The Hardest Thing Hellions Have Ever Done

"I don't recommend it because it's soul-shattering. It's a fucking horrible thing to hear." Matthew Gravolin is explaining what he and his fellow bandmates underwent to find the samples used on ii) Heels Of The Hands, the sequel track to He Without Sin i) Halation off their third LP Opera Oblivia. "It's about the abuse of infants and adolescents within the Catholic Church. All of those samples are real — confessions is the wrong word — I guess admissions from victims of rape in their youth, and it was the hardest thing we had to do for the album. We sat and listened to about three hour's worth of these people breaking down and pouring their hearts out about this subject that's caused them so much irreparable grief. It was fucked up. It was really hard for us. But I think the product is worth it because people are aware; these voices are being heard in an area they haven't been heard before."

Opera Oblivia is, like all Hellions works before it, a raw and honest approach to the world as they see it — from unanimous suffering to inevitable triumph. Its structure draws on theatricality, "a loose orientation, complication and conclusion. It's very listener friendly, very much a choose-your-own-adventure, and guides you through those emotions of comfort and then discomfort", explains Gravolin.

He's humble and measured in his dissection of the record as well as the booming success of Quality Of Life, which has become somewhat of a triple j anthem prior to the album's release. But he's also apologetic: "I'm sort of a stammering, stuttering mess at the moment, I'm very overwhelmed." The band received some exciting news 20 minutes before Gravolin hopped on the phone, and though we can't tell you what it is (na na) you'll be hearing all about it very soon, promise.

For Hellions, the news has boosted some much-needed morale. In 2014, drummer Anthony Caruso sought help for "mental health issues" and spent 28 days in a rehabilitation clinic, leading to the cancellation of their tour. "It was just such a confusing time for the rest of us. I suppose it's so difficult to understand it; there really is no insight into it if the person — the victim himself — can't really describe what's going on, you know? Being unable to help him, that helplessness was a horrible feeling. I dare say he won't have to relive that, so that's a blessing," Gravolin shares. "There were a few people that said that we had [helped them]. But for the most part it was the kids helping Anthony, it was their support that was getting him through to the other end."

Though many tracks open the floodgates on frustration and struggle — "Thresher was just a bad day," Gravolin laughs — Opera Oblivia as a whole embraces the victories that go hand in hand with adversity. It's epitomised in the accompanying clip to Quality Of Life, recapturing childhood innocence through none other than Caruso's little sister. "No, she's not [dancing to Hellions]. She's dancing to Taylor Swift's Shake It Off and to Carly Rae Jepsen!" he exclaims. "Towards the end of the clip she actually had to do it to our music with us playing, and that was a different story… Certainly took some coaxing for her to do that, the poor darling."