The Charge

“This band rocks. Nothing further really needs to be said.”

“The Charge’s “Red Flags” is without question a Cd that should be in any true Rocker’s collection.”

“It’s as if Black Sabbath and Nirvana made an album together in 2012.”

So people are saying about Red Flags, the debut album from Melbourne four piece rock act The Charge. From beginnings in mid 2008, this band has drawn influence from such diverse but ultimately raucous sources as Black Sabbath, Mastodon, Alice in Chains, Queens of the Stone Age and Led Zeppelin, and channeled it into a sound and presentation that is uniquely their own. “I guess I’ve always loved the darker styles of music,” so states lead vocalist and guitarist Ashley Jones, “Black Sabbath especially. It comes from heavy metal going straight to grunge!”

Released in early 2012, Red Flags was mixed by famed producer and Shihad drummer Tom Larkin (Calling All Cars), and is everything you could want in a heavy rock album. It snarls with ferocious anger and bristling energy, but also retains a catchy accessibility that has its tunes sticking in your head for long moments after. There’s also a dynamic sensibility lacking in much hard rock today. This is no one dimensional rock album, it is alive with ideas, vision and groove. “Nothing’s totally purposeful, I just sit down and write a song,” Ash states, “Tom really made the album stand out I thought…In the days of pirate ships, if a ship sailed under a red flag, that meant that if you don’t give up, you don’t surrender, there’d be no quarter shown. Surrender or die. I really like that idea.”

The band certainly back up the great sounding album in a live setting. Their live show is an extension of their recorded sound, and features full frontal energy and performances that need to be witnessed to be believed. “We try to be true to the record,” Ash describes, regarding their live show, “but it’s just more ‘in your face’. And it’s just about connecting with people, and just having fun. That’s what we’re aiming to do.”

Follow Me Down was the 1st single and video clip to be lifted off the Red Flags Album. The video was shot in the bands rehearsal space to capture the bands live appearance and grungy feel.

Together Me Make a difference was released on itunes and bandcamp as the 2nd single with great response.

While supporting The Nerve on the “DOWN THERE” national tour in the winter of 2013, they released a third Single - Requiem for a Dream on itunes, bandcamp and as a digital download via thecharge.com.au

With support slots for Dead Letter Circus, The Nerve, Floating Me, Electric Mary, Engine 37, Freestate, Black Devil Yard Boss and three consecutive years in a row performing at The Espy’s - Rock The Bay and Rock N Load this band will be leading the charge for Australian heavy rock music in the years to come.