Amyl and the Sniffers | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | Melbourne, Australia |
Genres | |
Years active | 2016–present |
Labels |
|
Members | Amy Taylor Bryce Wilson Declan Mehrtens Gus Romer |
Past members | Calum Newton |
Website | amylandthesniffers |
Amyl and the Sniffers are an Australian pub rock [1] band based in Melbourne, consisting of vocalist Amy Taylor ("Amyl"), drummer Bryce Wilson, guitarist Declan Mehrtens, and bassist Gus Romer (the "Sniffers"). [2] Their self-titled debut album was released in 2019. It was followed by Comfort to Me and Cartoon Darkness , in 2021 and 2024, respectively.
At the ARIA Music Awards of 2019, their self-titled debut record won the Best Rock Album category.
The band was formed by housemates Amy Taylor, Bryce Wilson, Declan Mehrtens, and Calum Newton in Balaclava, Melbourne. The four wrote, recorded, and released their first EP, Giddy Up, in a span of 12 hours. [3] Newton left the band to pursue a solo career and was replaced by Gus Romer in early 2017. [4]
The band takes its name from the Australian slang for amyl nitrite, also known as poppers. [5] Taylor compared their music to the drug in an interview with Paul Glynn of the BBC: "In Australia we call poppers Amyl. So you sniff it, it lasts for 30 seconds and then you have a headache – and that's what we're like!" [5] Their sound has been compared to 1970s punk rock groups such as Iggy Pop and The Stooges and The Damned. [3] However, Taylor has cited a number of varying influences including Minor Threat, Ceremony, AC/DC, Sleaford Mods, Dolly Parton and Cardi B. [5] A second EP Big Attraction was released in 2017.
In 2018, the band went into the studio to record their debut album with producer and former Add N to (X) drummer Ross Orton. [6] The result was the self-titled Amyl and the Sniffers, released on 24 May 2019. It received generally positive reviews, including a 7.2 from Pitchfork [3] and 4 out of 5 stars from NME [7] and AllMusic . [8] In light of the album's release, Happy Mag placed the band at No. 9 on their list of "The 15 Australian female artists changing the game right now", praising Taylor for being "one of hardest rocking people on the face of the planet." [9] The 2018 single "Some Mutts" was used in Warwick Thornton's 2021/2 vampire TV series, Firebite . [10]
At the ARIA Music Awards of 2019, Amyl and the Sniffers won the ARIA Award for Best Rock Album. [11] [12] [13] In February 2020, the self-titled album was nominated for the Australian Music Prize of 2019. [14]
On 7 July 2021, Amyl and the Sniffers announced their second studio album Comfort to Me, alongside lead single "Guided by Angels". [15] Later in July, the band released another single, "Security". Three days prior to the release of the album the band released a final single, "Hertz", alongside a complementary music video. [16] The full Comfort to Me album was initially scheduled for release in early October 2021, [17] but was pushed up and released on 10 September. [18] The album was recorded at Sound Park, in Melbourne. [19]
In June and July 2022, the band opened for Weezer, Fall Out Boy, and Green Day on the European leg of the Hella Mega Tour. [20] In April 2023, the band toured with The Smashing Pumpkins and Jane's Addiction. [21]
In March 2024, Amyl and the Sniffers announced a US headline tour set for July and August of 2024, in addition to their US shows as support for Foo Fighters. [22] In May 2024, the band released the two singles "U Should Not Be Doing That", the first single from their upcoming album, and "Facts", [23] after which they announced a UK and European Headline tour set for November 2024. [24] On 21 August 2024, the group announced that their third album, Cartoon Darkness , would be released on 25 October 2024. The single and music video for "Chewing Gum" was released on the same day. [25] "Big Dreams", the album's third single, was released on 25 September 2024. On 21 October 2024, the group released the album's fourth single, "Jerkin'". The music video was released through the band's website due to graphic full frontal nudity throughout the video. A censored version was released on YouTube. [26]
