FLY! - ...or Die! CD

FLY! is a fast and mean rock ‘n’ roll machine from Melbourne. Emerging from the darkest depths of the Aussie wastelands, FLY! united with a singular vision: to play fast, loud, and mean rock ‘n’ roll, harkening back to the raw power of 1970s and early ‘80s rock. Inspired by the likes of Motörhead, Judas Priest, and AC/DC, FLY! are a rough ‘n’ rowdy amalgam of their influences, and then some!

Formed in 2023, FLY! blasted onto the Australian rock scene, playing up and down the east coast and leaving a trail of destruction (and empty beer cans) in their wake. 2024 saw the release of FLY!’s dangerous debut demo with a string of blistering national performances to follow, seeing FLY! share the stage with the likes of the Cosmic Psychos, Cancer Bats, and heavy metal brethren (and now-labelmates) AARDVARK, among many others.

With two songs reprised from that demo, the quartet now present their first full-length, …or Die! Wasting not a whole minute as they ride “Into the Wasteland”, these road warriors take flight across the 11-track / 39-minute album: a no-holds-barred love letter to speed, desert highways, murderous marauders and relentless riffs. Lean, mean and unclean, their high-speed, raw-power rock ‘n’ roll kicks out the jams with judicious efficiency. There’s no overthinking these desert-wasteland anthems; you simply hop on and go, go, go! FLY!’s vicious, high-speed rock explores themes such as weapons, beer, homicidal maniacs, and the power of acceleration! And while not overtly retro-oriented, there’s an authentically late ‘70s feel to …or Die!, from the just-distorted-enough guitar tones, the crash ‘n’ bash rhythms, and especially the songwriting itself: juiced up like Bomber, strutting like Stained Class, sleazy like Powerage. Add in a touch of mid ‘70s Thin Lizzy and a punk-and-proud attitude like Zeke – or hell, even spiritual cues to their homeland’s rich tradition of garage rock – and you’re left with no choice: FLY! ...or Die!