Brisbane has a fiercely proud history of producing world-class rock performers, with the production line rolling out yet another slab of excellence to continue the momentum. The newest addition is Runt, a powerhouse four-piece alternative rock and grunge outfit that refuses to play by the rules. Describing their massive sound as having an “underdog chip on its shoulder,” this hungry local lineup strips away the facades of modern studio trickery, instead focusing on an unapologetic, face-melting assault built on huge riffs, hypnotic hooks, and visceral melody.
The brainchild of singer, guitarist, and main songwriter Jesse Attard – who some would know as having played Angus Young with Accadacca across the world – Runt are a band born from the road and custom-built to survive. Attard quietly amassed a deep treasure trove of killer material while touring internationally as a hired gun, but realised these songs needed an assortment of like -minded, talented musicians to do them justice. Settling on guitarist John Dempsey, bassist Damian Bell, and drummer Robbie Wheeler, Attard had the foundations for success and took the next step as a fully fledged original band.
The music industry is officially on notice. Runt’s highly anticipated, self-titled debut album drops like a bomb on August 7, 2026, through independent Australian powerhouse label XMusic. Moving completely away from predictable commercial trends, Runt approached their debut not as a lazy playlist, but as a lean, curated collection of stories where each track has its own distinct pulse, purpose, and attitude. Sonically, this record leans hard into the dark, atmospheric, and beautifully heavy territory carved out by 1990s grunge heavyweights like Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, and Stone Temple Pilots, but with a distinctly unique flavour that stamps a fresh take on the genre.
HEAVY sat down with Attard to find out more.
“I’m feeling really excited,” he replied when we asked how he was feeling with the release date fast approaching. “We’ve been dying for this to come out. The singles are out, and every one has been getting received really well, so we can’t wait for the album to come out.”
The album has already produced the singles Forever, Surrendered and I Don’t Mind, and we ask Jesse if those three tracks are a good representation of the album as a whole.
“I think so,” he measured. “I mean, it’s a good set of black and white, I think, on this album. It goes from some softer ballady sort of stuff all the way out to the pretty heavy material. I think between the three songs, it shows what versatility is on the album. Plus, there’s more I think will surprise people.”
In the full interview, Jesse talks more about the album and what to expect. He goes into the thought process behind releasing your debut album and what sorts of things the band focused on. Their sonic output and influences were discussed in more detail, as was the genesis of Runt and how he put the line-up together.
Jesse spoke about the role and influence his father, Larry (who fronted Aussie rock legends Snake), had on his music and tricks of the trade learned along the way. The focus on being a live band was discussed, as were upcoming shows and more.
Get Runt HERE
