Introducing: Lost Cathedrals

Australian duo Lost Cathedrals aim to thrill and surprise by blending anthemic rock with electro and cinematic elements in a genre-being sound they describe as “eclectic, infectious, and unexpected, like a surprise party, but with better riffs.”

The band started out as an online experiment between Rusty Parlett and James Robson, who hail from th north of New South Wales and previously played in a few bands together. That includes starting out in a hip-hop band called Winnie Coopers before moving into progressive rock with Beggars Orchestra. But they stepped things up a notch with the world at its most tumultuous as Rusty began writing new music and their collaboration turned into what he describes as “a full-blown sonic force.”

“Over the past few years, I found myself writing more than ever – because when the world’s on fire, what else are you gonna do?” he told us. “It was just me, my guitar, and a whole lot of time to think. I’d send stuff to James, he’d throw his magic on it, and before we knew it, we started bouncing ideas back and forth, layering acoustic warmth with electronic texture and big melodies. It wasn’t really planned – it just kind of took on a life of its own. The result is sound that refuses to sit neatly in one box. We’re trying to weave beautiful melodies with complex harmonies and have a fearless approach to genre-bending.”

And on the sound they’ve crafted, Rusty explained: “Lost Cathedrals has the raw energy of rock, but layered with electronic flourishes that are dynamic, layered, and a little unpredictable. We mix acoustic and electronic elements in a way that feels fresh but still hits hard. Think anthemic rock with cinematic soundscapes and a few unexpected twists. If you’re into music that doesn’t stick to one formula, we reckon you’ll dig it.”

Our first taste of this was their third single The Hunt, which was released yesterday. It opens up with a building noise, drums kick in and a fun little riff is answered by pulsing electronic beeps. That sets up an opening verse with thick bass supporting engaging vocals, twinkling synths join in and the pace suddenly drops with light vocals supported by a cello. A funky little guitar lick takes over, and a big drum roll ushers in heavier guitars that feed into another verse, which again builds up and drops into a big instrumental section to bring the track to a close.

Speaking ahead of the track’s release, Rusty told us: “We’re absolutely stoked. This one feels big – it’s got the broadest appeal of anything we’ve done so far, but it still sounds 100% like us. It’s got energy, it’s got hooks, and it blends rock with electronic elements in a way that just works. While it’s rooted in rock, it blends different influences into something dynamic, high-energy, and hopefully impossible to shake out of your head. Expect anthemic hooks, a mix of organic and electronic textures, and a whole lot of attitude.”

The Hunt follows on the from more laid back The Walls, which features plenty of funky electronic elements, and the duo’s debut single Cathedrals, which starts slowly but gradually builds into a bit of an epic with big atmospheric instrumentals under layered vocals.

As alluded to, the duo have a “weird” musical history that fuses a wide range of interests. For this band, the biggest influences are Radiohead and Thom Yorke, Jeff Buckley, and Muse, artists who, in Rusty’s words: “Do their own thing, push boundaries, and aren’t afraid to mix beauty with chaos. That really resonates with us.”

And on what inspires them to write music, Rusty tells us: “Because the last few years have been a LOT, writing has been a way to process it all – looking inward, figuring things out, and trying to grow from it. Songwriting, for us, has always been about introspection – digging deep and figuring out how to make sense of the madness around us. That’s what we’ve done with The Hunt. It’s all about the search for happiness and realising that everything we need is already inside us. We just have to block out the noise, shut down the self-doubt, and tap into our real purpose. Deep? Yeah. But also loud.”

Lost Cathedrals are currently working hard in the studio to release a four-track EP by the middle of the year, after which they’ll be out on the road for an East Coast Australian tour. “There’ll be big energy, bigger sounds, and possibly a few beers along the way,” Rusty said. “The shows are gonna be loud, sweaty and a hell of a time!

“We’re damn proud of The Hunt and just hope it connects with the right people. If you like music that moves, surprises, and gets under your skin (in the best way), give us a listen. Cheers for your ears.”

You can follow Lost Cathedrals on Instagram, and check out their music on Spotify, Apple Music and Deezer.