Over the past few years, Australia has become one of the main sources of exceptional synth-driven post-punk bands. Adelaide’s Rule of Thirds sit somewhere in between fellow Aussies Total Control and Nun, combining elements of golden era UK post-punk with heavy doses of early ’80s new wave worship. The band qualifies as a super group, featuring the founder of the excellent No Patience record label on synth and members of other Adelaide bands like Young Professionals, Deep Red, and Hydromedusa.
Rule of Thirds
While the Rule of Thirds’ demo and EP flirted with a few different subgenres of punk music, the self-titled album is heavily influenced by Siouxsie and the Banshees, 13th Chime, Joy Division, and other bands on the more accessible side of British post-punk. I recently wrote about the Oblivians traveling to Australia for the first time, citing the fact that even a band as big as they are had to wait until the time was right for such a big trip. Through the tireless work of the Rule of Thirds’ synth player (a person affectionately known as Rat Boy), the band has booked a full US tour on the strength of just three releases, and their month long tour includes a stop at the renowned punk festival New York’s Alright in addition to multiple shows in Los Angeles. Three different labels in three different countries will release the debut Rule of Thirds album while the band is on their first US tour. Mass Media will release the self-titled LP in the US, No Patience will release the album in Australia, and Desire Records will press the record oversees. The band will have copies of their brand-new album at the show Thursday.