Brighton's Oral Habit is an unapologetic force in the city's psychedelic underground, conjuring up a sonic assault that feels both timeless and disturbingly contemporary. Fronted by Charlie Hales, the enigmatic vocalist and guitarist, the trio has been gaining momentum with their raw, fuzz-laden soundscapes that defy easy categorization.
Their latest EP, Garage Frock!, is a four-track powerhouse that expands on the explosive debut of Cardiovascular Spectacular. The album's brutal intensity is on full display, with each track delivering a visceral blow to the senses. From the opening salvo of "I'm Free," which careens wildly between melodic hooks and ear-shredding feedback, to the sprawling, sludgy grind of "The Coast," Oral Habit's music is an unrelenting expression of chaos and release.
At its core, Oral Habit's sound is a defiant rejection of the more polished aspects of psychedelic rock. Instead, they revel in the messy, disorienting power of freakbeat and noise rock – think 1960s UK's most extreme outliers, like The Stooges or The MC5. This is music that feels as if it was recorded with every possible amp turned up to eleven, capturing the raw energy of a live performance.
Oral Habit's sonic philosophy is simple yet chilling: "if a button's there, it's there to be pushed." In practice, this means embracing an unapologetic commitment to sonic excess, where even the most delicate melodies are subject to sudden, brutal assaults. It's music that feels like a rebuke of the more placid aspects of psychedelic rock – a bold declaration of intent from a band that will stop at nothing to create their own unique sound.
With Garage Frock!, Oral Habit solidifies their position as one of Brighton's most exciting and unorthodox bands, ready to challenge and disturb with their earsplittingly loud and mesmerizing psych-rock.
Their latest EP, Garage Frock!, is a four-track powerhouse that expands on the explosive debut of Cardiovascular Spectacular. The album's brutal intensity is on full display, with each track delivering a visceral blow to the senses. From the opening salvo of "I'm Free," which careens wildly between melodic hooks and ear-shredding feedback, to the sprawling, sludgy grind of "The Coast," Oral Habit's music is an unrelenting expression of chaos and release.
At its core, Oral Habit's sound is a defiant rejection of the more polished aspects of psychedelic rock. Instead, they revel in the messy, disorienting power of freakbeat and noise rock – think 1960s UK's most extreme outliers, like The Stooges or The MC5. This is music that feels as if it was recorded with every possible amp turned up to eleven, capturing the raw energy of a live performance.
Oral Habit's sonic philosophy is simple yet chilling: "if a button's there, it's there to be pushed." In practice, this means embracing an unapologetic commitment to sonic excess, where even the most delicate melodies are subject to sudden, brutal assaults. It's music that feels like a rebuke of the more placid aspects of psychedelic rock – a bold declaration of intent from a band that will stop at nothing to create their own unique sound.
With Garage Frock!, Oral Habit solidifies their position as one of Brighton's most exciting and unorthodox bands, ready to challenge and disturb with their earsplittingly loud and mesmerizing psych-rock.
they're like the ultimate anti-psych-rock band - all about chaos and noise 
charlie hales is literally my spirit animal rn 
the way they blend fuzz-laden riffs with melodic hooks is pure genius 
i need to see them live ASAP 
they're not afraid to get loud and wild, which is exactly what i need in my life right now 
And Charlie Hales' vocals are just so charismatic and unhinged - it's like he's channeling some kind of sonic spirit guide or something 
they're like the ultimate rebels in the psychedelic scene, completely disregarding all those cheesy guitar riffs & melody-driven nonsense 
they're all about that raw, fuzz-laden soundscapes & chaos 
i mean, have you listened to garage frock?!?! it's like a sonic assault on your eardrums in the best possible way 
charlie hales is literally my spirit animal now 
can't wait for their next album, it's gonna be MIND-BLOWING!!! 
. it's like they're saying, "screw the rules, let's make our own way" 
What really gets me, though, is how they're unapologetically pushing against the more polished aspects of psychedelic rock. Like, who needs all that finesse when you can just turn up the amp and go full-on chaos? 
I'm all for supporting artists, but can't we do it in a way that doesn't feel so transactional?
the fuzz-laden soundscapes are so nostalgic for 60s psych rock, but with a modern twist that's totally on point 
. I love how they're unapologetically rejecting the polished aspects of the genre and embracing the messy, chaotic side of things 
You know what really stood out to me about Oral Habit's music? It's like they're not trying to be liked or understood, you feel? They're just being themselves, unapologetically loud and messy, and that's what makes it so captivating 
. And that's something we could all use more of in our lives...
gotta get to their next show ASAP! 
anyway i'm totally here for this chaotic psych-rock vibe... it's like they're saying "screw the rules" and just making music that's unapologetically loud and intense 
, and Charlie Hales' vocals are like nothing I've ever heard before - so raw and emotive! 
Their music is like a rebuke to all the polish and pretentiousness in psychedelic rock - it's like they're saying "forget about that stuff, let's just get LOUD" 
. Garage Frock! is a game-changer and I'm obsessed 
#OralHabitForever #PsychedelicRockRevival #GetLoud