Sydney-based experimental rock collective GODSWOUNDS return with their most ambitious release yet, Cheer Up Sunshine, set for release on February 28 via Sonichimaera. The album pushes sonic boundaries with a mix of high-energy rock, progressive instrumentation, and vintage technology repurposed for a modern psychedelic onslaught.
To preview the album, the band has unveiled the video for its lead single, “Tantamount Love”
GODSWOUNDS’ dynamic lineup includes Lachlan Kerr, Danny Heifetz (Mr. Bungle) on drums, Muel Howell (drums), Sam Sheumack (guitar), Simeon Bartholomew (bass), Paul Murchison (horns), and special guest Toshi Kasai (vocals, guitar, sitar, mandolin, sanshin). The album was produced by Toshi Kasai and Lachlan Kerr, blending raw, live energy with avant-garde studio experimentation.
In true GODSWOUNDS fashion, Cheer Up Sunshine thrives on juxtaposition—melding technical prowess with unorthodox methods. The album features Gameboys and Sega Mega Drive sound chips repurposed as MIDI synths, vintage tape players, and cheap effects boxes, creating an underlying texture of nostalgia (“natsukashii”) even in its most explosive moments.
Recorded in a modest wooden studio in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, the album showcases intricate dual-drum work, brash brass arrangements, and layered harmonies inspired by Queen’s grandiosity. Tracks like “Soulworm,” “Ex Nihilo,” and “A Goat in the Wilderness” highlight GODSWOUNDS’ push-and-pull rhythm section, where Simeon’s punk-driven bass locks into the pocket, while the dual drum attack of Muel and Heifetz adds depth and unpredictability.
“I see this album as a celebration of the remarkable talent of Muel, Simeon, Sam, Paul, Danny, and, of course, Toshi, and what an honor it is to make music with them,” says Lachlan.
With Cheer Up Sunshine, GODSWOUNDS continue their legacy of creating boundary-pushing, high-intensity music that defies genre and expectation.
