THERE was a time in 2016 where frontman Brooks Nielsen felt The Growlers were losing their identity.
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The Los Angeles surf-rockers were locked in a legal stoush with Santa Ana venue Observatory over the ownership of the Beach Goth Festival and some critics were whispering their fifth album City Club was The Growlers' finest work because of producer and Strokes leader Julian Casablancas' influence.
Three years on The Growlers have reclaimed full control. Observatory ceded naming rights of Beach Goth back to the band and for their latest album, Natural Affair, Nielsen and his bandmate Matt Taylor opted to self-produce. Natural Affair was also released on the band's own Beach Goth Records & Tapes label.
"I feel like everything's been coming home," Nielson says. "We fought hard to get Beach Goth back so we could have creative control.
"That was a major fight and everything else in our business was about growing up and slowly getting out of debt and realising we are more grateful for where we are - still alive and growing and popular.
"Everything is coming back to the way it was with us, throwing our own parties and making our own records and producing everything."
The Growlers have organised the annual Beach Goth festival since 2012. The mix of art, Halloween culture and indie music has become synonymous with the band and established a cult following for their blend of psych-rock, synth-pop and garage.
It's also attracted bands like The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Modest Mouse, James Blake, The Voidz and Bon Iver. The most recent edition held two weeks ago was opened by Byron Bay band Skegss.
"We had a rough patch where some kooks did sue us and took our name," Nielsen says. "It was messy and ugly and it set us back but we persevered and I'm glad we didn't back down."
Nielsen and Taylor (guitarist) have been writing together since meeting at high school in 2006. Their initial albums failed to make a murmur beyond the underground until The Growlers third album Hung At Heart (2013) and the acclaimed Chinese Fountain (2014).
Their profile continued to rise when they worked with Casablancas on the synth-heavy City Club.
Nielsen's vocal delivery is reminiscent of Casablancas and he admitted working with his hero drove him harder.
"Julian's really into it being a strong song and there being a strong melody," he says. "He'll say, 'This is a nice song, but I don't understand what this chorus is, so let's try and make another melody that we can sit and sing it or play it on guitar or piano'.
"The reason Matt and I wanted to reach out was because we're content with anything. We'll say, 'It sounds good to me, that's a cool vibe.'
"Vibes weren't enough for him. There had to be more of a song."
Even without Casablancas The Growlers have followed those lessons on Natural Affair. Tracks like Pulp Of Youth - a love song for Nielsen's wife Melisa - and the slinky new-wave of Social Man are among the band's most melodic tracks.
But Nielsen admits it was a grind. Two years ago for the first time in his life he felt devoid of artistic inspiration. It led to frightening self doubt.
"I had a little time off and felt good and wanted to start making stuff and Matt hit me with a giant batch of songs he had created and I didn't understand," he says. "Am I not feeling it? Did I not like it? Or am I over it or am I just too judgmental?
"We had four songs out of 40 or 50 ideas and that was it. It was the first time it's happened. Usually I attack anything that comes at me and I come up with something and usually without any force. So when it didn't naturally come out it was alarming to me."
Nielsen was also adjusting to life as new father with the birth of his son Valentino and daughter Miko. That domestic bliss shines through on Pulp Of Youth.
"I am definitely proud of everything our dysfunctional Growlers family has pulled off over the years," Nielsen says. "As much I love and respect what we've accomplished, I was prouder of having kids than any record we've made. I'm also very proud of my wife."
The Growlers' Natural Affair tour visits the Kingscliff Beach Hotel (January 4); Sawtell RSL (Jan 8); 48 Watt St, Newcastle (Jan 9); Wollongong Uni (Jan 10); Park House, Mona Vale (Jan 11); Enmore Theatre, Sydney (Jan 12); Westernport Hotel, San Remo (Jan 14); Pier Bandroom, Frankston (Jan 15); The Croxton, Melbourne (Jan 16); Torquay Hotel (Jan 17).