Paid Salvation: A Swayze’s debut album release today comes as a ‘monumental relief’

Riddled with heartache, hurdles and hitches – 2020 is not shaping up to be all that ascending Hobart punk group A Swayze and the Ghosts had hoped for. So the release of their debut album Paid salvation today comes as a ‘monumental relief’.

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RELEASING their anticipated debut album today is a monumental win for ascending Hobart punk group A Swayze and the Ghosts in a year of heartache, hurdles and hitches.

Drummer Zac Blain said excitement for the release of Paid Salvation was “through the roof in camp Swayze”.

The 12 track record is now available in stores, online and on streaming platforms and features six of the band’s celebrated singles including Suddenly, C2C, Nothing Left To Do and the title track Paid Salvation and a further six fresh and unreleased tracks.

Blain said the release was a “monumental relief” for the four piece, including frontman Andrew Swayze, bassist Ben Simms, guitarist Hendrik Wipprecht and himself.

“It’s a great record, and we’re proud to have it out in the world,” he said.

Blain said some of the tracks on the album were “really old” – like the fourth and fifth songs the band wrote, but time has seen them rewritten and moulded into what they are now.

“The newer songs are the result of that fine tuning and discovery process.

“For that reason the songs are varied in style, speed and intensity, but carry the same critical songwriting that makes them accessible, yet poignant and purposeful.”

Hobart punk band A Swayze and the ghosts release their debut album Paid Salvation.

The band, on its ascent to punk prominence after signing with Ivy League Records and earning festival slots around the country with electrifying performances, has experienced drastic changes in 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic the cancellation of tours through the UK, US Europe and Australia and delays in record pressing as Stage 4 lockdowns hit Melbourne.

The band members were also effected by the death of their friend and record label representative, Pete Lusty, who succumbed to Lymphoma in March.

“It’s taken us some time to feel like we can get back in the saddle and make the record happen,” Blain said.

“Luckily, we’re surrounded by incredible people, most importantly our management at Sunset Pig Records and the rest of our team at Ivy League who have supported us beyond all expectations to help us realise that Paid Salvation will be out in 2020.”

Test pressing is in. Release is sneaking up! Order your copy of our debut album here x https://smarturl.it/PaidSalvation

Posted by A. Swayze & the Ghosts on Monday, 3 August 2020

The band has also been celebrating the inclusion of their song Connect to Consume on the soundtrack of the rebooted Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater one and two video games – released on September 4.

The game series is globally celebrated as one of the highest rated of all time and its alternative soundtrack is as revered as the game play.

“I vividly remember playing THPS 3 growing up,” Blain said.

“I was stuck on PC for much of my childhood, but my brother and I became damn quick on the keys.

“Hennie [guitarist] has been a mega THPS fan since day dot, and Andrew is definitely an enthusiast. Ben invented skateboarding.”

Blain said the soundtracks of the Tony Hawk games had been a “massive influence” on each member as a musician and music fan.

“We’re all big Dead Kennedy’s and Rage Against the Machine fans, but the soundtracks also show where we differ in music taste too.

Announced this morning, our song 'Connect To Consume' is on the new Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2 soundtrack! You can...

Posted by A. Swayze & the Ghosts on Tuesday, 28 July 2020

“Andrew has dabbled in Primus, meeting and mixing Joey Cape from Lagwagon was huge for me and Hen seems to know the soundtracks back to front. Ben invented soundtracks.”

It was a “beautiful feeling” for Blain to play the rebooted games and hear A Swayze and the Ghosts come on.

“When we were working on the record leading up to the recording phase, we remarked a couple of times that the songs need to sound like they could be on Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater,” he said.

“This is before the remaster got announced, so to actually achieve that goal with no inkling that it could ever happen feels like the sweetest kiss.”

The band has booked three socially distanced live performances for the release of Paid Salvation; Hobart’s Uni Bar on October 17; Launceston’s Royal Oak on October 31; and Devonport’s Pub Rock on November 7.