Hellions have announced their brand-new album Rue today, set for release on October 19 via UNFD.Rue follows on from their critically-acclaimed theatrical masterpiece Opera Oblivia – which debuted at #4 on the chart in 2016 and was nominated for an ARIA award that same year.
The latest single lifted from the collection is “Smile”. Following on from previously released singles “X (Mwah)” and “Furrow”, Smile was born late in the creation process and is a dynamic, upbeat tune built around the refrain ‘I’m ready to run, are you ready?’ that provides a tongue-in-cheek look at the depth of our interactions in the digital age.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoQN8ifgcQg&w=560&h=315]
To explain the concept of “Smile” further, Anthony Caruso (drummer/co-writer) and Matt Gravolin (guitar/vocals/cowriter) say: “The world as we know it wants to be entertained interminably, and now our entertainment often comes at the expense of our compassion. We’ve all found ourselves speaking in blue, snide language about trivial matters that aren’t of any real consequence to us, asserting invalid opinions for the sake of having our voices heard.
“Cheap stimulation is addictive and judgemental thinking can take over involuntarily when so much of our mental space is surrendered to it. We seem to be stuck here despite knowing that this thinking and behaviour isn’t conducive to any lasting happiness.”
To bring life to ‘Rue’, Hellions returned to the serenity of Karma Sound Studios in Thailand and their producer Shane Edwards – a man Hellions have worked with for a decade and describe as “our fifth member”. Rue is a timely record that calls for an end to complacency. Whether it’s for its remarkable music, or its powerful messages – it needs to be heard.
Hellions – Rue is available for preorder via 24Hundred and iTunes. “Smile” is out now and available on all streaming services.
2. Odyssey
3. X (Mwah)
4. Smile
5. Furrow
6. (Cocoon)
7. Rue
8. (Theatre Of) (feat. Luna)
9. The Lotus
10. Get Up!
11. Harsh Light
12. 26
