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Amyl and the Sniffers take on the world: ‘If you don’t like us, then that’s on you’

The Australian punk band has been praised by Billy Corgan and Karen O for their explosive live act and uncompromising politics. Their new album is a sonic evolution – but the scrappy spirit remains

Bodies fly as Amy Taylor prowls, screams and laughs, her peroxide blonde hair falling over her thickly lined eyes; this is the infamous, furious stage presence described by NME in 2018 as “defying gravity, as though she’s possessed”; and by the Observer in 2021 as “a boxer crossed with a wood sprite”. Photograph: Charlie Kinross/The GuardianTaylor is the last to arrive, fresh-faced in a sand-coloured trench which she removes to reveal a Posseshot jumper (the Melbourne hip-hop collective opened the Croxton show), tights and fluffy white legwarmers. To me, I’d rather just keep doing what I’m doing.’ Photograph: Charlie Kinross/The GuardianSocial commentary is never far from Taylor’s lyrics, which could just as easily contain brutal ragers about life under oppressive systems (Capital) and simply trying to survive as a woman (Knifey) as it could slapstick humour about oral sex (Blowjobs) and the joy of skimpy clothes (Tiny Bikini).

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