BEYOND THE GRIP

There’s something undeniably great about a band from the other side of the world falling headfirst into Aussie pub rock — and doing it properly. Hailing from New Belgrade, Beyond The Grip have built their sound around that grit, chaos, and full-throttle energy. Their latest record Quencher leans all the way in — a raw, instinct-driven album made for late nights, loud rooms, and losing yourself somewhere between the first and last drink.

Quencher feels like a record built for movement — late nights, long drives, and letting loose. What was the mindset going into the album, and how did that shape the overall sound and energy?
Lyrics and music always come spontaneously as a sort of an emotional discharge. That’s how we create our music and that’s what it’s all about. The sound on Quencher comes out as a natural emanation of different feelings, spanning from quiet acoustic to loud raw electric.

There’s a balance across the record between raw, high-energy tracks and more reflective moments like “Tell Me.” How do you approach that dynamic when writing and sequencing a project?
Quencher tells a story. Songs are listed in the order of a storytelling of a life being compared to a long journey along a freeway where you encounter various events and have various emotional responses. We did try to unfold and pick up speed and then to slow down to a more self reflecting conclusion, as life does itself.

You’ve mentioned wanting to lean into a more entertainment-driven version of rock ’n’ roll — something fun, loud, and made for people to escape into. Why was that an important direction for the band to take right now?
We have been born under such constellation of high energy rock and roll. It’s something universal that anyone can identify with. Quencher is an emotional outlet naturally suited for a cheerful (pub) atmosphere.

Recording at High Voltage Studio with Jake O’Bayne, what were some of the key moments in the studio that really defined the sound of Quencher?
Some songs really reached the very pinnacle of creative excitement, like Stripville, where everything fit together perfectly. Also, the harmony we think we achieved in No More Would I Stray that we tried to project on other ballads in this album as well. Of course, having an extra can of beer while being at it, with Jake warning us not to spill it over his piano (which was never used, by the way).

The album touches on themes like temptation, burnout, and redemption, but it never loses that sense of energy and momentum. How do you keep things emotionally grounded without losing that “full gas” feeling?
Every song carries a mixture of emotions. It’s like in life. Sometimes a person cries out loud to relieve a feeling of pain, and some songs are about sheer euphoria, which can also stem from a multitude of sources.

You’re already back working on new material — what lessons did Quencher teach you, and how are they influencing what comes next?
Quencher is all about primal rock sound which we wanted to achieve and we think have succeeded. Our next album uses it as foundation, without departing too far from it, yet being a bit more complex. If you like Quencher, and are thirsty for more, you’re gonna love what comes next.