Single Review: Suits and Ladders

Logic Defies Logic initially began in Hamilton as a funk-prog-metal instrumental group, then relocated to Melbourne, Australia, and found a vocalist to join their ranks. Following their release of LP Magic & Science in 2017, the band have now returned with a new single Suits and Ladders.

The track launches without any nonsense into a speedy one-two-one-two of fun, quirky guitar riffs and pumping snare-bass drum combo. With boisterous lead vocals from Tarquin emulating part-Pantera and part-Head Like a Head, he utilises a range of singing styles in just one track: Crooning, snarling, and that rap-like delivery that Serj Tankian does.

Behind the drumkit, Dom provides the solid framework of the varied time signature changes, effortlessly changing from thrash to hard rock, and adding double-kick bass drum flourishes tastefully.

Perhaps the most fun segment comes at the bridge, where guitarist Ollie serves up a spiraling solo-like riff over slapped basslines from Simon; mixing things up a bit with a megaphone vocal filter, that unorthodox System of a Down-style is further exemplified.

The music video is also pretty entertaining. The band all don hillbilly overalls, a couple of cowboy hats and freaky mutant masks, playing their respective instruments and rocking out in a barn. There’s lots of hay, bizarre hoe-downs, and somehow a rubber chicken. It’s a good time.

Hopping back and forth over the line between heavy metal and hard rock, the song shifts gears from anthemic choruses to rapid-fire instrumental passages. Laden with plenty of hooks, and tempo changing from jerky to smooth and back, this is a super fun one for those into the less predictable types of rock.