Ripening With Age According To DARREN CROWE From FAKE NEWS

Interview by Kris Peters
Queensland punk upstarts Fake News are having a stellar 2025. Starting the year with a national opening slot for Pennywise and Millencolin, the lovable punksters have just released their new album Dead Set, abody of work which sees Fake News showcase a different, yet still familiar, side to their musical psyche.
The band are ready to take the next step forward with Dead Set. Whilst staying true to their 90s Skate punk sound, Fake News have evolved and raised the bar on the album. Boasting a high-energy and action packed live show, the release of Dead Set is a staunch reminder that Fake News are here to stay and create a legacy that stretches beyond their own backyard.
HEAVY sat down earlier today for a chat with guitarist Darren Crowe to find out more, starting by asking how the early reception to the album has been.
"It's been good," he smiled. "It's moving at a steady pace in the streamage. It seems to be doing all the right things and moving in the right direction. There are a few different songs in there, which might have lost a few listeners, but there's a few different songs in there that might have gained a few listeners as well. We've stayed true to who we are, and we've evolved, and we feel like we've got a very now sound with what we've done on this album. A lot of these songs were written seven years ago when the band started, and we just knew that we wanted to get them right. We didn't have the right people for the job so we kind of went back and redid them, and there are riffs there I've had lying around for like 15 plus years, so it's nice to finally get them released.
People don't understand how much work goes into a riff in a song sometimes. When you hear it on release day, itwas probably recorded two or three years prior, and then by the time it comes out and stuff… there's just a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes. But it's nice to have it out."
In the full interview, Darren discussed Fake News' evolution and the challenges faced during production, emphasizing the importance of their punk roots while incorporating new elements. He highlighted the album's diverse tracks and encouraged fans to engage deeply with the music. We also discussed the unique approach to covering songs, noting the significance of drums in creating a fresh sound.
We spoke about Fake News signing with Thousand Island Records, enabling international distribution and vinyl production. Darren expressed excitement for their upcoming launch show at Sol Bar and mentioned plans for more, as yet unannounced, touring this year plus more.

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