Gut Health, Naarm/Melbourne’s electrifying dance-punk outfit, is hitting the East Coast this October for their debut album tour. Alongside this news, they’ve dropped ‘Stiletto,’ a nearly eight-minute title track that captures the raw, intricate chaos of their sound. As the closing track of their first album, set to release on October 11 via Highly Contagious / AWAL, ‘Stiletto’ is an uncompromising look at the capitalist veneer of modern Australia and a call to elevate Indigenous voices.
‘Stiletto’ unfolds like a sprawling film score, constantly shifting and twisting, never settling in one place for too long. The nearly eight-minute track grips you from the start, leading you through a maze of unexpected turns. Just when you think you can predict its path, it veers sharply in another direction, like a string of close calls on a highway – each moment feels like it’s about to crash, yet somehow, it always swerves away, keeping you on edge and locked in for the ride.
Capturing this kind of tension wasn’t easy. Known for their improvisational, live-wire energy, Gut Health found themselves layering elements repeatedly to translate that spirit onto tape. The song is driven by a relentless bassline, tight drums, and a build-up that erupts into a wild mix of guitars, synths, and a saxophone solo by Yang Chen. “Uncertainty plays a lot through the album, we don’t want the listener to know exactly what is going to come next in the album to create excitement, intrigue and unease” the band shares.
Renee Kyprotis directed the video for ‘Stiletto,’ which mirrors the track’s escalating tension. Shot on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Land, the video contrasts natural landscapes with urban settings, darkening in tone as the music intensifies, pulling viewers into a space that reflects the song’s growing intensity.
The upcoming album will span ten tracks, including recent releases ‘Separate States’ and ‘Cool Moderator.’ The album moves seamlessly between groove-heavy sections and the raw punch of punk, drawing influences from the eclectic stylings of Grace Jones to the strange charm of B-grade sci-fi flicks. Recorded mainly at Button Pusher in Preston with Portland’s Evan Mersky handling engineering, the album leans into the warmth and depth of analog tape, adding a textured layer to their sound.
Since forming in 2022, Gut Health has quickly built a following with their debut EP Electric Party Chrome Girl and a run of high-energy singles. Their live shows have earned them a reputation for being striking and adventurous, having played alongside acts like Queens of the Stone Age and POND.
The Stiletto tour kicks off on September 17 at The Forum in Naarm/Melbourne, with stops in Gadigal/Sydney and Meanjin/Brisbane throughout October.
TOUR DATES
Tue 17 Sept – The Forum – Naarm/Melbourne*
Fri 20 Sept – The Enmore – Gadigal Land/Sydney*
Sat 19 Oct – The Tote – Naarm/Melbourne
Fri 25 Oct – The Lansdowne – Gadigal Land/Sydney
Sat 26 Oct – Black Bear Lodge – Meanjin/Brisbane
*with Hiatus Kaiyote
Photo credit: Celeste de Clario
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