Missed it by THAT much! ‘Knots’ is a song for anyone who has ever snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Entering with hope and naïve enthusiasm, the sweet glockenspiel and driving percussion bring forth a vocal melody intent on victory, before the dynamic shift of the interlude foreshadows a realisation that all is not what it seems. Where did it all go wrong? Why is this happening? How does one take this back? While we can’t win them all, we can take comfort in the knowledge that the good fight was fought, and tough lessons were learned just the way nature intended – with a hint of regret and a burning itch that can never be scratched.

Knots

“The songs are so good, but they sound so lame…”
A classic tale of the struggling songwriter, ‘Is This Really How It Ends?’ is a playful examination of expectation versus reality. An idea is born, but something is missing. A growing tension mounts, before the dreaded reality sets in – there is only so much one can deliver. Written by an amateur to be performed by pro’s, ‘Is This Really How It Ends?’ proudly escapes the bounds of personal limitations and strides gloriously towards a fully realised magnum opus. Finishing with chaos aplomb and a pub choir in all its glory, the song signs off with a nod to its own genesis. Is this REALLY how it ends???

Is This Really How It Ends?

Ups and downs; we have all had a few. There is just something about a shared experience with another human being that brings unparalleled propensity to live through the full gamut of emotions. ‘The Dust & The Debris’ is an attempt to understand this universe, where it is not always obvious at what point along the scale of highs and lows one currently resides. Delicate guitar and restrained vocals gently interplay with subtle ebbs and flows, before finally reaching breaking point in the final stand. Erupting into a sea of confusion and angst, the answers seem as elusive as they are startling. After all, a pendulum swings to both sides equally, however it spends most of its time somewhere in the middle.

The Dust & The Debris

Sometimes it is the simple pleasures in life that we enjoy the most. The palpable buzz of new love on the horizon. Sharing a quiet moment of reflection and gratitude with your number one. Watching the world go by on a warm summer’s night under clear and stary skies. ‘City’ is the musical embodiment of the fleeting moments of joy we all experience on our journey of growing up. With its wordless chorus, minimalistic melodies, and shimmering guitar-driven hooks, ‘City’ is a short and sharp interlude intent on reminding us to never let the good times pass us by.

City

Calm foreshadows chaos, and the relaxed proceeds the rage. From a prolonged, peaceful serenity, ‘Secrets’ explodes with the dynamic energy of a raging inferno, engulfing its surrounds in an all-encompassing fury of fire and flame. With themes of introspective confliction and internal turmoil, the lyrics tread precariously between internalisation and a cry for help, before inevitably there is only so much the dam walls can take before they burst. Pent up frustration pours through the pressure valve until the pressure is no more, and an ethereal inner peace is born in the aftermath of the storm.

Secrets

Rock and roll has all always been the devil’s music – a tradition rooted deeply in its emergence from the blues. One tale in particular, the story of Robert Johnston and his infamous transaction with the dark lord itself, is engrained so deeply in the psyche of the genre that it has taken on fairytale-like status. It has quite literally influenced its disciples for the best part of a century. ‘Night Watches Over You’ is a modern re-imagining of the age-old tale of doing whatever it takes to make it to the top. By asking the simple question, “would it still be a blues if it didn’t go to the fourth on the fifth bar of the pattern?”, ‘Night Watches Over You’ is a musical odyssey determined to showcase that there is much more yet to be explored in the world of blues-based rock. What would the devil think of such a quest? We will ask it next time we see it down at the crossroads…

Night Watches Over You

It is only too human to long for something more in life. ‘Take Me Away’ is a sympathetic ode to the never-ending quest for the key to happiness. The thumping rumble of the drums and glistening simplicity of the rolling guitar melodies provide the perfect backdrop for a vocal performance hellbent on finding the answers to all the big questions. From the familiar joys of an ice-cold beer to the quest to find solace beyond this world; the answers may be hard to come by, but that does not exclude one from enjoying the expedition to find them. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride!

Take Me Away

Never take for granted the simple moments in life that bring the greatest pleasures. Finding common ground in a shared moment, however fleeting, intertwines a divergent past into a convergent future, where a spark is burned permanently into a mutual memory and perpetual nostalgia. ‘Through My Eyes’ revels in the joy of the often unnoticed and underappreciated moments that shape our lives for the better. When the seed bursts into flower, take the time to reminisce on how the seed was planted. After all, it is from the little things that the big things grow.

Through My Eyes

All is not always as it seems. For every ounce of evil, there is an inherent sense of innocence lost. Sometimes, it takes a little bit more effort to find virtue amongst the abhorrent. ‘In Time’ is an acknowledgement of all the good that once lay within what is now considered to be bad. Between compounding vocal harmonies and wickedly addictive guitar melodies lies a tune which showcases a sweet yet sinister perception of how nurture influences nature. For while the birds may still be singing, the morning may be more ‘mourning’ than ‘morning’.

In Time

Bounding into focus with its compellingly simple three-note power riff, ‘By My Side’ is a pulsating power struggle of rhythmic divergence. Leaving melodic content firmly strapped to the back seat, the dynamic interplay between the funk-driven pulse of the bass and the rhythmic dissonance of the restrained lead guitar drives the song along the road to the promised land. The vocal climax, itself advocating the importance of a good rhythm well repeated, is a harsh yet poignant reflection on when the sweet turns sour. With one final burst of aggression, ‘By My Side’ signs off with a forceful reminder on the power of a pulse.

By My Side

My Pet Rhino is a Sydney-based alternative rock project combining progressive rock elements with simple, hard-nosed grooves and pop-driven melodies sure to be stuck in your head all safari long!

The Dust & The Debris

My Pet Rhino

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