Exclusive: Hockey Dad Share Music Video for “Itch,” Announce New Album Brain Candy

Australian rock duo Hockey Dad share a music video for their new single, “Itch,” which chronicles the band members succumbing to (and inciting) a zombie apocalypse. The single precedes the new album from the band, Brain Candy, out May 29.

Band member Zach Stephenson claims that “Itch” is Hockey Dad’s “most non-Hockey Dad song” they’ve ever written. While the general essence of Hockey Dad’s laid-back, melodic sound is definitely present in the song, the themes explored in the lyrics are more anxious and reach a resigned acceptance.

“The demo for ‘Itch’ started off as a delicate, droned-out kind of song. As we started recording it in the studio and adding drums and guitars we realised the potential it had for an epic fuzzed ballad, so we ran with it,” Stephenson tells Paste. “‘Itching’ is the worst feeling you could have sometimes. The idea comes from a person having someone under their skin and constantly invading their thoughts. But for some reason, can’t get enough of it. Can’t get enough of being controlled and held down. It’s kind of saying ‘cCome on in and keep me captive. I’m all yours.’”

The music video, directed by Laban Pheidias (who also filmed Hockey Dad’s music video for “A Night Out With … ”), takes this idea of paranoia and raises the stakes, involving the Hockey Dad boys unknowingly releasing a hazardous chemical into the wind, exposing themselves and others to a pathogen carrying a zombie virus. Hockey Dad eventually turn into zombies, and partake in some of their favorite activities from when they were human—they eat blood-drenched brains as if they were Froot Loops and use muscle-memory to skateboard—until a pair of zombie hunters cut their fun short.

“The process was intensified for the ‘Itch’ shoot,” says Stephenson. “We had a full day shoot with costume designers, production crew and other actors. Something we had never been around before for a video. The makeup and wardrobe was probably the funnest but also the most uncomfortable part of the day. We were coated in thick body paint and face masks during the steamy L.A. day whilst skating. But it was worth it to creep people out who were walking by us.”

You can watch the music video for “Itch” (prod. Plain Wood Productions) below, and check out Hockey Dad’s U.S. tour dates for April, along with the details of the forthcoming Brain Candy.

Brain Candy Album Art:

Brain Candy Tracklist:
01. In This State
02. I Missed Out
03. Milk In The Sun
04. Good Eye
05. Germophobe
06. Itch
07. Heavy Assault
08. Nestle Down
09. Tell Me What You Want
10. Dole Brother
11. Keg
12. Reno
13. Looking Forward To The Change

Hockey Dad Tour Dates:

April
03 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ The Roxy
04 – San Diego, Calif. @ SOMA
06 – Phoenix, Ariz. @ The Rebel Lounge
08 – San Antonio, Texas @ Paper Tiger
09 – Dallas, Texas @ Club Dada
10 – Austin, Texas @ Barracuda
11 – Houston, Texas @ White Oak Upstairs
14 – Atlanta, Ga. @ Masquerade Purgatory
16 – Philadelphia, Pa. @ First Unitarian Church
17 – Washington D.C. @ Black Cat
18 – Brooklyn, N.Y. @ Market Hotel
19 – Boston, Mass. @ Brighton Music Hall
22 – Chicago, Ill. @ Subterranean
23 – Omaha, Neb. @ Slowdown
24 – Denver, Colo. @ Marquis Theater
25 – Salt Lake City, Utah @ Kilby Court
27 – Santa Ana, Calif. @ Constellation Room