The self-titled debut album by HighSchool, is not one to be ignored. Since releasing their debut EP in 2021, the pop-punk duo from Melbourne has put out hit after hit, snappy songs with an electrifying energy behind them, despite having a rather grungy and gothic sound throughout their music – a sound which so many bands have done yet is so synonymous with HighSchool.
The album talks about plenty of different themes connected to today’s reality, including dealing with love and relationships in the modern, social media-driven world. Opening the 12-track album is ‘Dipped’, a three-and-a-half-minute burst of energy with an infectious guitar riff and moody, grainy vocals, which has HighSchool written all over them. The build-up to the chorus has an explosive feel to it, making the introduction to this long-awaited album feel so incredibly worth it. As vocalist Rory Trobbiani sings the line “Waste of my time” in the chorus, there is certainly one thing that this album isn’t – it’s certainly not a waste of time.
‘Sony Ericson’ sounds like it should be in an indie coming-of-age film, and that sentiment holds up for most of the songs on this album. Just two songs in, it’s clear that HighSchool have found their sound, and they know what works for them. The gothic and grungy sound to each track doesn’t manage to grow old and somehow feels fresh every time, specifically with the fast-paced bass, which fuels the song and reminds me of Joy Division in a way. The highlight of this song came in the lyrics when hearing such mundane places, Carlton and North Richmond, mentioned in the verse, especially when I have such fond memories in these suburbs of Melbourne. It felt refreshing not to hear about major world cities and instead hear about such normal suburbs of our vast world.
The lead single for the album, ‘149’, feels like a moment suspended in time. Like nostalgia for a memory that doesn’t exist. The distinct guitar riff which runs throughout the song, layered with the flowing melody of the track, makes for an exciting build to each chorus. One that makes you want to get up and dance until you can’t anymore. And the lyrics make for a story of yearning, “I don’t wanna be alone, I just wanna be with you”, a feeling that so many people experience with those they love.
The high energy of the album begins to mellow out with the next few tracks; ‘Chaplins’ has a much softer sound to it, which allows for a moment of calmness and peace amongst the faster-paced and punchy songs before it. Strangely, it feels like I’ve heard ‘Chaplins’ a hundred times before, but I don’t mean that negatively, I simply mean it’s weirdly nostalgic and comforting somehow, something deeply appreciated. ‘American Aunty’ is the same, with its softer sound and its moodier acoustic guitar. It’s a song of reflection, a period of clarity amongst the other tracks so far. There’s a natural phenomenon where you believe that a song was written about you and your life experiences, and this song triggers exactly that, though the feeling came from absolutely nowhere, a stab in the chest as I heard the lyric “The place where I grew up looks so different.”
‘Peter’s Room’ is yet another slower track, the type of song that leaves a heavy weight on your chest as you listen at four in the morning, headphones on and sat on your windowsill watching the rainfall outside. Or am I getting a bit specific here? Between the fuzzy vocals, the distorted guitar riff and the driving drum beat throughout the chorus, I can already imagine this being a favourite amongst fans.
The album picks back up with ‘One Lucky Man’, this track feeling more like the opening few songs with its faster pace and the head-banging and hip-swaying reaction it provokes. It feels as if it’s almost a song of two halves, with the unexpected breakdown in the middle of the song, the song now on a slightly slower and downwards and repetitive progression till it fades out.
This faster pace doesn’t last long, though, before we’re back with another slower, acoustic piece, ‘Trope’, which is a relatively short song in comparison to the rest of the tracks on the album, clocking in at just over two minutes long. It has an almost calm and serene feel to it, though the lyrics tell a different story, one which seems to be about reminiscing on old, shared memories with a partner or a friend, and wanting to show that you do really care about them.
‘Rhinoplasty’ has a completely different sound from the songs before it, with its long introduction and the spoken word in the background throughout the song, sounding like something which could be a voicemail or a voice note to someone. This, layered with the vocals of the track, adds depth and texture to what otherwise would be quite a simple song. The lyrics seem darker than those before, ‘Sometimes I wish I’d never been born at all” stands out greatly compared to previous tracks. All of this makes for a standout song among others on the album, not to discredit any prior tracks though. Back to my endless list of metaphors, if ‘Best and Fairest’ was in a film, the introduction would be used to signal the start of a new day, the sun shining for the first time in weeks, a breath of fresh air even. The synth creates a hopeful sound, like a resolution of conflict, almost, yet there’s another song still to come. ‘Colt’ is the oldest song on the album. Released originally in 2023 as a standalone single, it now finds a home as the final song on the album, and this might be why it sounds wildly different to every other song before it. Though that’s not a bad thing, in fact, the more electronic and upbeat sound is refreshing, and it somehow still fits with the vibe and themes of the album, bringing the 40-minute debut project to a satisfying conclusion.
HighSchool are one of the most exciting bands to come out of Melbourne in the past five years, putting the city’s incredible music scene on the map once again. It’s clear that HighSchool are self-assured with what they produce, and this self-titled album is absolute proof of their insane talent and makes them a band that you should keep an eye on in the future.
HighSchool: HighSchool – Out 31st October 2025 [PIAS]
