Album Review: Hockey Dad ‘Boronia’

Wollongong’s finest surf-rock duo (that actually surf) have finally dropped their highly anticipated debut album ‘Boronia’, following up from their school-days EP ‘Dreamin’. There’s snippets of sounds similar to their loveable high-octane singles such as Can’t Have Them and So Tired, but they’ve also changed up their usual formula with some slower songs, and even an instrumental!

The album tells a story of growing up and the challenges that these two lads have faced in their short time on Earth. The name itself is a reference to somewhere the duo feels comfortable, with the street sign ‘Boronia Avenue’ featured in the film clips for So Tired and Jump The Gun.

Hockey Dad’s debut full length album shows a more mature depth and approach to songwriting. The album feels like a complete collection of songs, each with its own unique element that sets it apart from the consistency of crunchy guitars, powerful vocal runs, and hard hitting drum beats.

“The song features a slide guitar riff that screams drowned out surf rock, showing how Hockey Dad have made definitive choices in how they wanted their debut album to sound.”

Kicking off with Can’t Have Them, Hockey Dad’s signature surf-rock sound cuts through the mix within seconds. Followed by A Night Out With, the duo open ‘Boronia’ with some lo-fi style sounds before bringing back cleaner tones. Zac Stephenson’s vocals across the album transition effortlessly between highs and lows, intertwining effortlessly around the dynamics of the song.

Next up are the two singles from the album, So Tired and Jump The Gun. Both tracks were definitely an indicator for what was to come, featuring some seriously infectious and catchy chorus lines, as the tracks highlight the fun and sun-drenched side to the album. Jump The Gun experiments with octave-blended guitar riffs, expanding the sound and feel of the short song, making it a standout on the ‘Boronia’.

Hunny Bunny is another short and catchy number and it’s sure to be stuck in your head for days. Keeping to a  similar formula as Jump The Gun, the track’s infectious chorus will be a fan-favourite live.  The duo then take us back to their earlier days on I Need A Woman, throwing back to the raw style that was featured on ‘Dreamin’. Lifted off their earlier EP, the track marks the mid-point of ‘Boronia’ and shows where their music has come from and how far it has progressed over the past two years.

Laura, a bass-driven track, continues with the duo’s experimentation with different sounds and song-writing. Despite this, they kept in some pretty dancey drum beats and guitar riffs to keep the song nice and bubbly. The flow of the album transitions perfectly between mellow lows and catchy highs, as heard in Raygun with some glitchy synthesiser takes which fade nicely into Dylan’s Place.

Keeping the slow and mellow vibe, Two Forever follows on next. The song features a slide guitar riff that screams drowned out surf rock, showing how Hockey Dad have made definitive choices in how they wanted their debut album to sound. The soft vibe of the verses and massive feel of the choruses show the diversity of the song and Hockey Dad’s smooth writing abilities, making this a standout track on the album.

“A flurry of guitars and hard hitting drum lines wraps up ‘Boronia’ similar to how Babes wrapped up ‘Dreamin’, with a lot of technical flare to build and keep the listener engaged till the very last note.”

The album comes to a close with Grange, a smooth and warm 5-minute instrumental track. A flurry of guitars and hard hitting drum lines wraps up ‘Boronia’ similar to how Babes wrapped up ‘Dreamin’, with a lot of technical flare to build and keep the listener engaged till the very last note.

Compared to their previous EP ‘Dreamin’, Hockey Dad have employed more complex instrumentation and added bass parts to fill out the mix. As ‘Dreamin’ took a more raw approach to recording, the more time the lads put into ‘Boronia’ definitely shows. The guitars sparkle, production is clean, and the dynamics are just right. I have but one complaint, I didn’t want the album to end!

You can catch Hockey Dad on their national tour this September and October in support of their debut album ‘Boronia’, which is out now. Check out Jump The Gun along with tour dates and ticket links below!

Read our recent interview with Hockey Dad HERE

Hockey Dad ‘Boronia’ National Tour
supported by Horror My Friend

THUR 29 SEPT
The Foundry, Brisbane
FRI 30 SEPT
Howler, Melbourne
SAT 1 OCT
Yours and Owls Festival, Wollongong
THURS 6 OCT
Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney
FRI 7 OCT
Jive, Adelaide
SAT 8 OCT
Jack Rabbit Slims, Perth

Get Tickets HERE