The likes of Constant Mongrel, Hexdebt and Shogun & the Sheets will light up Bruzzy's Farm.
Only a handful of releases since their start in 2010, with the last being 2015’s DCM EP, Constant Mongrel was long overdue for their LP Living in Excellence. Released through Anti-Fade, the album is 30 minutes of instantly recognisable Melbourne punk. The band consists of members from Nun, Woollen Kits, Terry and Taco Leg and talent is clear in the togetherness presented on Living in Excellence. Each track differs from the next in arrangement and sound.
Favourites on the album include ‘600 Pounds’ and its political lyrics along with final track ‘Puffy’, because I don’t get it. “Do you know what a puffer jacket is? Do you know what a pillow feels like?” What’s this song about? Is it Gore-Tex? And the sax sound is awesome. Then it goes on to talk about plants growing through cracks and the song ends. What’s it all about? The title track ‘Living in Excellence’ starts with sheer pain and annoyance but improves. You caught my attention.
Newer band, Shogun & The Sheets consists of ex-Royal Headache vocalist Shogun, making it something worth seeing on that alone (is that wrong to say?). I’m not exactly sure if this counts as punk, maybe the vocals of Shogun give off that impression, but the Facebook ‘About’ page specifically says “punk is for squares.” With only a 7” released so far in 2018, ‘Hold on Kid’ is reminiscent of Royal Headache with fast instruments, intensely desperate vocals, but overall the sound is more polished than the former and ‘Pissing Blood,’ a theatrical somewhat soul track, makes the lyrics “pissing blood” sound pretty beautiful.
Without even having a full-length album released yet, Hexdebt have really made a place for themselves in the Melbourne punk scene. Playing frequently over the past two years, the four-piece is not to be missed. 2017 saw the release of their single ‘Bitch Rising’ an awesome, angry build-up of a track “my boyfriend’s friends never liked me”. In 2018 they released the single ‘Covenant’ and 2019 has seen the band announce the release of their debut album Rule of Four, due on Friday April 26 through Poison City Records.
The surrealist album cover alone is enough to spark curiosity. Alongside the announcement came the release of single ‘Loops’, a two-minute track which leaves you wanting more. Also important to note is the excellent font Hexdebt is written in – both on their frequently seen tees and new album cover.
