Starting out as a simple after-school activity, Optical Screw have spent the last few years growing into their music, developing their precise sound and finding just the right combination of musicians to make the line-up reflect exactly where the band was meant to be headed. They have been rewarded for their efforts by having had the opportunity to play in some of Melbourne’s premiere live music venues, alongside some of the best known local (and not so local) talent. The trend will continue as the five boys take the stage in December to perform in the final round of the Emergenza Music Festival in Melbourne at HiFi.

Along with a good online presence on the ‘musts’ of band promo forums and profile pages where you can find anything and everything you ever wanted to know about these guys, you can also have the pleasure of listening to their music online. While they are still in the process of recording an EP, the pieces which are online are a good sampling of what the band is all about. They have a few shows lined up for the next two weeks, all leading up to the final round of the international  battle of the bands which can send them to Sydney and… Germany..? Optical Screw fans – take note of how crucial your presence and your vote will be on this important December night.

The band calls themselves indie rock, which serves as a blanket description for many styles and twists on the genre. Out of the selection of the band’s songs available for the fan’s listening pleasure online, Long Way Down captured my attention most of all. The guitar effects are an effective tool at emphasizing certain elements throughout the song and when serving as a background to the singers experimental vocals they provide just the right touch. In an interesting twist, some of the lyrics are spoken… or almost shouted by the singer. This however is done in such a subtle and fitting way, you can’t help but get right into it. Let’s hope the fans agree and take these guys all the way to Sydney!