While their early demos and EPs caught my attention, it was last year's Quality of Life LP that truly made me a big Histamine fan. Just last week, I listened to the album again and thought to myself, "I don't know much about this band," so I got to work. "I got linked up with some guys who were doing a band, and one of the dudes, Matt, put me onto all that stuff," vocalist AJ told me about Histamine's formation in a conversation just yesterday. "From there, I was all in and started trying to find whatever I could."
For AJ, the road to hardcore began in the mid-2000s. While he spent his high school years immersed in screamo and metalcore, his introduction to bands like Bane, Carry On, Count Me Out, and Panic changed everything. One of the earliest local bands to leave a lasting impression was Sydney's The Dead Walk! "It blew my tiny mind," he said.
Histamine itself grew out of an existing creative partnership between A.J. and guitarist Tully, who had already played together in previous bands. As one project wound down, the pair began discussing what might come next. "Tully already had a few ideas kicking around for something new," AJ explained.
The lineup slowly came together after Tully recruited drummer Jack, who initially wasn't interested before eventually being convinced to attend a practice. Bassist Alex soon joined, and the four-piece remained intact for several years before adding second guitarist Ed a few years ago.
Like many bands of their generation, Histamine's earliest influences were tied directly to what was happening in hardcore at that particular moment. Rather than looking backward, the band found inspiration in the explosion of great records arriving between 2016 and 2018. Exit Order's Seed of Hysteria was especially influential, alongside releases from Strutter, Glue, and Warthog. "It was all very recent stuff because so much good shit came out during that period," AJ said.
While Histamine quickly developed a small following, the band's profile grew significantly following their self-titled 2020 EP for Last Ride Records. Unfortunately, its release coincided with the height of the COVID pandemic, limiting the group's ability to capitalize on the momentum. "There were a handful of people into it in the first couple of years, but after the 7-inch more people found us," the vocalist told me. "Once we could finally play shows for it, people seemed to react really well."
Those years of growth eventually led to Quality of Life, a record many fans consider Histamine's defining statement to date. AJ views the album differently than previous releases, in part because he had relocated away from Sydney before much of the writing process took place. "I wasn't involved in it coming together in the room very much," he explained. "I didn't have as much opportunity to bounce ideas off anyone when it came to certain parts."
One of the key figures behind the album was producer Elliott Gallart, whose influence extended far beyond simply recording the band. "When it came to vocals, I had a very meat-and-potatoes approach to how it should sound," AJ said. "Elliott was the one who pushed me to try different things."
That willingness to experiment helped shape some of the album's most memorable moments, including parts of "Poison II (Miracle Cure)." "He's the MVP of why the record sounds the way it does."
Although AJ now lives in Newcastle, roughly two hours north of Sydney, he still keeps a close eye on what's happening in the hardcore community there. From his perspective, the scene remains healthy, fueled by both dedicated promoters and younger bands carrying things forward. He specifically points to Candace from Beastmode and members of Speed for organizing free all-ages shows in Sydney, while also praising Wildcard for the work they're doing locally.
As for newer bands, AJ recommends checking out Saw in Half, which features Histamine members, along with Screwjob, No Allegiance, Raw Impact, ORC, Iron Eater, and Tomcat.
Looking ahead, Histamine have interstate dates planned in Melbourne and Adelaide, with additional touring currently in the works. The band also hopes to begin recording again next year.
As Quality of Life approaches its one-year anniversary, AJ remains grateful for the people who helped bring the record into the world. "Thanks to Adam from Convulse and Tom from Last Ride," he says.
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Quality of Life is available on vinyl via Convulse Records (US), and on vinyl and CD via Last Ride Records (AU).
Histamine on social media: Instagram
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