The Romeo Knights' Adam Kurzel Talks Wrestling Bandmates Over Song Choices

The Romeo Knights' latest album, Spires, is the result of extensive collaboration between bandmates Luke Price (drums), Sam Murray (bass), Adam Kurzel (guitars and vocals) and producer Matt Robins. "We liked [Robins'] previous work with Palace Of The King, Dandy Warhols, Dallas Frasca," Kurzel explained, "plus he has a mighty 'fro."

Recorded in West Melbourne in Coloursound Studios,"Spires musically relates to the ideological control and repressive nature of corporation, beliefs and egocentric individuals casting shadows on the unsuspecting in a manipulative way," Kurzel says of the finished album.

However Spires went through quite the transformation before it ended up where it is now, and nothing was finalised until they tested cuts from the album on their tour. Kurzel recalls, "Some songs morphed into alternate versions on tour and the better ones stuck with us." As for what actually ended up on the album? That came partially down to chance. "Agreeing on songs to use for the album, some we knew had to be on there, some just couldn't be left off, usually we flipped a coin or settled Greco-Roman wrestling style."

Although decision making may have resulted in the occasional bout of physical combat, Kurzel has nothing but praise for his bandmates - "Luke brought the rhythm to life with ambience and considered patterns. Sam had a bass sound all to his own. As a three-piece, the bass really becomes the link between the melody and rhythm."

When it comes time to play the tracks live, the band may have to channel their inner Houdini - "As a three-piece, there will need to be some crafty pieces of illusion going on. Maybe a curtain, possibly a straitjacket."