South Adelaide thrash outfit Hidden Intent are no strangers to a beer and a laugh in between writing some of the most brutal thrash metal riffs this side of the black stump.
The boys – to use the old adage – work hard, play hard, and live even harder, wrapping the whole package neatly together with a tireless work ethic and unrelenting love for the music life and everything that goes with it.
Despite living in one of the more isolated musical hubs on this large island we call Australia, Hidden Intent have managed to traverse this country and abroad at an alarming and regular rate that typifies their approach to their craft.
Before heading to the US again in September for a run of shows with Angelus Apatrida and Nervochaos, Hidden Intent have decided to bless us with one final parting gift in the form of a new single and some home shows.
Hidden Intent recently celebrated their tenth anniversary as a band but rather than wait for the adulation to be directed their way, they have instead decided to be the ones bearing the gifts and today present the people of Australia with a patriotic song about how great it is to be a part of this country.
Get A Dog Up Ya is a fun-filled romp into the inner psyche of a typical Aussie yobbo, outlining a local colloquialism that makes about as much sense as dating your grandmother.
For the foreigners here, to Get A Dog Up Ya is to have a beer – in layman’s terms – so of course in keeping with the spirit of the title the Hidden Intent lads have delivered an accompanying film clip that celebrates what is to most Australians a way of life.
HEAVY sat down for a chat with bass playing frontman Chris ‘McThrashy’ McEwen to try and get in on the fun.
"We wanted something short, fast and to the point,” he explained of the new single, “so we went with a two minute crossover banger. We just wanted it to be short, sharp, and in your face. We tried to work on that more with this album by trimming the fat and getting the songs a bit more to the point and that's one that's gonna be a non stop cracker of a song.”
The film clip that comes with Get A Dog Up Ya is more or less an indictment on the life of any self respecting Aussie larrikin. It features cheap grog, vomiting, crowd surfing, moshing and the good old Goon-Of-Fortune and provides the perfect visual soundtrack to the musical tale of debauchery.
"It was rad, man. Such a fun night,” he smiled when asked how much fun making the film clip was. “It was hectic trying to get it together and get people organised and get the punters there. It was a bit loosey goosey but ended up being a really good night. I was a bit worried that not a lot of people would turn up for it, especially being quite early on a Saturday night when we filmed it because we had very strict times when we could film it in the rehearsal room. It ended up being a cracker of a night. We had the right crew there and we had a big party after it was done at someone’s house. We filmed that Goon-Of-Fortune part and once we finished that it was straight to the beers and order some pizzas."
In the full interview, Chris brings us up to speed on some Aussie slang and the meaning behind some of the saying in the song, talks about the band’s upcoming home shows before heading to the US, the expectations of touring musicians in the modern climate, the importance of being a touring band, future plans and more.