Cosmic Psychos

Formed in the early 1980s in the state of Victoria, Australia, Cosmic Psychos belong to a tradition of raw punk rock infused with the energy of local pub rock. The band, long centred on bassist and vocalist Ross Knight in a three-piece format, forged a direct, heavy and repetitive sound featuring abrasive guitar riffs, a pounding tempo and a raspy voice, with lyrics marked by dry humour, rural everyday life and Australian working-class culture. Their early recordings circulated on the independent circuit before the release of the album “Cosmic Psychos” in 1987, followed by “Go the Hack” in 1989 and “Blokes You Can Trust” in 1991, which established them on the international alternative scene and led to tours in Europe and the United States. Over the years Cosmic Psychos issued new albums and went through line-up changes while maintaining a simple, repetitive aesthetic often associated with grunge and noise rock, and remained tied to the network of venues, festivals and independent labels that shape the Australian punk scene.