You’ve said this track reflects “finding peace in being out of your depth”—how does that mindset tie into the broader themes on Chrome Dipped?
Throughout the record there is an over arching theme of a “New world”. In some aspects it is good and in some it is bad, and ultimately you will find a calm.
Sonically, “The Hogg” is filthy and ferocious, but the lyrics are almost poetic—how conscious are you of striking that contrast?
Thats basically the whole idea behind the album is this stark contrast between hard and soft, Chrome being solid but also soft and liquid. Its like steel wool, the toughest material that’s also soft.
What pushed you to move away from the raw punk roots into more experimental territory on this record? Was it scary to let go of those “rules”?
We were open for change, we were excited for it. The album is still punk, it’s just not typical to how you would think our record might sound. And I’m ok with that.
Kirin J. Callinan as producer and recording at MONA—it’s a big shift from your usual DIY process. How did that environment and team shape the album?
Kirin J produced the record and Chris Townend recorded it. I had met Kirin a few years back at a DIY space in Newcastle where we played under a basketball ring. He was wearing pikachu jeans and cowboy boots with spurs. Fast forward 3 years we were throwing some names around for people to produce the new album and Kirins name came up and we all thought, “well that would be interesting” So we did. It was his idea to go down to MONA to the frying pan studios with Chris. What an amazing space, and hidden gem. I still can’t believe we
You recently toured with Sex Pistols in Australia—how did that experience feed into the energy or mindset behind Chrome Dipped?
You can’t rely deny a call up like that, you have to go along with it, embrace it. Which we did. It was fantastic, special, and comical in a way. I don’t think it really had any correlation to the record or where we are at, we were just happy to be sharing a stage with some legends of it all.
You’ve mentioned wanting listeners to feel “confused, angry, then good”—what’s the value in creating that kind of emotional whiplash in music today?
A lot of bands like to hand feed their audience with easy to digest-able music at the moment. I think its important to challenge and question this in contemporary music.
The album seems to wrestle with the role of machines and modern consciousness—was that an intentional commentary or something that emerged naturally?
I wouldn’t say the whole album is a comment on the modern machine, but there is elements of that notion in the song Chrome dipped itself. I was thinking a lot about theever changing or growth of humans trying to attain this perfect machine. The build of the machine that can act or be like a human. Its kind of a strange concept really.
Tell us about the behind-the-scenes documentary. Was it strange having someone film such personal, creative moments, or did it add to the process?
Its nice to have people around you, sometimes they can get in your way and sometimes it can help you. Either way, we were grateful to have it filmed in such an interesting and artistic way. James Gorter is a fantastic director and I can’t wait to see what he comes up with himself.
Pre order link for the album is here: https://ffm.to/chrome-dipped