This could be my birthright
Abdicate me
Cultivate every conflict bound
Upon this crown
Fueled by the conviction that the bones of music matter as much as the melody, Hurt Sermons emerged from scavenged scraps and salvaged steel. Their unconventional creation involved antique scrap metal discarded agricultural materials, an amplified windmill, and bone chimes crafted from sun-bleached skeletons. These elements were meticulously assembled on a secluded rural property in southern Western Australia, forging a unique, raw sound. The band’s environment and the origins of their instruments were as integral to their music as the notes they played, creating an authentic and haunting harmony that resonated with the grit and spirit of their surroundings.
“Broken Bough” is a gritty, doom-laden post-punk piece that reflects feelings of alienation in one’s own homeland. It combines the brooding darkness of Type O Negative, the melancholic edge of early U2 and The Cure, the raw intensity and poetic passion of Midnight Oil, and the eerie dissonance of deserted ruins. It almost sounds as if And Also the Trees were to have grown up in the outback with bedtime stories of defiant heroes such as Ned Kelly and his suit of armour.
Every rattle and grind in the music reflects the history of the abandoned materials used in its creation, yet it delivers a fresh, forward-thinking sound. This track doesn’t just play—it pierces, plunging deep with its heavy, haunting melodies and relentless drive, demanding attention and stirring the soul.
The lyrics paint a picture of hopelessness and desolation, symbolized by a barren, broken bough. There’s a feeling of being lost, with no hope sprouting in country towns, yet a refuge is offered, hinting at shared salvation in a desolate place. The imagery of a homestead, furnace, and headstone melds despair with a glimmer of solace, capturing the stark contrast of finding peace amidst ruin.
“The unique ‘sustainable misery’ of Hurt Sermons is built of the past for an uncertain future,” says the artist. “Old becoming new. Resurrection music.”
Listen to the song below or order here.
By ditching traditional band instruments and methods, and sticking to DIY sustainable practices, Hurt Sermons’ mastermind J Allan Wrrts did everything solo on Broken Bough: writing, playing, recording, and mixing, even down to the artwork and crafting instruments from discarded objects on the property.
Broken Bough is the first in a series of singles leading up to an eight-track album. Stay tuned.
Follow Hurt Sermons:
Or via: