The New Christs on DeBaser: Distemper, Divine Rites and Aussie grit

The New Christs

Musical Group

Forfans of garage rock, punk-influenced rock, and followers of the australian underground scene
3 Reviews 0 Definitions 1 Charts

The Profile

The New Christs are an Australian rock band formed in 1980 and led by vocalist Rob Younger (ex–Radio Birdman). Early singles were compiled as Divine Rites, followed by the acclaimed debut album Distemper (1989). Subsequent albums include Lower Yourself (1997), We Got This! (2002), Gloria (2009), and Incantations (2014). Lineups have featured Jim Dickson (ex–Barracudas) and guitarist Charlie Owen.

Reviews highlight Distemper as a defining late-’80s rock statement and praise Divine Rites for collecting the band’s potent early singles. The band’s sound is linked to the Australian garage-punk lineage associated with Radio Birdman.

Three DeBaser reviews celebrate The New Christs as standard-bearers of raw Australian rock. Distemper (1989) is praised as a blood-and-dust classic; Divine Rites collects ferocious early singles. Rob Younger’s voice and the band’s garage-punk power draw comparisons to the Stooges, Gun Club, and Nick Cave’s blues. Overall verdict: essential, life-affirming rock.

Notable Quotes

❝ Distemper is the epitome of the rock we love: the kind made of blood, sweat, and dust.

❝ «Wanna make you understand that I was born out of time»

❝ The album is definitely one of the best of the period, as usual with fiery rhythms, accelerations, fantastic melodies—ten tracks in total without any drop in tension.