Balloons Kill Babies

Balloons Kill Babies (or BKB for short) are a Brisbane based heavy instrumental trio featuring Christian Carter, Karl O’Shea and Scott Davey. A blend of metal, prog and post-rock, the band conjures labyrinthine yet emotionally cathartic soundscapes and lets the listener decide the meaning behind the music.

The band’s debut EP Leviathan (2013) and follow-up single Patches In The Sky (2015), achieved airplay on Triple J, high rotation on andrewhaug.com and strong support from community radio at home and abroad. Patches In The Sky reached #57 on 4ZZZ’s Hot 100 (2015) and was Metal Hammer’s “Track Of The Week” (22/06/15). In 2016, BKB were nominated for a QMusic Award (Heavy Category) for Patches In The Sky and performed at the award ceremony.

The band has toured the country, sharing the stage with homegrown acts such as Like Thieves, Caligula’s Horse, Voyager, Sydonia and many more. BKB has also supported international heavyweights The Ocean Collective (Germany), mono (Japan), Klone (France), Villainy (NZ) and most recently, Zeal & Ardor (Switzerland). Whilst supporting UK act Anathema on their 2015 Australian tour, the band filmed and recorded a unique acoustic performance with violinist Greg Olley, later released as their first live recording, A Night At The Triffid (2016).

After the departure of drummer Francis Daly and addition of Scott Davey (formerly of Dead Letter Circus, Three Tonne Deep), BKB entered the studio with producer Govinda Doyle (Angus & Julia Stone, Pete Murray, The Lyrical) to record their sophomore EP Prodromal which was released 22nd September 2017. The first two singles quickly gained support via community radio in Australia and abroad with, both HTFK and Illuzia receiving regular play on andrewhaug.com and Illuzia being added to rotation on national radio station Triple J Unearthed. For their most recent single Feb 25, the band collaborated with directors Jonathan Creed and Luke McClean (Shots for Bands) to create the music video, tying it in with their Devil May Care short film trilogy. In March 2018 Feb 25 was shown at the Phenomena Niseko Short Film Festival (Japan) and was made an Official Selection at Queen Palm International Film Festival (US) in August 2018.

Prodromal garnered strong reviews, with metalobsession.net saying “This EP is five tracks and 30 minutes of controlled instrumental fury, with strong moments of moody, unsettling ambience amid the tempest that provide wonderful dynamics and make the hairs of the listener stand to attention” and killyourstereo.com describing it as “a dynamic, satisfying, well-thought and superbly crafted EP”. HTFK has received a high commendation from QMusic for the QMusic Awards 2018.

The band have recently entered the studio to begin work on their first full-length album which includes material that continues to expand upon their sound while retaining their signature instrumental interplay.

Reviews:

"with their overwhelming tapestry of songs, sounding like a huge storm brimming with rain and thunder, looming over the crowd and sending us off in awe, like a summer thunderstorm" themusic.com.au 21/01/2018

"Balloons Kill Babies have outdone themselves in scope and execution with their latest effort." themusic.com.au 21/09/2017

"With their epic collection of music, captivating live shows and intriguing music videos, Balloons Kill Babies are really establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the world of instrumental post-rock" insertreviewhere.com 17/07/2017

Patches In The Sky - 2016 Queensland Music Award Nominee (Heavy category)

#57 4ZZZ Hot 100 2015

"Patches In The Sky" Metal Hammer 'Track of the week' 22/06/2015

"The new work is a triumphant, instrumentally lush tapestry of peaks, troughs, builds, explosions, sonic twists and structural turns" (themusic.com.au)

"It’s awesome to experience. The dudes prog out to their psychedelically inspired instrumental rock with the chillest vibe between them" (Heavy Mag live review)

"Combining post-metal atmospherics and crunching riffs, the inevitable comparison one could make is with the American three-piece Russian Circles. With a more visceral-than-cerebral approach, however, BKB are very much their own three-headed beast."(Maximum Volume)

"BKB are high energy and as enjoyable to watch as they are to listen to" (4zzz live review)

"There is a joy that radiates from the dark soundscapes and it is this joy that makes the EP so engaging as a listener.... 10/10" (Heavy & Weird)

"... a slab of driving build ups, chugging chords, and just enough quieter, more melodic parts that keep the track interesting." (Postrock Star)

"...the musicianship is impressive and the songs are engaging... 3/5" (Blunt Magazine)

"Live, Balloons Kill Babies channels the crunch of Isis and mixes it with the divinity of Mogwai providing an incredibly cinematic experience. This is the kind of music that allows you to drift away and is an experience in total escapism." (Heavy and Weird Live review)

For more information and to arrange an interview, contact the band via email balloonskillbabies@hotmail.com