HYPERVIOLENCE

A bit of both.

I think there was definitely a framework, and I kind of use this a little bit when I talk about the time writing and recording Hyperviolence, is that it was made under this certain set of circumstances where we kind of...

We're probably thinking a little bit more about the external than we normally would.

You know, I've written lyrics for the band in the past, but that's, you know, been with a frontman that's, you know, been in the band from the start.

There was, you know, in more ways than one.

As I said, this was a lot more of an honest process, you know, and I was able to let people in a little bit in the process of writing lyrics and things that I was thinking about, concepts of songs, you know, like You know, even having like a more direct kind of political kind of song like Do or Die was something that I was like a little bit like, do I want to bring this into the band? What if no one agrees with me and thinks I'm a weirdo? you know but then you know from like I guess a technical kind of standpoint yeah it was we were definitely trying new things and I have you know at this point now had two albums under my belt where I've learnt how to you know been able to scream and this time it's been a lot more easier it hasn't felt like such a I can be a bit more deliberate with the screams now rather than just being like this is the sound I can make for this section.

Whereas with Hyperviolence, it was very much a learning process for Chris and I, trying to learn how my voice works and how to record my screams, how loud I need to be or how quiet I need to be.

And the answer is I still have to be loud.

And so that was something that was a little bit different.

And the other part of it was, yeah, kind of... becoming a little bit more vulnerable with the audience and with my bandmates as well, because I think with Hyperviolence, you know, that was my introduction as frontman to the band and, you know, there was certain circumstances in which that record was made and So that allowed for...

It kind of allowed us to be a little bit more...

We were sort of overthinking it a little bit more and being like, okay, well, what would...

But, you know, we've also decided to...

We did originally want to do a whole tour where we played the whole album, but then it didn't really leave a lot of room to play some of the more fan-favourite songs in our back catalogue.

So we're leaving room to play some songs from Love Language and Hyperviolence as well.

But a good portion of it will be this new album, which we're really excited to play, I think.

Yeah, definitely, definitely.

Well, the armor cover as well is really interesting because it's very like... especially compared to obviously the album cover of Hyperviolence.

I mean, speaking of AI, you got accused of using AI on that album cover, which wasn't true.

Yeah, could you talk to me about the choice of album cover on this one as well, like going for something a bit more minimalistic this time around?

Yeah.

So did you feel...

I guess obviously Hyperviolence was, you know, really successful for you guys.

So did you feel any pressure in terms of having to kind of follow that up? Or did you feel more comfortable at the time? Because obviously...

And I've had this band on the podcast for every single album release up to this point.

I had them on with Hyperviolence.

I had them on with Love Language.

And now their third album, Smile, You're on Camera, which comes out October 23rd, 2026.

Absolutely.

I hope so anyway.

Well, the way you guys are going, I mean, since the release of Hyperviolence, I don't know.

I mean, how many times you guys toured in the US? How many times you guys toured over in Europe? How many shows you played in Australia? Like you guys have been all over the place.

... let's be, like, contrarian and let's think in the catalog a little bit.

Um, maybe something off Hyperviolence.

I mean, what, what's on Hyperviolence that, like...

Uh.

I- see, I'm, like, I'm biased now because I really like all the new songs, and I feel like the new songs-

[laughs]

... kinda, like, you know what I mean? Uh, you know what? Let, let's just throw, like, a, a cat amongst the pigeons, not even say anything off Hyperviolence.

I'm gonna go, I, I think, like, Superstitious Fantasy is, like, a really good, a good indicator as well.