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THIS IS A PRE-ORDER - ALBUM SHIPS AROUND 21st NOVEMBER

FIRST 300 PRESSING - RED VINYL

"Rock & Roll is a mistreating of instruments to get feelings over” Mark E Smith

Head Cheese is the title of a short film from Duane Graves and Justin Meeks, a gritty account of a deranged man’s unholy psyche while on a bizarre pilgrimage to Quick Hill, Texas, to rid his soul of feeble-minded parasites. This may give clues to the motivation of this album and the very existence of Thee Headshrinkers.

When asked for inspirations. The answer is immediate. “The Eighties Matchbox B Line Disaster, The Fall and the Sex Pistols.” And ambition? “To play the 100 club.”
…and that perfectly captures the mood of “Head Cheese,” the debut album from the Hastings trio.

Live you can see them wearing stockings, balaclavas and rubber dolls masks. Creating an almighty fuzz fest which has kept the band busy and expanding their audiences during 2024. But there’s no theatrics at play on “Head Cheese” - The songs are short sharp shocks to the senses, with most barely passing the two-minute mark. Driven by the bass line, with no middle eight or indulgent musical flab, making repetition an art form. Lyrically, Rob Wilde speaks about misspent youth (Motorbike), drug psychosis (Travellin’ Man), lingering feuds (Going Down) … and horror B movies (Johnny).

The album has all the raw power too. Recorded over three days at Ranscombe Studios in Rochester with Jim Riley, famous for his work with Billy Childish and custodian of the Medway Sound. It proved to the be the ideal fit with the bands love for 60’s garage, Stooges and late 70’s punk. Rob Wilde vocal drawl is like a resurrected Mark E Smith, whilst Gino turns his Vox Phantom into a full distortion incendiary device all held together by Stiv’s fast and loose garage beat.

SALES TAX IS ADDED AT CHECKOUT.
EXCEPT NORWAY where you postal service will charge tax and admin charge (honestly may be better buying from Bandcamp)