Kiwi rock band Powder Chutes release debut album
“Everybody wake up… these boys have got the sauce!” – Johnny Stevens, Highly Suspect
It may seem like Powder Chutes have been part of the musical landscape for years, but their debut album arrives before any band members have left their teens; despite this, Powder Chutes have already troubled the NZ Hot Singles Charts, are regulars on national radio such as The Rock FM, and international radio as far away as the UK and US; they’ve had four tracks chosen by Classic Rock Magazine as ‘The best new rock songs you need to hear right now’ next to established acts like Janes Addiction and Foo Fighters, been voted onto The Rock FM’s ‘Rock 2000’, and had single Scalpel chosen by kiwi Alien Weaponry as the winner of the inaugural ‘Thrash More’ competition hosted by AJ Hackett Bungy NZ… It’s safe to say that Powder Chutes mean business!
The self-titled debut album features six previously released singles, and six unreleased tracks, five of which are completely re-recorded versions of the now deleted early EP.
The album is available digitally from today, April 11, and a can be pre-ordered on 180g, White & Black Marble vinyl, now from Holiday Records (strictly limited to 200).
Powder Chutes recently caused a minor media storm when they were cherry-picked from the crowd by Johnny Stevens who added Powder Chutes to the rest of the Highly Suspect NZ stadium shows saying “I’ve been hearing about this band for at least a year now from NZ fans. So… We’re gonna have ‘em drive there asses out here (Wellington) and open up the stage tomorrow night, because dope people do dope shit”. Highly Suspect then also took Powder Chutes to Spark Arena in Auckland, saying “Powder Chutes is so fuckin sick, we’re gonna put them on again tomorrow night. New Zealand, y’all got you a cool band”.
What happened next will become part of New Zealand rock folklore as out of the blue, Highly Suspect called Powder Chutes on stage to perform one of their biggest hits, Lydia, creating a once in a lifetime opportunity for the band, and a ‘you-had-to-be-there’ experience for everyone who witnessed it. The Highly Suspect frontman also took a moment during the song to dub Powder Chutes “the coolest lads in the country” saying “this is the start of a very long friendship.”
Powder Chutes produce fiercely original music drawing comparisons with Tool, Pearl Jam, Turnstile, and Highly Suspect and are described by NZ Musician Magazine as having “a modern grunge feel, mixed with punk angst and hard rock”.
The band is made up of Archie (drums), Clarke (guitar), Henry (vocals), and Otis (bass), and are described by Radio One 91FM as “already punching well above their weight in the Aotearoa music scene…” or as Johhny Stevens put it,” they are the truth… they got it, they got the thing going on.” – Johnny, Highly Suspect
To celebrate the album release Powder Chutes embark on a national tour in April and May 2025:
11 April @ Water Bar, Wanaka
12 April @ Yonder, Queenstown
9 May @ The Crown, Dunedin
16 May @ The Sail & Anchor, Timaru
17 May @ Wunderbar, Lyttelton
22 May @ Underworld Tavern, Wellington
23 May @ The Stomach, Palmerston North
24 May @ Paisley Stage, Napier
27 May @ Monkey House, Whitianga
29 May @ Whammy Bar, Auckland
30 May @ Last Place, Hamilton
31 May @ Rosemary’s Taupo
