Adelaide/Kuarna’s new wave/post-punk revivalists, Street Legal have revealed their debut EP, ‘Bruxism’ - a four-track journey through brooding synth pop and restless new wave energy.

Fresh from sharing the stage with Australian icons The Living End and Regurgitor, the band have also supported Ireland’s Ash, and USA’s Sparta. 

Named after the medical term for teeth grinding, ‘Bruxism’ pulses with the tension of anxiety and insomnia, captured through blood-pumping drum machines, haunting synth sequences and the Australiana-tinged vocals of singer Matt Hayward. Across an evocative soundscape, Street Legal are a magnetic collective, blending dance-floor grooves with existential dread.

Drenched in neon-lit ‘80s tones, ‘Bruxism’ sees Street Legal throw a post-punk party with new wave swagger. It’s a fever dream of Talking Heads’ off-kilter grooves meets Unit-era Regurgitator, blending danceable beats, punk attitude, and a healthy dose of quirky chaos. 

From the supercharged new wave opener “Cardio” to the pulsing, almost synthwave “No Gods! No Masters! No Doorlists! No Bouncers!”, the EP shifts gears effortlessly. “The Comedian” injects afrobeat into the mix, while “Letters from the Occupation” closes things out with fuzzed-out pop urgency. 

More than just a nostalgia trip, ‘Bruxism’ is an arty, rhythm-fueled statement from a band determined to deliver dance rock on their own terms.

Street Legal’s Matt Hayward explains the meaning behind the name of the EP, and the overall concept of the release.

“Over the past few years, I realised I’d been grinding my teeth in my sleep - a side effect of anxiety and the stress of the world around us. That restless energy worked its way into these songs,’Bruxism’ explores the dangers of populism, the weight of anxiety, and the cycles we find ourselves stuck in, like a snake eating its own tail. But at its heart, it’s about finding connection and hope, even when times feel tough.”

Recorded with Matt Schultz (The Empty Threats/Twine) and mixed by GRAMMY Award-winning engineer Hugo Nicolson (Radiohead, Father John Misty), ‘Bruxism’ is expertly crafted at every turn. Led by the irresistibly fun single ‘Cardio’, the EP also features focus track ‘No Gods! No Masters! No Doorlists! No Bouncers!’, accompanied by an era-blurring music video that showcases the band’s seamlessly vivid fusion of past and future in their art.

"’No Gods…’ is a tongue-in-cheek look at the chaos of modern dating in the digital age - swiping, misreading signals, and falling in and out of love in a matter of seconds,” explains Matt. “The modern format/retro aesthetic of the music video perfectly complements the modern retro vibe of the song, as well as giving a nod to old Australian classic music videos including Hunter & Collectors and INXS.”

To celebrate the release, Street Legal will be touring nationally this April - bringing their electrifying show to Newcastle, Sydney and Melbourne before finishing up at Jive Bar in their hometown. Having firmly established themselves as one of South Australia’s funnest live acts, the band’s upcoming tour will finally give interstate fans the opportunity to lose themselves in Street Legal’s high energy live set.

‘Bruxism’ is out now on all streaming platforms.