EXTORTION are returning for their first Perth shows in years + launching their new self-released record Seething. Recorded in 2019 by Sam Johnson at Holes + Corners, + mixed/mastered by Arthur Rizk (Power Trip, Mammoth Grinder, Eternal Champion) – Seething is the band's first new release in a decade. Fast, abrasive + over very quickly – standard Extortion.
ALT // FEST punters will be the very first to hear their latest in the flesh at Badlands Bar on November 12. We chatted to vocalist, artist + founder Rohan Harrison ahead of the show.
It has been a very long time since Extortion has reared its head. What’s been going on these past few years for the band (besides the terrible state of the world)?
Jay brought a child into this world. Milky now has an additional cat and Aaron’s dog can’t seem to stop getting itself injured every chance it can get. I have no pets or children, so spend my spare time answering various questions.
As for the band as a whole, pre-The-World-Going-To-Shit, we were writing and recording a pile of songs (some of which will be on our new EP, Seething) and were just about to start playing live and touring again before The-World-Going-To-Shit happened and we had to put everything on hold.
What’s the line-up looking like now and how did this formation of the band come to be?
The current line-up is: Me (shocking, I know), Jay, Milky and Aaron. Me and Jay are original members, Milky was recruited shortly after me and Jay moved to Melbourne. Originally, Rhys (original drummer for the band) was to be re-recruited as our drummer at the time but ended up unable to due to issues with his hip. So I asked Milky if he’d be interested as I was impressed with his drumming in Rort.
Aaron is our ‘new’ (he’s actually been in the band for a few years now, so the word ‘new’ may technically be a bit of a misnomer) bassist. He replaces Louis (Dunstan), who moved back to Perth in 2015.
Aaron was chosen as he was previously in a band called Big Bread with Louis and Rhys. In an attempt to absorb their life force, we’ve begun taking their band members. The only member of Big Bread who has not at one point been a member of Extortion is their second guitarist Rohan (from Captain Cleanoff). As he has the same name as me, I assume at some point he will replace me when I inevitably lose my vocal chords in a freak boating accident.
Seething is out now. Can you tell us how this release came together?
Seething is comprised of one-half of the songs we recorded in 2019, which we’d divvied up into two EPs. The second of which will be released at some point in the near-to-distant future. The songs themselves are quite old, some of them written 10 years ago now. A little long in the tooth but, hey, that gives us time to learn them real good.
Considering that this release was recorded back in 2019, how do you think the material feels to you now – being released in today’s global climate?
The songs are actually much older than 2019 anyways, so the material was out-of-step with current events to begin with. Not that it matters much, as the lyrical matter is just the usual vague general negativity that you usually get with our band. Maybe by chance that suits the current global climate more than it did before? Hard to say. One of the world’s great mysteries.
Arthur Rizk mixed and mastered Seething. What enticed the band to approach him for this release in particular?
We wanted to try something different, I guess? We were all fans of his work with other bands and wanted to see if his approach to mixing would suit our songs. We’re super happy with the result, despite the songwriting being the same ol’ Extortion you’re probably used to, his work on the record gives it a sick heavy sound.
With this being the first release from the band in a decade, did you ever think of putting Extortion on hold for good? Or was it more of a slower creative process between releases?
Never really occurred to me as we’d always been chugging along in the background. When Louis was in the band, we were consistently practicing, writing material, and playing gigs. Though admittedly the amount of shows we were playing over here kinda stifled the writing/recording process. Hence why a lot of the ‘new’ material kind of, well, isn’t.
After Louis moved back to Perth, we took a year off. Then me and Jay spent a year just practicing and working on new material. Then spent a year practicing as a full band followed by recording in 2019. We were all ready to release and go on a tour of the US in 2020 but I’m sure you can guess how that went.
So yeah, apart from that break in 2016, we’d always been doing at least something. Even if that something didn’t end up being particularly productive from an outsider’s perspective.
How does it feel coming home (for you) to perform at ALT // FEST with Extortion after so many years?
Hot damn, do I look forward to it. I’ve not been back to WA since 2019. Regardless of whether I’m touring or not, it was always a given that I’d be back at least once a year to see family and friends, so the last few years have been a real bummer. Especially as the 20th anniversary of live shows at my old place of residence (208) came and went in 2021… bible-thump.
Looking at the band’s back catalogue, is there a particular song (or release) that has stayed with you? Can you delve into why this is?
Control is probably my favourite of the records we’d put out, due to the finished product being just as it was envisaged from conception. That’s not to say I’ve been unhappy with any of the other releases, but much of the time either we went in without a super clear vision of what the finished record would be. Or the resulting record was just somewhat different to what was planned (not bad, actually probably pretty damn good if I can blow my own horn. Just different.
As for my favourite song, probably Pull the Pin. It’s like my slightly dim and uncoordinated child that I can’t help but love with all my might.
I can’t say I have a favourite song lyrically, as our lyrical content is generally pretty mediocre. I put the vast amount of energy into writing the music and end up rushing to write the lyrics as we close in on recording. Time management is not one of my strong points.
What would be your ideal contemporary Australian gig (in an ideal world) and why?
I’m struggling to come up with a clear idea of what my ideal gig would be! I’ve been to and played at all sorts of places and line-ups that have been a great time (and many that haven’t). House shows, dingy pubs, big massive venues. Sometimes with a bunch of noisy heavy groups, sometimes mixed bills with soft indie bands juxtaposed with some of the most extreme-sounding performers you can think of. Nothing is guaranteed to work. Sometimes everything just turns out great and it can just come down to my mood on the night.
The only thing I can say for sure is that I despise outdoor gigs. The sound is almost always garbo and there is too much weather and fresh air.
ALT // FEST is on Saturday, November 12 at Badlands Bar. Tickets available now here.