The most useful aspect of Terry Opie’s Catholic Education was the time his teacher brought a Black Sabbath record to class to prove it wasn’t satanic. Hmmm, he thought, I’m not so sure. He showed it to three other specimens, who took it all in and eventually they formed a mind-blowing band, specialising in nefariously loud sound.

Their debut was good, but it was with their second album (2004’s The Quick and The Deaf), that critics shat themselves. “Straining amps to near combustion!” spat Kerrang. “Feels that it could jump out of your speakers and whack you one!” shrieked Faster Louder.

Third album Jazz Brutus flexes even more sonic muscle. Saintly pure punk, blazing riff rock with weird, ancient riffs exploding like Blue Oyster Cult and a title track that is ferociously original psychedelia. ‘I’m a Believer’ sounds like Sebadoh after years performing at knifepoint, emerging from some generic suburban outpost like a Phoenix.

Some tips: Do not listen to this album while operating heavy machinery. Do not attempt to control a wrecking ball, do not get behind a speedboat or handle electric kitchen utensils. ‘Jazz Brutus’ is what results when a whole lot of speed and mayhem impact upon Melbourne like a meteorite.

”The Specimen’s have written one of the more destructive and unique garage records in the last five years, one that takes the aggression of Detroit garage with the melody of Birdman. ‘Shroom of Turn’ opens the L.P. and sounds like ‘My Pal’ meets Rocket from the Tombs ‘Sonic Reducer’. Regardless of influence, this song opens the L.P. in a manner which reaffirms the fact The Specimen’s, whilst one of the more traditional garage rock bands in Aus, have studied the greats well and have subsequently released an album that delivers on the promise of their live shows” Scene

”The Specimens are the business. Jazz Brutus ought to feature in your collection o’ records under ‘F’, for ‘Friday night’ and ‘fucking loud’” The Dwarf