There’s something quietly subversive about a band choosing to be both polished and raw, not in sound, but in intention. Gold Coast alt-rock outfit Friends of Friends are doing exactly that with their new EP, Synthetic Flower Chainsaw, landing 24 October 2025. It’s five tracks of gut-spill chaos, and it might just be their most defining work to date.
The new single “Skin” leads the charge, a track that walks a tightrope between intimacy and intensity, feeling like it could collapse in on itself or explode outward at any moment. It’s a love song at first glance, but as frontman Barnaby explains, it’s more about the discomfort of vulnerability. “It’s lust, it’s longing, but also that fear of being seen too clearly.” The result is one of those songs that hits differently depending on what kind of day you’re having – part bedroom confessional, part arena-scale heartbreak.
While previous releases earned nods from triple j, BBC Radio 1, Kerrang!, and more, this new chapter feels like a step deeper into the band’s world – one they’ve built completely on their own terms. Synthetic Flower Chainsaw isn’t just a great title; it’s a mission statement. A bit jagged, a bit beautiful, and completely unfiltered. The EP moves from aggressive, punk-edged anthems (Attention, I Like Ya) to moments that feel almost too close to the bone (Happier, Skin), all underpinned by that signature Friends of Friends tension – emotionally direct, sonically restless.
Importantly, this isn’t just another studio-polished product. Every inch of the EP – from tracking to mixing to visuals – was done DIY. Barnaby recorded and produced the entire thing in bedrooms and sharehouses. No studios, no outside engineers, no label-funded campaign. The videos, the artwork, the rollout – it’s all been built in-house. Which makes the fact that it’s gaining international attention even more compelling. It’s not just good for a DIY release – it’s good, full stop.
The EP follows on from a strong 2024, where Friends of Friends released REAL LIFE, RIGHT NOW, played alongside names like Kasabian, Sea Girls, Slowly Slowly, The Reytons, Short Stack, and racked up over 1.1 million streams on Spotify – off just a handful of singles and one EP. On the festival side, they’ve shared stages with Post Malone, The Wombats, and others at Spilt Milk, BIGSOUND, SXSW Sydney, and Easy Lover. At their Brisbane showcase, they even had Mike Shinoda (yes, that Mike Shinoda from Linkin Park) singing their praises.
The sound is evolving, sure, but what’s maybe more impressive is the clarity of vision. Synthetic Flower Chainsaw isn’t just an EP – it’s an extension of the world they’re creating: loud, vulnerable, messy, and completely their own.
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