Belconnen Highs by Snakeheads

The feature album this week on 2SER is Belconnen Highs the first (and only) studio record from Snakeheads.

Snakeheads are an Eora/Sydney group founded by longtime friends James Roden and Pete Lusty.

The pair met in high school in the 1980s (the title is a play on Belconnen High in Canberra) and continued to play together informally across the decades around various other projects and work: Roden performing in multiple bands including City Lights and Morticians, while Lusty was a crucial industry figure, having co-founded Ivy League Records and being instrumental in the careers of numerous Australian artists.

Belconnen Highs is both their debut and, sadly, final record: a posthumous release in tribute to Pete Lusty who passed away in 2020 whilst recording. Despite this tragedy, James pressed on with a closeknit set of musicians including Jay Whalley of Frenzal Rhomb, Kit Warhust ( of Rocket Science) on drums, and James’ brother Harry Roden. Recorded at Hercules Studio with producer Wayne Connolly, over forty demo’s were whittled down to seventeen. And it’s a high-powered testament to in-the-moment musical friendship and a shared love of vintage punk and hardcore.

Belonnen Highs is Out Now on Cassell / Impressed Records on vinyl and digital.