Melbourne's The Ugly Kings to hit Solbar on April 22 in support of latest album, 'Strange, Strange Times'

Melbourne alt-rockers The Ugly Kings are making their way through Australia on a hectic nine-date tour in support of their latest album, ‘Strange, Strange Times’. The tour, their first since 2019, and also now under European label Napalm Records, will have the four-piece make their way through Victoria, New South Wales, and in to Queensland, with a stop at Solbar on April 22.

THE UGLY KINGS may channel the flavor of groups like Queens Of The Stone Age or Danzig, but their distinctive, revitalising infusion of dark energy is evident while preserving razor sharp, daringly introspective control with clever lyricism, addictive riffage, catchy melodies and a heavy power blues flavour.

‘Strange, Strange Times’, the title track of the album, is heaving, dirty, greasy rock’n’roll fun. There’s an ominous swagger to the track, thanks mainly to vocalist Russell Clark’s delivery, but there’s extra sonic sleaze added thanks to the super-fuzz guitar and bass in unison, and the heady, thumping percussion. The bass goes for a wicked wander at the half-way mark, which somehow makes an already gritty track so much crunchier. It’s dark, bourbon-soaked, sore-head goodness from the Melbourne band.

Following 2018’s Darkness Is My Home, which was lauded by the global music press upon release, with Strange, Strange Times, the four-piece is poised to turn heads and continues to infuse their foreboding alt-rock with blackened blues and gritty punk edge.

After the previously- released singles, the catchy yet punk-infused anthem “Technodrone” and smoldering blues rock standout, "The Devil Comes With A Smile", the Australian four- piece has also shared a brand new video! The furious “Strange, Strange Times” punches from 0 to 60 at the start of its five-and-a-half minute introductory album title track, before frontman Russell Clark brings the listener back down to earth with his ominous, Jim Morrison-esque croons of blissful ignorance amid relentless chaos.

"Strange, Strange Times is about anxiety," the band comments. "The world seems to be getting weirder and weirder every year and we are becoming more and more in touch with everything that is happening on earth as it happens. It’s impossible to process and impossible to make sense of. ‘Strange, Strange Times’ is the low hum that we all carry around with us every day, the itch on our back that we can’t scratch, it’s the first cut in a thousand cuts. Take a deep breath, close your eyes and count to ten."

Each song on their new album is about a different state of mind in this indeed strange, strange time. Both lyrically and musically, THE UGLY KINGS have created a captivating and enthralling ride, and in a scene in which gimmick- free, angsty, inspired rock n’ roll is becoming increasingly difficult to come by, Strange, Strange Times is a breath of welcomed air!

Catch The Ugly Kings at Solbar on April 22 with supports High Tropics and Shen Panthers. Tickets can be purchased here.
The second full length album, ‘Strange, Strange Times’ is streaming now on all digital platforms.