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Welcome to The Soundcheck's "Soundcheck" segment, where each week we dive a bit deeper into 5 x of our favourite new releases that have dropped of late to carry you into the weekend - and beyond!
For round five, one of our faves Ocean Grove have busted out another absolute banger, Ghost unveil their first ever official soundtrack, Regurgitator continue their dominating legacy with a new music video, Touché Amoré are back in gripping fashion, and Central Coast's Bad Witch are flying the flag for their own personal alt-rock heroes.
Ocean Grove - MY DISASTER (Single)
The day somebody put the words "nu" and "metal" side by side was, for this particular writer, a day worthy of wild celebrations. And this week, beloved Oddworld enigmas Ocean Grove have returned with yet another guttural nu metal rager, releasing their brand new track MY DISASTER under their own label ODDWORLD Records at home and SharpTone Records for the rest of the world.
Ocean Grove are certainly no strangers to the ol' nu metal razzle dazzle, with their earlier material positioning them as the ferocious lovechild of Korn and Faith No More, with a touch of N.E.R.D. and some homebaked Aussie charm thrown in for good measure. Fast-forward to 2024 and the trio have been experiencing a homecoming of sorts, with their previous single FLY AWAY joining MY DISASTER in nodding to their earlier roots while also firmly declaring an exhilarating new chapter as Ocean Grove continue their rein as one of the most exciting and innovative bands on the scene.
Also dropping a new music video for MY DISASTER, which you can peep here, you can also catch Ocean Grove live in action tonight and going into the weekend supporting Polaris in Tasmania and regional Victoria. In the meantime, we'll just be over here impatiently waiting for the next incredible OG installment.
MY DISASTER is out now.
For more Ocean Grove info, head here.
Ghost - Rite Here Rite Now (OST)
It was only a bit over one year ago when Swedish theatrical rockers Ghost toured Australia for their first-ever full headline run, with overwhelming demand for the tour requiring every venue to upgrade to accommodate both the fans and the giant live production lying in wait. And somehow in 2024, Ghost have been able to tick off yet another career first, this week releasing their first ever original soundtrack: Rite Here Rite Now.
Filmed over the course of Ghost's two sold out shows in Los Angeles, at none other than the Kia Forum (which comfortably hosts around 18,000 punters), Rite Here Rite Now is a vivid delight capturing the technicolour melodrama that is a live Ghost experience. A reflection of how this mysterious Swedish group catapulted into becoming Grammy Award-winning, chart-topping and arena-headlining superstars while also continuing the band's long-running Chapters series, Rite Here Rite Now features an 18 track accompanying soundtrack that boasts live-in-action versions of favourites from across Ghost's expansive repertoire. This is Ghost as you have likely never heard them before.
Rite Here Rite Now was directed by Ghost's own Tobias Forge alongside Alex Ross Perry. Come and experience the ritual.
Rite Here Rite Now is out now via Loma Vista Recordings.
For more Ghost info, head here.
Regurgitator - Tsunami (Video)
Earlier in the week I was happily revisiting Regurgitator's back catalogue, remembering the increasingly distant days when tracks like Polyester Girl and/or ! (The Song Formerly Known As) would soundtrack my late tween years while also devouring some of their more recent fare, including their insanely catchy kids album and their latest 2024 full-length Invader. Fittingly, this week also marked the release of the music video for Invader's closing track Tsunami, bringing the exceedingly enjoyable and gleefully morose track to vivid visual life.
Conceived by Ben Ely, directed by Ely and Dan Baebler, and with film production by Article One, Tsunami's visual accompaniment features Ely front and centre with some nods to Apocalypse Now reflecting the track's own existential ruminations, hailing from one of the band's undeniable standout album releases from their entire career.
Regurgitator continue to have an eventful 2024 as they launch into the second half of the year, locked in to headline the alternative throwback dream that is Hotter Than Hell festival this October and November, performing alongside the likes of Unwritten Law (select dates), Less Than Jake (select dates), Jebediah, Little Birdy and more.
Invader is out now via Valve/Regurgitator, exclusively licensed to Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
For more Regurgitator info, head here.
Touché Amoré - Nobody's (Single)
L.A. post hardcore charmers Touché Amoré have that elusive taste-maker status that many bands would pay handsomely for, should the five-piece ever be able to bottle it and get it on the market. Previously performing down under earlier this year as part of New Bloom Festival, the group have announced this week a brand new album Spiral in a Straight Line due out on October 11 via Rise Records; and the announcement was bolstered this week by the release of the raw and rousing new tune Nobody's.
The opening track for Touché Amoré's upcoming new album, their first full-length in four years, Nobody's bounces with propulsive beats, churning riffage and the sharp yet emotive rasp of vocalist Jeremy Bolm. Lyrically also an exceedingly relevant song for our times, touching on turmoil and life-altering moments, Nobody's is a welcome return from the Touché Amoré and sets a poignant stage for what may come next ahead of the album's release.
Touché Amoré will be embarking on a US headline run this October and November, but for fans down under - stay tuned for more from the band in the very near future!
Nobody's is out now. Spiral in a Straight Line is due out October 11 via Rise Records.
For more Touché Amoré info, head here.
Bad Witch - Taste (Single)
When a band declares that they're inspired by Pixies, Weezer and 60s doo-wop for their brand new release, the end result is unsurprisingly bound to sound like Taste, aka the latest single out now from up-and-coming Central Coast rockers Bad Witch.
Balancing cleverly sparse textures with a languid beat and plenty of fuzz, Taste is a taut alt rock take on a classic doo wop structure while also reflecting the all-too-familiar demon that is demotivation. A catchy ode to battling with losing one's lust for life and yearning for change, Taste also boasts a a dominantly black and white music video that was premiered yesterday via The AU Review; and it's a nostalgic delight, perfectly in keeping with the single's overarching influences and themes.
Bad Witch have been releasing music since 2022, with their debut track Uptight followed by 2023's Right Side Of The Devil and Lion, as well as 2024's 739. Self-describing their creative wares as "punk, rock and blues with just the smallest condiment of yeehaw", this is definitely a band to keep your eyes on if alternative rock floats your boat - and if you're in Sydney tonight, you can catch Bad Witch performing at Bootleggers as part of the 5 Bands 5 Bucks soiree.
Taste is out now.
For more Bad Witch info, head here.
BY TIANA SPETER
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