Inspected and Bugged

One of New Zealand’s most adventurous punk bands, Mr Sterile Assembly, has just released a new album and they’re taking it on the road this December, playing shows in Auckland, New Plymouth and Wellington. More on that soon, first a bit about the band.

Mr Sterile Assembly began in 2002 as a outlet for Kieran Monaghan (Mr. Sterile) to explore politics, poetry and music and to make art that combined all three. He was soon joined by a collective of musicians who all added their own individual nous, exploring the world of DIY art and later inventing their own record label (Skirted). At it’s fullest the band had seven members, there’s now just three.

They’ve covered territory rarely explored by any other New Zealand band, touring Eastern Europe (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia) in 2005, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore in 2006, Australia in 2008 and New Zealand in between. They’ve also released a vast back catalogue of music that can be viewed and downloaded from their label website. It includes a full-length album titled Hugalu (2004), a tour EP titled 15 Minute Crib (2006) and their new album Bug My Ride (2009). Monaghan has also released a range of solo recordings under both his own name and Mr Sterile.

Bug My Ride is a rare assault of European influenced punk rock and social ethics. Heavily lined with bass guitars and drums it has a very distinct sound; one witnessed throughout the Assembly’s entire back catalogue. As a three piece they have become more of a forceful unit, sounding tighter and driven to produce a noisier sound. Monaghan’s lyrics again play a major role, blending political poetry and instrumental friction, angrily targeting financial greed and censorship. In the liner notes the story behind each song is fully detailed giving an insight into his thoughts and readings; title track ‘Bug My Ride’ is about increased surveillance following the 2007 New Zealand terrorism raids. The band has previously explored elements of free jazz, new wave and country music, but Bug My Ride sticks firmly to the punk rock genre.

Mr Sterile Assembly is playing three shows in December with Uz jsme doma, a band whose history and legacy deserves a post all on it’s own. Uz jsme doma formed in 1985 in Prague, Czech Republic, when the country was still firmly locked under communism, you can read more about them here.

Bug My Ride can be purchased from trade me or bought at one of Mr Sterile Assembly’s shows for $15.

Mr Sterile Assembly and Uze jsme doma tour