Debut full-length record from Menzies

Coming out of Wellington, Menzies have been quick to confirm their status as one of New Zealand’s most intriguing new bands. Blending alternative rock, post punk textures and what they describe as “crooked alt-country,” the group have been making an impression by drawing on suburban nostalgia, hyper-specific storytelling and an infectious sense of community. Their music celebrates everyday experiences through a Kiwi lens, transforming familiar cultural contexts into songs that feel profoundly personal while striking a chord far beyond their immediate surroundings.

The band is made up of experienced figures from Wellington’s music scene, with Chris Brown handling vocals, guitar and keys alongside guitarist Samuel Scully, bassist Nikita Piper and drummer Doug Kelly. Together they’ve crafted a sound forged in jangly guitar work, shimmering reverb and droning rhythms, all filtered through a love of storytelling. Influenced by the legacy of 80s Flying Nun Records, Menzies embrace imperfections and rough edges, allowing fuzzy guitar lines and loose arrangements to become part of their sonic charm.

Their songs are packed with references to New Zealand life, whether that’s trays of sausage rolls, native birdsong, childhood television icons or even romantic feelings towards the All Blacks. Rather than relying on broad themes or universal ideas, Menzies find meaning in the details, resulting in music tethered to a sense of place, capturing snapshots of everyday life and twisting them into something poetic, humorous and surprisingly moving.

The band have become known for their magnetic live performances, with Chris’ former career as a working magician becoming woven into the identity of the band, creating shows that are as memorable for their interaction as they are for the music itself. Audiences might find themselves searching for matching gloves thrown into the crowd, keeping balloons airborne to ensure the band continues playing, or attempting basketball shots during a set. Magic canes appear, participation becomes essential and the barrier between performer and audience quickly dissolves in this exciting setting.

First unveiling their sonic vision in 2024 with the debut single “8/10,” their debut EP, Spaghetti Land, followed later that year. This year, they returned with new material, releasing two singles in the build up to their brand new debut album titled Holding My Cold Hand, Even Though Yours Is Warm. Billed as part concept album and part New Zealand coming-of-age story, it plays out across the framework of a ferry journey between two islands and throughout the album, real overhead intercom announcements punctuate the music, amplifying the feeling of movement and transition.

Setting the scene with a ferry announcement on “Crossing,” woozy guitar chords gentle pulse on the “Intro” piece to cast a dreamy blend of hypnotic rhythm and distortion before “‘Appy” flows with laid back guitar textures and soothing vocal lines. Developing with the muted rustle of drums and expressive vocals which flicker between spoken word delivery and mellow melodies, the arrangement surges to deliver a swell of stacked instrumental energy, offering an epic showcase of Menzies’ original sound.

Lead single “Mash Potato” follows with gentle guitar chords and lighthearted lyricism while the crash of drums and crunching guitars crafts a gripping alternative rock aesthetic. Tracks like “Crouching” land with lively vocalisations before slipping into a downtempo scene of pattering drums, twanging guitars, dynamic vocals and an epic finale of half time rhythms. “Superman Pose” leans into the band’s indie folk stylings with acoustic guitar backing and hushed vocals combining to form an intimate listening experience that builds with full band energy and biting lead guitar lines.

“Ashram” flows with the soothing flicker of clean guitar notes before a grooving rock energy launches with gritty guitars, punchy drums and commanding vocals. The moody bass line of “Suzy Cato” crafts an immersive sound brimming with intricate instrumentation and theatrical vocal performance while “Triptych” presents an expansive sonic voyage that progresses from an ambient soundscape towards a gripping rock experience across ten minutes. From start to finish, Holding My Cold Hand, Even Though Yours Is Warm captures everything that makes Menzies so compelling, offering inventive songwriting, communal spirit and local identity, marking the band as one of New Zealand’s most exciting new musical exports.

Listen to Holding My Cold Hand, Even Though Yours Is Warm below