Premiere: Melbourne’s Sudden Debt Drop Raw Self‑Titled Debut — Hear It Here First

Tomorrow marks a huge milestone for Naarm/Melbourne trio Sudden Debt as they release their highly anticipated self‑titled debut album, but we’re excited to bring you an exclusive first listen today.

The 10‑track record is a raw and fearless statement, carving a distinct path between bleak pop, minimalist post‑punk, and jagged noise‑rock. From the shadowy opener ‘SMS’ to the charged emotion of ‘WIP’ and the swelling finale ‘RAM’, the album moves like a shifting tide, pulling listeners deep into its hypnotic soundscape.

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“There were no preconceptions about who played what, what it would sound like. Only getting in a room. The LP is what we wrote. We tried to shape and guide it over the years, it didn’t work. This is what we sound like and could only sound like.” – Jonathon McCarthy, Sudden Debt

What sets Sudden Debt apart is its unfiltered approach. Created without a set blueprint, the album thrives on spontaneity. Vocals flow in improvised bursts, guitars twist through delay and tremolo, and drum pads merge with textured effects to create a sound that is both intimate and unpredictable.

Formed after frontman Jonathon McCarthy returned from extensive touring with Heart Beach, Sudden Debt grew out of open collaboration and experimentation. With members of Ivy St among the lineup, the band’s chemistry took shape organically, guided by instinct rather than convention.

Recorded at Head Gap Studios shortly before its tragic closure, the album was produced, mixed, and mastered by Finn Keane, capturing the urgency and freedom of the band’s creative process.

With Sudden Debt, the trio announce themselves as one of Melbourne’s most compelling new acts. Stream the album now in our exclusive premiere ahead of its official release tomorrow.

Sudden Debt’ album launch at Nighthawks

with support from Pretty In Pink

Saturday 16th August