From about 12 to 16, I was completely hooked on The Strokes. So much so, that in Year 7 Design & Technology, I had a 3D printer etch their logo onto a major project of mine – to prove (to no one who cared) that the band was a core part of my identity.
I’m much older and (supposedly) wiser now, but the moment I pressed play on Highschool’s new track “Dipped”, I was transported back to a room full of work benches, wood chippings, and safety glasses. HighSchool calls Melbourne/Naarm home and is an amalgamation of Rory Trobbiani, Luke Scott, plus live support from Lilli Trobbiani and Lucy Lamb.
Their new single is an emphatic punch of post-punk. Rory’s distorted, megaphone-esque vocals (think Strokes’ Is This It era) slice through burly drums and jagged guitar riffs. He sings whimsically about a love interest—a Libra with luscious locks, a fatter bank account, and a head full of surprises. Yet despite the imbalance, he’s ready to roll the dice and see where the mystery gal leads him.
Speaking on the song, Highschool says: “The track explores themes of luck, chance, and gambling, using the Greek tragedy of Achilles as a metaphor for addiction, impulse, and human weakness.”
There’s an urge to turn this up super loud, regardless of where you are. To thrash about and shake out all that pent-up anxiety hanging around. The release comes with a wild video, following Rory and Luke on a perilous drive in an Alfa Romeo GT that somehow ends with their spirits playing roulette in the afterlife.
Stream it below while you await their debut self-titled album. Out October 31 via [PIAS] Australia.
