The Age, 02 February 2006, State Of Emergency Review

Author Unknown


For a local rock trio, the Living End's story is certainly compelling. After a phenomenally successful debut album sold more than 350,000 copies, an equally good follow-up stiffed and frontman Chris Cheney almost lost his life in a car accident. After changing drummers for the impressive MA, the band headed to the US for months and returned with their tails between their legs. They revisit the US for months of touring as free agents attempting to resume their international career. Armed with this outstanding fifth album, released next week, it might work. The band's struggles (both internal and external) are well documented lyrically here, paticularly on the scathing We Want More. Elsewhere, the album boasts the usual amount of radio-friendly hooks, with Long Live The Weekend and the choir-infused Wake Up highlights. The record is impeccably produced. Growing with each listen, State deserves to push this band to the level it so richly deserves.

4 stars.