It's finally here! The debut album from Stay Healthy, one of my most exciting discoveries of 2021, has landed on Bandcamp. The witch-grunge trio from Melbourne has been teasing it for a while, with the first single "Mallrat" seeing the light of the day over a year ago in August.
While SALEM, a clear inspiration for the group, once again reshuffled the dark electronic/rap guidebook with "Fires In Heaven" and opened the floodgates of copycats, Stay Healthy were able to carve a niche of their own while paying tribute to the artists that came before them. From repping the classic witch house male/female line-up, to keeping their profile low key and identities obscure, the trio managed to create an aura of mystery and anticipation that channelled the 2010 zeitgeist.
Even though "Dirt" is only seven tracks long, it doesn't feel short or underwhelming - on the contrary, it is a cohesive and well thought through record that feels like stepping into a hazy world of loss and love wreathed in layers of blurry genres. Call it gutterpop, doom trap, witch-grunge, doesn't matter, because at the end of the day the album, as a concept, does what it should perfectly - sucking you into this dirty, cursed and magnificent world Stay Healthy inhabit and thrive in. Incredible and rewarding record that should be talked about for years to come.
Buy the album here, and stream it below.