The Burbs return with a blistering new single, and it’s as sharp and unsettling as its title suggests. “There’s No Time For Presents” is a dark, emotionally charged meditation on guilt, helplessness, and fractured relationships, delivered with simmering intensity that only this Bells Beach trio can pull off. Known for their signature blend of gritty textures and magnetic hooks, The Burbs team up once again with producer Aaron Dobos at Sing Sing Studios to craft a confession spoken through clenched teeth.
Opening with a steady, almost ominous strum, the song wastes no time setting its brooding, reflective, and quietly explosive tone. Brook Mckeon’s vocals stand out with their understated, suppressed sobriety, like someone trying to stay calm while the world around them cracks open. As the drums build and the guitar grits subtly growl in the background, the emotional stakes rise. The moment of eerie brilliance happens where the percussion mimics the sound of a “pocketknife slicing through paper,” which symbolically haunts the melody.
On the other hand, the lyrics hit just as hard. “What a nice weight to get off your chest / All it took was a pocketknife and a press” may be one of the most devastating lines in Australian rock this year. The song observes and in the honesty of which, it lands its deepest punches.
Following the underground acclaim of Sunlight Spills Across The Swimming Pool and radio hits like Ladder To The Moon and Skin and Bones, “There’s No Time For Presents” sees The Burbs doubling down on their artistic identity. If you love poetic, deep music, check them out on Spotify.
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Review by: Naomi Joan