Personal Best

Bench Press came charging out from Melbourne's underground music scene in 2016, bringing with them an heavy dose of angular, new-wave garage punk and helping bridge the gap between the glory years of local favs such as Eddy Current/ Peep Tempel and the reinvigorated current scene, also home to exciting acts like Delivery, Gut Health, Dr Sure's Unusual Practice, Pinch Points +++

After a global pause, an international exchange and a regrouping that welcomed two new members, Anna Lienhop (Moody Beaches) and Paolo Junior on drums, Bench Press re-emerged after their extended break with a catchier, rhythmic, and more textured sound, with Anna’s additional guitarwork facilitating the band’s multi-layered approach and contributing to the group vocals that heighten lead vocalist Jack Stavrakis’ absurd lyricism. 

Personal Best, the band’s third long player, continues to meditate on themes of self and mental health lyrically but through a new lens, as the album follows Stavrakis’ journey of making a career change into mental health social work. Where Stavrakis has previously dwelled on the politics of personal action, he now looks outwards and critiques what and who he sees in our increasingly chaotic world.

TRACKLIST

1. Filter
2. Computer Hands
3. Altruism Be Damned
4. Personal Best
5. Risk Exposure
6. Leather Jacket Effect
7. Push
8. Fun
9. Cross My I's
10. Check

OTHER INFO

Released - 4 April 2024

Label - Poison City Records

Genre - Australian, Alternative, Garage, Punk