After early features on Blow Blood Records and earning album of the week honours, Melbourne rockers Coolabah Kings have steadily grown throughout the 2020s, their tracks reflecting the tumultuous times the world finds itself in. Their discography reflects themes of modern disconnection and toxic masculinity and has also captured COVID lockdown freeze frames.
The latest rendition of their alternative grit is in the new single ‘Bitter Pill’. Opening with a moment of roaring riffs and heavy drums, the rhythm section fades slightly into the first verse, leaving room for the self-accosting lyricism from a hostile lead vocal. The bright bounce of the underlying riff is shadowed by this gripping ‘devil on your shoulder’ character.
Choruses bring back the avalanche of distorted guitars, the vocals bulking up with added layers, echoing the sense of internal struggle as the two powerhouse melodies go round for round, split by a punchy drum referee.
Harry Anderson, songwriter of ‘Bitter Pill’ and guitarist of Coolabah Kings shares, “Lyrically, ‘Bitter Pill’ delves into the brutal aftermath of trauma dumping emotional baggage on an unsuspecting loved one, only to realize that you may have fractured that relationship permanently and now you’ve got to dig yourself out of it if you want any hope of repairing it. Musically, we wanted to counteract that overwhelming negativity with a sludgy, QOTSA-inspired groove paired with uniquely sassy and cynical Australian vocals. It’s a crooked little ghoul that tries to be a lot happier than it actually is. Just like us.”
