Melbourne’s independent circuit has a knack for producing bands that sound like they’ve been playing together for decades, even when the ink on the contract is barely dry. COMEDY is the latest outfit to prove the point. Following the late 2025 arrival of ‘L.A. Perfume’, the four-piece has wasted no time in delivering its successor, ‘Hate Machine’. Rather than retreading the same ground, the new single finds the band expanding their sonic palette while keeping their signature grit intact.
Formed in 2024 as a remote songwriting exchange between Andy Campbell (AM Reruns) and Francis Glass, the project quickly outgrew its digital origins. With the addition of Nick McGregor on drums and Citizen Zane on bass, the group evolved into a formidable unit. ‘Hate Machine’, recorded and mixed by Rob Muinos at The Rat Shack, captures that chemistry perfectly. While the track carries echoes of the jagged urgency found in 999 or the artful precision of Television, it never feels like a mere revival act.
Campbell’s guitar work is particularly nimble here, shifting from percussive, urgent verses into a chorus that breathes with melodic intent. Glass provides the perfect counterpoint, delivering a vocal performance that balances bite with a certain nonchalant charm. Regarding the lyrical inspiration, Glass notes: “I won’t spell it out, but to me it’s a bit of a call out - ‘hey, if you don’t want it like this, come with me’, delivered with a wink and a shrug. We all need a holiday…”
In an era of fleeting digital files, COMEDY is doubling down on the tangible. Both ‘Hate Machine’ and ‘L.A. Perfume’ have been paired together for a limited Double A-side 7”. It’s a deliberate move for a band that values the permanence of physical media. Glass explains the ethos simply: “I think for us, not particularly reconciled with the present terrain of the so-called music industry as we are, having a record people can hold in their hands, play, share, find in places (real actual places!), that’s really the point of recording.”
You can stream ‘Hate Machine’ and ‘L.A. Perfume’ on all major platforms now. To snag one of the limited 7” vinyl pressings or to keep up with the band's upcoming tour dates, follow COMEDY on Instagram and Bandcamp.