Title | Details | Peak chart positions | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AUS [27] | BEL (WA) [28] | GER [29] | IRE [30] | SWI [31] | UK [32] | US [33] | ||
Amyl and the Sniffers |
| 22 | — | — | — | — | 91 | — |
Comfort to Me |
| 2 | 83 | 22 | 88 | 98 | 21 | — [A] |
Cartoon Darkness |
| 2 [36] | — | 9 | — | 45 | 9 | 196 [37] |
Title | Details |
---|---|
Giddy Up |
|
Big Attraction |
|
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
---|---|---|---|
NZ Hot [40] | |||
"Balaclava Lover Boogie" [41] | 2018 | — | Big Attraction |
"Cup of Destiny" [42] | — | Amyl and the Sniffers | |
"Some Mutts (Can't Be Muzzled)" [42] | — | ||
"Monsoon Rock" [43] | 2019 | — | |
"Got You" [44] | — | ||
"Gacked on Anger" [45] | — | ||
"Guided by Angels" [15] | 2021 | — | Comfort to Me |
"Security" [17] | — | ||
"Hertz" [16] | — | ||
"U Should Not Be Doing That" [23] | 2024 | — | Cartoon Darkness |
"Facts" [23] | — | Non-album single | |
"Chewing Gum" | — | Cartoon Darkness | |
"Big Dreams" | — | ||
"Jerkin'" | 32 |
The Australian Independent Record Awards (known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | Comfort to Me | Independent Album of the Year | Nominated | [46] [47] |
Best Independent Punk Album or EP | Won |
The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. [48]
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019 [49] | Amyl and the Sniffers | Best Rock Album | Won | [49] |
Amyl and the Sniffers | Best Cover Art | Nominated | ||
2022 | Comfort to Me | Album of the Year | Nominated | [50] [51] |
Best Group | Won | |||
Best Rock Album | Won | |||
"Hertz" by Amyl and the Sniffers, John Angus Stewart | Best Video | Nominated | ||
Comfort to Me Tour 2022 | Best Live Act | Nominated | ||
Amyl and the Sniffers & Dan Luscombe for Amyl and the Sniffers Comfort to Me | Producer – Best Produced Album | Nominated | ||
2024 | John Angus Stewart for Amyl and the Sniffers - "U Should Not Be Doing That" | Best Video | Nominated |
The Australian Music Prize (the AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. They commenced in 2005. [52]
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | Amyl and the Sniffers | Australian Music Prize | Nominated | [53] [14] |
2021 | Comfort to Me | Australian Music Prize | Nominated | [54] |
2024 | Cartoon Darkness | Australian Music Prize | Nominated | [55] |
Commencing in 2005, the J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J.
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | Comfort to Me | Australian Album of the Year | Nominated | [56] [57] |
Amyl and the Sniffers | Double J Artist of the Year | Nominated | ||
2024 | Cartoon Darkness | Australian Album of the Year | Nominated | [58] |
"U Should Not Be Doing That" (Directed by John Angus Stewart) | Australian Video of the Year | Nominated | ||
Amyl and the Sniffers | Double J Artist of the Year | Nominated |
The Music Victoria Awards, are an annual awards night celebrating music from the Australian state of Victoria. They commenced in 2005. [59]
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2017 | Amyl and the Sniffers | Best Emerging Act | Nominated | [60] |
2018 | Amyl and the Sniffers | Best Band | Nominated | [60] |
2019 | Amyl and the Sniffers | Best Album | Nominated | [61] |
Best Rock/Punk Album | Nominated | |||
Amyl and the Sniffers | Best Band | Nominated | ||
Best Live Act | Nominated | |||
2020 | Amyl and the Sniffers | Best Band | Won | [62] [63] |
Best Live Act | Won | |||
Amy Taylor (Amyl and The Sniffers) | Best Musician | Won | ||
2021 | Amyl and the Sniffers | Best Live Act | Won | [64] [65] |
The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) commenced in 2016 to recognise contributions to the live music industry in Australia. [66]
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Amyl and the Sniffers | Live Hard Rock Act of the Year | Nominated | [67] [68] |
2019 | Amyl and the Sniffers | Live Act of the Year | Nominated | [69] [70] |
2023 | Amyl and the Sniffers | Best Live Act | Won | [71] [72] |
Best Punk/Hardcore Act | Won | |||
Best Live Act in Victoria | Won |
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