Melbourne post-punks BENCH PRESS will release their debut, self-titled album via Poison City Records on August 25th. Today, the band release single ‘Burning Up’: a sparse and irresistible insight into their LP.
‘Burning Up’ is a slow-burner, a gurner, all heavy bass and sharp, striking clean guitars. It is pared back in the most confronting way, but no less mesmerising or catchy for it. The occasional call-and-response vocals are haunting. Meandering lead parts exasperated yet powerful. An appeal to reason. Don’t lose your cool! Just build up!
Recorded and mixed over the summer of 2017 by Matt Chow and mastered by Mikey Young, Bench Press’s debut album straddles the sound of classic post-punk while translating as exciting and youthful. Vocalist Jack Stavrakis muses, “lyrically this album is all about introspection – looking closely at yourself and being honest about your own situation in an attempt to better understand how you feel – to learn from this and to be the best you can be.”
With the release of tense first track ‘Group Anxiety‘, Bench Press picked up a tidy across-the-board RTR Radio add. One observant music director declared ‘sounds like Cosmic Psychos doing early Talking Heads.’ We’re inclined to agree. Loud-quiet-loud. Bold, brash and brittle. Catch the band as they get on the road through August and September, including club shows with Batpiss, Gareth Liddiard and a slot on the huge Brewtality Festival line-up.
PRE-ORDER DEBUT LP ‘BENCH PRESS’ NOW:
LP/ CD: www.poisoncityestore.com
DIGITAL: http://radi.al/BenchPress
BENCH PRESS
TOUR DATES
Saturday August 5
The Bendigo, Melbourne
Brewtality Festival Appearance
Friday August 25
The Tote, Melbourne
With Batpiss, Gareth Liddiard
Friday September 1
Karova Lounge, Ballarat
With Batpiss
Saturday September 16
Weekender Fest, Melbourne
With Clowns + Wet Lips + The Pink Tiles + Hoodlum Shouts + more!
Saturday September 23
The Old Bar, Melbourne (Album Launch Date!)
With Horace Bones + TV Haze + Local Coward
Friday September 29
Polyester Records, Melbourne
Free/ All-Ages Instore
