Straight out of Geelong, thirteen-year-old identical twins Sven and Lars Petersen are proving that punk rock is alive, kicking, and distinctly unfiltered. Operating under the brilliant moniker Pernicious Nefarious, the duo—alongside drummer James Noga—have just dropped their latest single, ‘Need for Greed’, and it is an absolute blast of raw, no-frills energy.
For a band whose core members are barely in their teens, Pernicious Nefarious boasts an impressive pedigree of sharp wit and a delightfully blasé brand of angst. Sven began shredding on the guitar at the tender age of nine, with Lars picking up the bass shortly after. What started as casual living room jams soon evolved into a formidable catalogue of original material. Initially road-testing their blistering tracks at local parties and the footy club, the trio quickly graduated to bigger stages, sharing bills with a mix of Geelong locals, Melbourne heavyweights, and international touring acts.
‘Need for Greed’ captures the essence of a group that thrives on having absolutely no pretence and zero unnecessary fuss. When asked about the inspiration behind the new track's punchy title, Lars offers a characteristically straightforward explanation: “Nothing really. Just Need like really rhymes with Greed”. It is exactly this kind of irreverent attitude that makes their music so refreshing.
The new single serves as a tantalising preview of their debut album, 'Squeeze the Thunder', which is slated for release in December 2026. Amazingly, the record was tracked at Steve Albini’s legendary Electrical Audio studios in Chicago. Seizing an unexpected window of opportunity during a trip to the United States, the band laid down the core tracks in one of the world's most revered recording spaces. Additional guitar work and overdubs were later completed back home at Geelong’s Pivot City. To ensure the final product hits as hard as their live shows, the tracks were mixed by Glen Franklin Music and mastered by Crystal Mastering.
‘Need for Greed’ is available to stream right now across all major digital platforms. Be sure to turn it up loud, add it to your favourite punk playlists, and follow Pernicious Nefarious on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with their upcoming gigs and release news.
