Photo by Phoebe Cockburn

Artist: Armlock, the duo of vocalist and guitarist Lam and guitarist and keyboardist Mitchell

Location: Melbourne, Australia

Buzz: Nothing and everything about Armlock’s formation could have ever directly suggested their present tense. Before joining up creatively, the band’s two members, Lam and Mitchell, were friends first while studying at uni in their native Melbourne. The two would then pursue their own artistic endeavors, going on to make electronic and dance music as part of the likes of Kllo, I’lls, and Couture. While most guitar-based rock bands these days usually sonically abstract into non-guitar-based directions, collaborating together now as the duo Armlock has seen the pair evolve in reverse course, using their jazz and electronic music foundations where an understanding of rhythmic beats and minimalistic designs distort the definition of the rock conscious.

Expounding on what their 2021 debut, Trust, promised, their imminent sophomore effort, Seashell Angel Lucky Charm, hears the pair’s intentional ear for detail rendering a listen that subdues your senses through the brainwave-to-creative wave connection. Brooding existential thoughts on higher powers and internal deconstructions waver through electrical wiring both grooved buoyant and pinbacked, with the occasional synthetic impression and squelched soundwave refracting its mood board onto you. Though its 18-minutes in length marks for a shorter album listen, Armlock’s vision of guitar-pop, like that of their musical endeavors which came before it, is built to loop in your head like an ellipses.

Sound: Drifting through an endless Summer in Abaddon with Beach Music in the background where the future currents of indie rock, shoegaze, slowcore, and trip-hop intersect down a straight, fine line.

Recommended: “Ice Cold”, “Guardian”, and “Godsend” off their forthcoming sophomore LP, Seashell Angel Lucky Charm

Armlock’s Seashell Angel Lucky Charm will be released July 12th on Run for Cover Records.