This week’s feature album comes from Sydney punk rock heroes the Hard-Ons with their 13th album I’m Sorry Sir, That Riff's Been Taken. The release comes alongside the band’s recent announcement of a new lead vocalist – You Am I’s Tim Rogers.
“I was already the luckiest goof in rock’n’roll and I get asked to make a racket with my hero’s? Strewth. Wake me up sometime will ya?” Tim Rogers
One of Australia’s most loved and influential bands from the mid-80s through to now, the Hard-Ons came out of the multicultural South-West Sydney suburb Punchbowl and quickly won a large following nationally with their irreverent attitude and catchy, noisy high energy sound. Over their 40 year career the band have toured extensively in Australia and internationally, gracing the stage with the likes of the Ramones, Nirvana, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Joan Jett and their fan base boasts the likes of Dave Grohl, Henry Rollins and Jello Biafra.
The first taste off the new album came with lead single 'Hold Tight' – a catchy rock anthem by anyone's standards that introduced Tim on vocals to the world. Second single 'Lite As A Feather' is almost two songs in one, the crunching first half highlights a sing-along refrain of "You've got the weight of the world resting on your shoulders" before it changes tack and becomes something more melodic. It's a brilliant track that highlights the band's inventiveness and suggests that I’m Sorry Sir, That Riff’s Been Taken will further reveal the Hard-Ons’ musicality and surprise anyone who sees them as just a thrashy punk band.
I’m Sorry Sir, That Riff's Been Taken is out October 8 via Cheersquad Records.
Tune into PBS all week for your chance to win a vinyl copy of the album. Not a PBS member? Sign up now for your chance to win.
Cover photo by Michelle Young.
TOP TRACKS WE'RE LOVING
David Bridie - 'Luya Head High Meris'
Danika Smith - 'If You Call My Name'
Grace Cummings - 'Heaven'
Ainslie Wills, James Knight - 'Primal Animal'
T. Wilds - 'With You'
Imogen Cygler - 'Celestial Bodies'
Hearts and Rockets - 'Square Eyes'
TOTEK - 'Missing You'
Cookin on 3 Burners feat. Mantra and Jane Tyrrell - 'The World is Cold'
