Photos by Ryan Fleisher
Amyl and The Sniffers tore through Atlanta like a sonic hurricane on their Cartoon Darkness Tour stop at The Eastern, delivering a set that was as feral as it was cathartic. The Australian punk powerhouse unleashed pure chaos on stage, with frontwoman Amy Taylor commanding the crowd like a force of nature — shrieking, stomping, and snarling her way through a blistering set. Her performance wasn’t just entertainment; it was a punk rock exorcism.
From the first riff, the venue exploded into a frenzy of mosh pits and crowd surfing, with fans — many clad in vintage punk regalia, studded leather, ripped fishnets, and Doc Martens — mirroring the anarchic energy pouring from the stage. It felt less like a concert and more like a rebellion. Taylor took a moment between songs to denounce the legacy of the Trump presidency, drawing roars of approval from the politically charged crowd. It was a visceral reminder that punk, at its core, remains a vehicle for rage and resistance.
Tracks from their new record, Cartoon Darkness, hit with unrelenting power. Songs like “Control Freak” and “Bleed Me Out” showcased the band’s evolving sound — still raw and aggressive, but sharpened with a tighter, more deliberate edge. The record, released in late 2024, dives into themes of identity, power, and political decay, and it translates live with even more intensity. Taylor’s delivery is venomous yet charismatic, and the band behind her is tighter than ever, turning the stage into a punk battleground.
The crowd matched the energy beat-for-beat. Mosh pits swelled and split like crashing waves, while crowd surfers launched themselves with reckless abandon, riding the chaos with glee. Security had their hands full, but the joy was palpable — this was community through chaos.
Amyl and The Sniffers proved once again that punk isn’t dead — it just needed an Aussie accent and a whole lot of attitude. Their Atlanta show was a riot in the best way possible.
LoudSound Magazine 
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