The Eastern Dark - Long Live The New Flesh! 12”

Stepping into the sweaty, high-octane landscape of mid-1980s Sydney, The Eastern Dark were a blistering, no-nonsense three-piece that perfectly bridged the gap between 1960s pop hooks and aggressive, high-wattage Australian punk rock. Formed in 1984 by former Celibate Rifles bassist James Darroch—who switched to guitar and lead vocals—alongside drummer Geoff Milne and bassist Bill Gibson, the band built an instant reputation for their unrelenting live energy and a quirky habit of opening every set with chronological Ramones covers. Anchored by the influential Waterfront Records scene, they teamed up with legendary Radio Birdman frontman Rob Younger in the producer's chair to capture their devastating power on tape.
Tragedy forever cast a shadow over their defining statement, the "Long Live The New Flesh!" 12" mini-album (catalog number DAMP 28). In March 1986, just twenty-four hours after finishing an intense, all-night mixing session for the record, the band loaded up their van for a tour to Melbourne. Exhausted from the studio, Darroch fell asleep at the wheel; the ensuing crash claimed his life at just 26 years old and left his bandmates severely hospitalised. Released posthumously in July 1986 with a stark dedication to Darroch, the Videodrome-inspired 12" stands as a brilliant, heartbreaking monument to one of Australia's greatest "what-if" underground bands.

Drop the needle on the A-side and "Walking" explodes with the kind of sizzling, high-voltage guitar attack that defined the best of the inner-city Sydney sound. Darroch’s guitar work doesn't just buzz; it bites, riding a thunderous, tightly coiled rhythm section that punches you squarely in the chest. What makes this 12" single so remarkable is how effortlessly it balances raw, feedback-drenched muscle with pure melodic precision. The towering "Over Now" closes out the first side with a sense of high-tension thrill, showcasing a sophisticated emotional weight that suggested the band was rapidly outgrowing standard three-chord punk tropes.

Flip over to the B-side and the energy shifts into an absolute masterclass of hyper-caffeinated power pop. "I Don't Need The Reasons" and "No Pictures" zip by with a kinetic, driving energy that marries the pop smarts of the Buzzcocks with a heavy-duty Australian crunch. The brief, frantic blast of "Julie Loves Johnny" serves as a spiritual sequel to their iconic debut single "Julie Is A Junkie," acting as a perfect final showcase for Bill Gibson’s anchoring bass work and Milne’s frantic percussion. Original European pressings on What Goes On Records even feature a locked groove at the very end of the B-side, trapping the needle in a perpetual, grinding power chord. It's a fittingly loud, defiant, and unending conclusion to a brief flash of absolute rock 'n' roll brilliance.

Ripped to MP3

A1. Walking (3:28)

A2. Over Now (4:27)

B1. I Don't Need The Reasons (2:55)

B2. No Pictures (2:28)

B3. Julie Loves Johnny (2:13)