There’s a storm brewing in the antipodes, and it goes by the name of Rainbow Skull Party. This three-piece psychedelic grunge outfit hailing from Australia has been steadily shaking the rafters of the indie music scene since their debut in 2023.
Comprised of the irrepressible Cuthbert brothers, Lawrie and Paul, and their partner in crime David James, Rainbow Skull Party has made a name for themselves by blending the raw energy of punk rock with the kaleidoscopic swirls of psychedelic soundscapes. Their journey began with the explosive single ‘Keep It Going, Going, Going, Go!’, a debut that pounded through the speakers with a furious mix of driving rhythms, fierce vocals, and a maelstrom of guitar madness that left listeners gasping for air. February 2024 saw the release of their sophomore single ‘Masquerade‘, a track that further solidified their status as one of Australia’s most promising indie bands—A title officially bestowed upon them by Independent Music Reviews.
But if ‘Masquerade’ hinted at the chaos lurking beneath the surface, their new single, ‘ClownFace’, promises to tear the lid off the box entirely.
“The song began organically from a jam. Lawrie found a new setting on his flanger guitar pedal and it inspired the guitar riffs and sounds for the song. Coupled with the powerful beat and rhythm, the song came together very quickly. From the initial carnival-like flanging guitar sound, it was always going to have a clown element to the lyrics. We even called it ‘Clown’ for a long time before it became ‘ClownFace’” said the band.
“That inspiration shaped the lyrics to explore a clown-related narrative. There’s lots of different references in the lyrics, and they can be interpreted in different ways. The underlying theme of the song is a misconception, told through the perspective of a clown. The band’s name Rainbow Skull Party was meant to inspire multidimensional, perhaps even contradictory styles and approaches. For ‘ClownFace’ there’s a fusion of distinct noise elements, juxtaposed with melodic grooves. Dave takes great inspiration from drummers Dave Grohl, John Bonham and Joey Jordison, and their influence is evident in his thumping rhythms on this track. We love playing the song live and it always gets a good reaction from the crowd.”
As they prepare for the release of their debut EP in late 2024 and a double album in 2025, Rainbow Skull Party stands poised to explode out of the underground and onto a much larger stage, With ‘ClownFace‘, they’re said to have thrown down the gauntlet— A challenge to all who dare to follow in their wake. This is a band that thrives on the edge of mayhem, where the only rule is that there are no rules, and the only certainty is that the party’s just getting started.
