CIVIC – an origin story since time immemorial, the five-piece came together in 2018 throughthe traps of the Melbourne music scene. Bonding over a shared love of tightly coiled riffs anda collective musical ethos, they channeled this into their first EP New Vietnam. In a headrush recording session, the 7 tracks were slammed out in a single day, with the undergroundhit going on to sell out of several pressings worldwide. Making a name for themselvesthrough the intensity of their live shows, their  New Vietnam launch would become one ofthose folklore moments within Melbourne.

Taking to the stage with a contoured cheek and darkened eyes, McCullough’s glamouredstage presence beamed and boomed over the sold-out crowd. Cutting through the scene withcult-like vigor, their garnered momentum would lead them to a string of sold-out 7 inches, aEuropean tour, a spot on the beloved Golden Plains Festival, a newfound home on therevered Flightless Records, and a fan in punk icon Henry Rollins, “I am digging thatband… not one bad track in their recorded catalog”.

With momentum in the tank, they took to various locations across Victoria to get the bedsof Future Forecast down. From Richmond’s historic Bakehouse Studios in all its grandeurto DIY run storage shed on High St, there’s a consideration for the new and old on thisalbum. Paying homage to the classics, but pivoting on them with an avant-charged edge. It’sraw, searing guitars; pummeling rhythms; driving bass; with vocals that lock into andsynergise with their wall of sound. Balanced by the raucous and restrained weaving ofmelodies and textures, the imbued sense of nostalgia, and the vocal variation which broadenstheir sound past any one genre label. There’s the horn fuelled drive of album opener ‘RadiantEye’, the power-pop ladden hook of “As Seen On Tv”, the emotively atmospheric andvocally subdued “Sunday Best”, culminating with closer “Come To Know”, before ending ina tightly wound splay of feedback and groove.