Album review by Lucas Bell
As one of the defining groups of Australian alt-rock throughout the 2000s, Kisschasy’s impact has been an enduring one, perfectly exemplified by the band’s recent return to national stages in 2025, buoyed by the rejuvenated concept of new music and more importantly, a new chapter of artistry on the horizon.
In 2025, the four-piece made their official return with new music; ‘Lie To Me’, ‘Parasite’ and ‘Uncomfortably Numb’.
Three songs that offered moments of excitement and curiosity; moments that are followed through upon in 2026, with the release of their long-awaited fourth studio album, The Terrors Of Comfort. Although this may be the first album released since 2009’s Seizures, it’s not the first batch of songs written by the band since that time – with their original 4th studio album scrapped, leading to 7-year hiatus back in 2015.
SONG BREAKDOWNS
Lie to Me – There isn’t much I can say about this, outside the fact it’s fun. The opening 30 seconds of this track threw me immediately back to 2005 and the sound Kisschasy crafted in their early days. Proving that 21 years later, they are still capable of songs like this.
Parasite – ‘Parasite’ has been a single for a little while, and textures the start of this record with a single thought. It’s not all going to be stuff that sounds like the old shit. The guitar layering of this song in particular is awesome, with the bass and drums driving the track, and guitar being used to make non vocal moments of the song really stand out. Brilliant track.
Your Girlfriend – As quickly as the switch flips to a more mature sound for Kisschasy, ‘Your Girlfriend’ shows they can turn the pop punk charm on at any time. Leaning more into a darker sound typically associated with the pop punk sound, it keeps the hallmarks of the genre, while becoming something else at the same time.
Uncomfortably Numb – The last of the three songs from the record, ‘Uncomfortably Numb’ genuinely surprised me as a song. It feels almost written as a ballad, but not performed as one. The restraint on the verses and intro of the song, to blast into the pop rock/radio rock elements on the chorus are choices that definitely pay off.
Digital Saviour – The opening riff on this song rips. I wish they just used it more throughout the song. But the fact guitarist Sean Thomas gets a banger of a solo at the two minute mark almost makes up for it for me. Coming in under three minutes, it’s short, snappy, and easy to listen to. Great song.
The Quiet Sound – While ‘Uncomfortably Numb’ is written as a ballad and not performed as one, ‘The Quiet Sound’ is the polar opposite. It’s slow, and intentional to be drawn out. But it all works within the context of the song. A style I didn’t know Kisschasy were capable of, but I’m glad it is a song that exists to show exactly what they can do.
Bad News Baby – This is a short, quick one, and one I think I’ve been having trouble fully grabbing onto, because as soon as it feels like it gets good, it ends. Could have benefited from being a little longer, but I won’t yuck anyones yum if they like how short it is, at just under 2:15.
Radiowaves – ‘Radiowaves’ took me a while to get into, but the chorus on this track is awesome. The reasons why I like the verses on ‘The Quiet Sound’ and ‘Uncomfortably Numb’, I feel differently here. If I had to hazard a guess, I think it’s because I’ve heard the same thing twice already, but this is a song that has grown on me over time.
Mystery Misery – Calling this now. This will be one of the best Australia rock tracks of 2026. There is something special about this song. It’s the band’s longest song, beating ‘Black Dress’ by three seconds, but there is something about this song, that when I heard it for the first time, I felt an energy within me. I think it’s the bridges right before the choruses, as the instrumentation almost pulls away and showcases vocalist Darren Cordeux, before the chorus just launches in. The last minute of this song with the humming over the drawn out solo, is legitimately perfect.
Better – Out of the ten tracks on this record, this should definitely have been the closer. Reaching into the late 2000s radio rock playbook, it feels nostalgic of bands of the time, like Something With Numbers and Faker, while feeling uniquely Kisschasy. The last 30 seconds end the record beautifully, and sign off the comeback in the strongest way possible.
Final Thoughts
On the band’s break up message to fans in 2015, they stated that “we don’t feel like, as a band, we can supersede what we’ve already accomplished musically”. So this record had a high bar to clear. And in our attached conversation about the record, Cordeux said he believed it did, and I absolutely agree with him on that. There are elements of each era of Kisschasy on this record that show just how much their sound has developed, while not forgetting their roots and earlier sound.
Lie to Me and Bad News Baby feel like bouncy and fun tracks you would expect from United Paper People. Parasite and Digital Saviour remind me of the rockier stuff from Hymns for the Nonbeliever. Mystery Misery and Radiowaves lean into the more experimental, weird sounds that we love about Seizures.This record feels like a culmination event of everything these lads have done, and funneled into a single project. And it’s all the better for it. If you’re a Kisschasy fan, it’s worth your time.
Score – 8/10
Album Highlights – Mystery Misery, Lie to Me, Parasite
