Formed in Newcastle in 1996, The Instant emerged as one of Australia's most compelling underground rock acts, a band defined by their ability to fuse atonality, abrasion and beauty into a singular, immersive sound.
Their debut LP Notes & Errata lit up critics and set the foundation for a reputation built on intense, instrumental live performances, where controlled guitar explosions collided with stark, lilting ambience. Early shows drew comparisons to Sonic Youth and Fugazi, yet their sound resisted imitation, unmistakably their own.
Sharing stages with acts including Dinosaur Jr, Love Of Diagrams, Lou Barlow & Die Die Die, The Instant became known for shows that blurred chaos and precision, often unfolding as a full sensory experience. After a lengthy hiatus, with members contributing to acclaimed projects such as Firekites, Purplene and Charge Group, the band returned in December 2025 to a packed hometown crowd, delivering a blistering set that confirmed their enduring power.
Now writing and performing new material with renewed urgency, The Instant are not revisiting the past - they're expanding on it.
ALEX NEVIN
MATT ROSSETTI
TIM MCPHEE
ADAM JESSON
ALBUM LAUNCH
Booby Trap, Melt Bar
Fri. Feb. 16 2007
Bringing their fusion of rock, indie and experimantal sounds to Melt in Kings Cross and launching their debut album ; Notes & Errata, Newcastle's The Instant rocked a full house last Friday night... and i mean 'rocked'. I mean rocked in the traditional sense of the word, in a Woodstock sense of the word reserved for bands such as The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd; Rocked.
Offering controlled guitar explosions juxtaposed against a stark and lilting ambience, The Instant sure know how to hold an audience, and it aint with words. Completely instrumental, this four piece from Newcastle rely purely on talent and originality (something new and different for our generation!).
They also make it a truly sensory experience with the adoption of a large screen featuring 60's mod film cuts spliced with crazed, noir inspired gothic pieces. Think Nouvelle Vague (New Wave film) meets the ultimate experimental sound track, but newer... and better. They rocked the jump cut while they rocked the audience and by the end they had everyone screaming for more. Cue oncore. Cue more mod clips. Cue another amazing song. Cue everybody falling in love.
In the tradition of bands like Fugazi and Sonic Youth, its obvious that the focus here is on the music and not on an image, which in the ever-growing industry of cool, among musicians/ bands/ DJs, is a breath of fresh air. Except that you've never heard anything like them. Who do they sound like? Well, they sound like The Instant. Amen to that.
Teaming a dark and moody ambience with the brutal intensity of a crunchy rock beat, The Instant will sing the soundtrack to your soul, and they'll do it without saying a word. If there's one band that is a must-see in '07, The Instant is it. They'll leave you breathless and inspired. Oh and check that drummer. Zing.
Emma Butscheck - The Brag,
Issue 199, Feb. 26. 2007