Melbourne-based post-punk upstarts Sex Mask returned last month with the announcement of a new EP titled “Body Broker” and shared its lead single, the reverb-soaked “Cold”. Out 26th Nov, the EP comes on the heels of their recent double A-side 7” single “Circe” / “How To Be Cool At Parties”.
They’re currently on the road and will be at The Joiners, Southampton, on November 23rd.
Recently championed as “Australia’s next big export” by NME, the self-contained writing/production unit – comprised of Vicente Moncada on drums/production, Wry Gray on vocals and lyrics, and Kaya Martin on guitars and synths – have only released a handful of singles to date but have amassed a devout following and widespread acclaim in the process. Those early tracks have seen them earn support from the likes of The Line Of Best Fit, DIY, CLASH, and Kerrang!, for their blend of introspective lyrics and innovative soundscapes, in the context of absurdist punk, with tracks such as “TV Movie” banking just shy of 1.5M streams on Spotify.
Speaking about the single, Wry Gray said, “Cold was written several years ago somewhere near the base of Mt Fuji. I was very unwell, bedridden and all the doctors were under the belief my state was induced by the influence of a rare neurotoxin I had picked up from eating fresh frogs and crabs in stormwater drains all over Japan’s suburban tunnel systems. I was filling glass jars with may beetles, aging them until they became like preserves.”
The track is an introduction to the new “Body Broker” EP, which sees the band expand further on their multi-faceted sonic template with industrial beats, avant-rock labyrinthine guitar lines, explosive vocals, and passionate shout-a-long choruses. It also features a guest contribution from Noah Learmonth of fast-rising hometown friends Radio Free Alice, who the band will tour with this autumn.
Sex Mask’s gripping live show has already seen them support the likes of Fcukers, Big Special, and Fat White Family, as well as appearing at Dot To Dot, The Great Escape, SXSW Australia and completing a packed-out EU/UK co-headline tour earlier this year. This November’s tour will see the band play to some of their biggest crowds to date, including a sold-out show at London’s Scala.
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