B-Side Guys

Ladies and gentlemen, brace yourselves for a sonic insurgency. Sydney’s reigning vegetarian punk provocateur Jovi Skyler is back with a vengeance, and he’s armed with a new four-track EP that’s as uncompromising as it is electrifying. “Call It A Day” is a blistering, psychedelia-tinged assault on the senses – a whirlwind of snarling guitars, pummeling rhythms, and Skyler’s inimitable, sneer-laced vocals.

For the uninitiated, Jovi Skyler is a true DIY renaissance man – a singer, songwriter, guitarist, bassist, and music video auteur who’s been honing his craft in the trenches of the underground for years. From his formative days as a Conservatorium dropout busking across Europe to his acclaimed 2023 debut LP “Nothing to Do,” Skyler has consistently proven himself to be an artist of rare drive, passion, and unfiltered authenticity.

And “Call It A Day” finds Skyler once again firing on all cylinders, delivering a quartet of tracks that channel the raw, unbridled energy of early ’90s grunge and punk while injecting a healthy dose of modern psychedelic flair. Opener “Asshole” sets the tone with a barrage of distorted power chords and pounding drums, Skyler’s snotty, confrontational vocals cutting through the maelstrom like a rusty switchblade.

But beneath the surface-level aggression lies a keen social commentary, with Skyler taking aim at the myriad injustices and absurdities of modern existence. “Lil Bo Weep” is a poignant, haunting elegy for the late Australian rapper and singer, while “Frankenstein” grapples with the dehumanizing effects of technology and social media.

Through it all, Skyler’s singular vision and uncompromising ethos shine through. This is music born from a place of pure, unadulterated creation – a one-man sonic wrecking crew hellbent on tearing down the walls of convention and complacency. And the fact that Skyler taught himself bass guitar specifically for these sessions, fueled by a diet of baked beans and champagne, only adds to the EP’s anarchic, DIY charm.

Clocking in at a lean, mean 14 minutes, “Call It A Day” is a short, sharp shock to the system – a bracing reminder of the cathartic, transformative power of punk rock in its rawest, most unfiltered form. It’s the sound of an artist operating at the peak of his powers, channeling his rage, frustration, and wild-eyed creativity into a singular sonic statement.

So strap on your combat boots, crank up the volume, and let Jovi Skyler’s “Call It A Day” EP be your soundtrack to the revolution. In a world increasingly choked by conformity and compromise, this is the sound of one man standing tall, middle fingers raised to the heavens, ready to watch it all burn.