The Vines: undoubtedly one of Australia’s most erratic bands. Born out of the southern suburbs of Sydney, their acclaimed debut Highly Evolved cemented the trio as a standout in the early 2000s, alongside acts such as The Strokes and The White Stripes.

Just in the first year of the album’s release, they accumulated a swag of awards, more than one million album sales worldwide and had left one hell of a mark on the Late Show With David Letterman. Frontman Craig Nicholls was everything a frontman should be – outgoing, tempestuous, and slightly intimidating.

Fast forward to 2014 – five albums later and there’s been shift in band members. Lachlan West is one of the fresh faces, having joined the line-up in 2012 to take on the role of percussion.

I was asked to have a rehearsal with Craig when he was looking for a drummer – I assumed it went okay,” he explains.

“When he asked if there were any bass players I like to play with, I gave Tim [John, current bassist] a call as we’d played together for about eight years in various bands. We all played some songs and it sounded good – plus it doesn’t hurt that we can all quote most lines from any Adam Sandler movie.”

The Vines are once again prepared to show why they’re the poster boys of modern Australian rock with the release of a spanking new double LP. The album, titled Wicked Nature, is every bit a Vines record – the only real difference being the line-up change.

“There’s an environmental thread throughout the album,” West says.

“Musically, there’s all the elements of a Vines record; there’s moments that are heavy and others that are gentle. Lyrically there’s a few love songs and anything else Craig wanted to explore. He [Nicholls] mentioned a few times he prefers life out of the city – somewhere with calmer surroundings. I think that inspires him and a lot of the songs on this album.”

The LP opens with ‘Metal Box’, a full-bodied alt-rock number that would’ve fit perfectly amongst the gems on Highly Evolved. Following tracks ‘Ladybug’ and ‘Green Utopia’ carry the same characteristics; those signature by Nicholls drizzled on top.

The recording process was “straightforward”, and talking to West, it seems like the band gelled together well.

“We generally did two songs a day, recorded live in the room together, then let Craig do what he does best with the harmonies,” West says.

“Outside of that we had a good time laughing at stupid shit.”

At 22 tracks, you could say that the album surpasses the normal length. Despite this, it’s still an album that’s worth listening from start to finish; ultimately a delight for anyone who thrives on good old Aussie rock.

However, according to West, this wasn’t the initial plan.

“After we finished the first disc, Craig ended up giving us a call,” he says.

“He said he had a bunch of new songs and wanted to record them while they’re fresh. So we recorded and mixed the second disc in five days – you could say that’s pretty much unheard of nowadays. It sounded like a follow up to that first disc, so we made the decision to put them out together.”

The first half of Wicked Nature takes on the hard rock approach of The Vines we know and love. But when it progresses into the second disc, there’s a contrast – softer, more ballad-like songs make their appearances, ultimately showcasing the diversity in the writing of Nicholls and his new band members.

It seems the band also took a modern approach for the album’s release, jumping on the bandwagon and using a pledge campaign to ensure that the band’s audience weren’t entirely missing out.

“We wanted to make sure this album was more about the fans, and give them something exclusive,” West says.

“It’s also a really good way to avoid the normal pressures of making an album for a record label. The record has all the elements of a Vines album, but hopefully with a fresh approach,” West says.

“Now that the band’s back to a three piece it feels like it’s back to basics for Craig – and for us as well.”

Wicked Nature is certainly something special. It not only marks the return of The Vines, but also a new chapter in the band’s history. Wicked Nature is, in itself, a 22 track delight that shows no particular flaws. It’s become perfectly clear that The Vines are back – and they’re better than ever.

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