"You know how normally when you hear a band you can list the bands that influenced them or that they ripped off straight away?
We couldn't do it for them. They sounded like nothing I'd heard before - really melodic, almost atmospheric."
-Nathan Followill (Kings of Leon), Rolling Stone Magazine
"One of Australia's best kept secrets" - Music Week
"The Panics are a band you should stick on your iPod sharpish" - The Sun
"Don't Fight It, epitomises their strengths: deceptively laid-back, it sidles up with a calming blanket of Hammond organ, brass, strings and sonorous piano" - Sunday Times Culture
Monday 1st June 2009, sees the release of THE PANIC'S eagerly awaited outstanding new album 'Cruel Guards' out on 1st June 2009 on Publica Records.
Stunning first single 'Don't Fight It' was the perfect introduction to the Australian 5-piece, who were born and raised in Perth yet musically seem intrinsically rooted to the northwest of England. First spotted and signed by Happy Mondays' drummer Gaz Whelan, rifle through their music collection and you'll find albums by, The Las, Echo and The Bunnymen, Stone Roses and The Smiths.
With their heaving, sweeping string arrangements, THE PANICS have recorded an album that brims with effervescent pop tunes and epic harmonies, drawing comparisons Echo And The Bunnymen, Bob Dylan and fellow Perth singer songwriter and friend, Luke Steele of The Sleepy Jackson.
'Cruel Guards' has already scooped a J Award and ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Award - the equivalent of a Brit Award) and first single 'Don't Fight It' has featured on hit TV shows Ugly Betty and Underbelly.
THE PANICS have also drawn notable admirers including, Erstwhile Factory owner, the late Tony Wilson and rock big hitters, Kings of Leon. Having already sold out a stream of UK shows through word of mouth alone, they have also supported Morrissey, Noel Gallagher, Supergrass, Grandaddy and Happy Mondays. Fresh off a 12-date UK tour with Paolo Nutini, THE PANICS now prepare to embark on their own UK headline tour, which includes a sold-out London date on Wednesday 27th May at Monto Water Rats.
Already gaining radio support, Jae Laffers vivid, heart bruised lyricism have been compared to the likes of Bob Dylan and Morrisey.
Jae Laffer explains "We don't want to sound like anyone else and hopefully Cruel Guards we've made a record that has a classic sound - ambitious strings, Ennio Morricone soundtracks, big drums. If there's ever a day when the passion goes or we run out of ideas, we can look back and think that with this record we did it 24/7. and now we're set up for the long haul".
THE PANICS are: Jae Laffer (guitarist/songwriter), brothers Drew (guitarist) and Myles Wooton (drummer), Paul Otway (bass) and multi instrumentalist, Jules Douglas.
Don't Fight It.
www.myspace.com/thepanicsmusic
