutt you’ll go to some great extents to pull yourself up, which is kind of what this song is about. The percussion breakdown in the bridge was fun to put down in the studio and something new for us sonically!
“Be Three”
This song nearly ended up on our last album but Jon our producer at the time thought we’d have one-too-many songs starting on a D chord! Little math-rocky number about over-extending yourself… and then when you’ve reached your extent thinking maybe you can push it a bit further. The bridge breakdown is what happens when you leave our drummer Will and producer Luke (also a drummer) in the studio by themselves!
“Birds of Prey”
This song contains the first riff/guitar part I ever wrote, in the second verse. I didn’t build the song from it, but wanted something different for the second verse and saw it dangling there in my mind’s eye… so i grabbed it. It has some great Willy C drumming at the end. I think the outro turned out great. Take what you will from the lyrics… maybe we are dead!
“See You Around”
Tom Petty wrote some great songs and this is another love-letter to the Marion Bay Falls Festival, trying to channel some of his energy. The song is from the perspective of someone who is hopeful despite recent heartbreak. This one really ended up somewhere quite different from our usual sound, but our producer Luke Cincotta had a really vision for this one and we are chuffed with the end result!
“The Seams”
Will’s mum reckons the guitar part in this song is outstanding. I’ll take that! I think compositionally I was channeling the intersection of Jane’s Addiction and Basement. The song itself is about mental illness on a hot summer’s day. Some killer Jeremy Hughes driving bass on this one.
“Make it Your Own”
There isn’t too much to say about this one… you’ve gotta make it your own. Great drums, driving rhythm, has a bit of Blood Sugar Sex Magik energy in the verses. Was written at the same time as our single from a few years back ‘The Fear’, which is similarly drum driven and funky in the guitar department.
“Home”
Ever felt like an alien floating through outer-space facing existential despair? Well this song’s for you! It’s worth checking out the music video for this one. Our bassist Jez drove for four hours to shoot the video, only for us to cover his face for the whole thing.
“Another One”
From a lyrical perspective, this song is dedicated to anyone who has suffered enough that they felt the only option was to leave to the world before their time. It’s maybe the angriest and heaviest song we’ve put to tape so far, and owe’s a bit to Helmet and Refused musically.
“Sleep”
Our foray into dreamy bedroom pop! Originally intended to be a Sam Hunn solo project song until Will snapped it up. Sleep is great when you can get it and it works. When it doesn’t work, or you can’t get it, you can go mad.
“Summer”
Sometimes you wake up and think “Ahhhh…all my troubles have gone away”. You sit outside with your morning coffee and enjoy that feeling for as long as you can. Finishing the album on that positive notes was important. I was listening to a lot of Smashing Pumpkins around that time; I try not to act like Billy Corgan but damn that guy can write a song.
You can keep in touch with Verticoli via Instagram and Spotify
Silverlinings from Verticoli will be released on Thursday – you can pre-order the digital album and vinyl HERE
Header image supplied by artist
