Nearly 20 years after their last full length studio release, Australia’s iconic Midnight Oil today release the brand-new album, aptly titled RESIST.
In signature style these dozen tracks tackle a slew of urgent issues. From opener, ‘Rising Seas’ through ‘Last Frontier’ which closes the set, recurring themes include climate crisis, environmental degradation and the role of citizens alive to the immense challenges of our times. Moods stretch from the wilderness reverie of ‘Tarkine’ and the poignant ‘Lost At Sea’ to the anthemic protest celebration ‘We Resist’ while the album’s musical span is equally broad, encompassing slashing guitars in new single ‘At The Time Of Writing’ and brooding synthetic textures in ‘We Are Not Afraid’. There’s even a three-part epic called ‘The Barka-Darling River’ that keeps delivering surprising twists as it snakes along.
In line with the album coming out today, the band have also shared the video for ‘We Resist’. This short film combines submissions of protest actions by Midnight Oil fans from around the globe as well as archival footage from a handful of the many such events staged by the band over the years.
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘WE RESIST’ BELOW
The band also confirmed today that next Friday February 25th, they will announce a handful of June shows in North America and July shows in Europe as part of Midnight Oil’s final tour.
RESIST is Midnight Oil’s 15th studio release since they first exploded out of the post-punk scene back in 1978, blazing a singular trail of blistering gigs from Australia’s pubs and clubs to arenas and festivals around the world. It is a fitting, forward looking, statement for a band whose clarion call has always been “it’s better to die on your feet than live on your knees”. Featuring stellar production by Warne Livesey (DIESEL & DUST, BLUE SKY MINING, CAPRICORNIA) RESIST will be accompanied by some special live performances that will comprise the group’s final concert tour.
This new album was actually recorded in late 2019 and thus features long-time bass player, Bones Hillman, who sadly passed away 12 months later. Those sessions yielded 20 songs, but their release was delayed by the Covid pandemic. The first taste of this new work landed in late 2020 as THE MAKARRATA PROJECT – a mini-album featuring some of Australia’s finest First Nations musicians, and based on the themes of reconciliation, justice and truth-telling written in the Uluru Statement from the Heart. It debuted at #1 in the band’s homeland on the same weekend that Bones passed away and went on to be nominated for five ARIA Awards. Lead single ‘Gadigal Land’ (feat. Dan Sultan, Joel Davison, Kaleena Briggs and Bunna Lawrie) received the prestigious APRA Song Of The Year.
From the northern beaches of Sydney to the streets of Manhattan, Midnight Oil has stopped traffic, inflamed passions, inspired fans, challenged the concepts of “business as usual” and broken new ground. In 2017 the band returned from a 15-year hiatus for their Great Circle World Tour that encompassed 77 shows in 16 countries. The extraordinary audience and critical response to those shows lead to more European dates and an Australian outback gig in 2019 which then flowed into the recording sessions where RESIST was created. The album’s much anticipated release will therefore literally close the circle on this chapter of a truly extraordinary career.
The band also announced that this will be their final concert tour while making it clear that this does not mean the end of the Oils. Each of the members will continue their own projects over the years ahead. They remain very open to recording new music together in future and supporting causes in which they believe, but this will be their last tour. It will see them performing classic Midnight Oil songs from across their repertoire while also showcasing some urgent new works.
In the wake of last months acclaimed Tasmanian gigs, Midnight Oil also unveiled the full line up for each show of their imminent mainland tour, kicking off with sold out gigs in Newcastle and Wollongong next week. The dates will feature a broad palate of Australian sounds, from buzzing pub punks, Amyl & The Sniffers through the young surf rock of Darwin’s King Stingray to the mighty Hoodoo Gurus just as they launch their new album. Acclaimed singer/songwriters Jack River, William Crighton, Emily Wurramara, Stephen Pigram and Busby Marou will also appear, as will “Best Blues & Roots” ARIA winners, All Our Exes Live In Texas. Plus, the tour will feature a handful of rare reunion appearances by fellow 1980’s trailblazers, Goanna. Head HERE for tickets.
“If Resist is the end of the road for Midnight Oil, it’s one to treasure. “All that I have now is a souvenir of you,” Garrett notes in the Jim Moginie gem ‘Tarkine’. But there’s no doubt we still need them. As Garrett asks in the final track, ‘Last Frontier’: “Who fixes the messes that we keep making?” STACK
“If the first concert of Midnight Oil’s last tour was indicative of the 18 dates to follow, the Sydney-born band is fighting against the laws of rock ’n’ roll nature by going out on top… If you can, go.” The Australian
“Farewell tours often have one eye on the past and the other on the cash register – but if Midnight Oil’s show in Launceston on Sunday was any indication, they’re not coasting to the finish line.” The Guardian
“Midnight Oil’s farewell lap, to mark a new album, and preserve the legacy of their blistering live shows, was never going to be reflective and dewy-eyed.” Herald Sun
RESIST THE NEW ALBUM TRACK LISTING
Rising Seas
The Barka-Darling River
Tarkine
At the Time of Writing
Nobody’s Child
To the Ends of the Earth
Reef
We Resist
Lost At Sea
Undercover
We Art Not Afraid
Last Frontier
BUY / STREAM RESIST – CLICK HERE
MIDNIGHT OIL
RESIST: THE FINAL TOUR
FEBRUARY-APRIL 2022
Presented by Frontier Touring, Roundhouse Entertainment, Triple M (QLD, NSW, VIC & WA), Mix 106.3 (Canberra), Mix 92.7 (Sunshine Coast), Mix 104.9 (Darwin), Wave FM (Wollongong), Bay 93.9 + Geelong Advertiser (Geelong)
ALL SHOWS ON SALE NOW – CLICK HERE
Wednesday 23 February 2022
Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Newcastle, NSW
Previously SOLD OUT – FINAL tickets just released
Licensed All Ages
Presented by Triple M
Guests: William Crighton
ticketek.com.au | Ph: 132 849
Saturday 26 February 2022
Heifer Station, Orange, NSW*
Licensed All Ages
Presented by Triple M
Guests: Busby Marou and Emily Wurramara
ticketmaster.com.au | Ph: 136 100
Wednesday 2 March 2022
WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong, NSW
Previously SOLD OUT – FINAL tickets just released
Licensed All Ages
Presented by Wave FM
Guests: William Crighton
ticketmaster.com.au | Ph: 136 100
Saturday 5 March 2022
Mt Duneed Estate, Geelong, VIC*
Licensed All Ages
Presented by Triple M, Bay 93.9 + Geelong Advertiser
Guests: Goanna and All Our Exes Live In Texas
ticketmaster.com.au | Ph: 136 100
Wednesday 9 March 2022
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC
SELLING FAST
Licensed All Ages
Presented by Triple M
Guests: Amyl & The Sniffers
ticketek.com.au | Ph: 132 849
Saturday 12 March 2022
All Saints Estate, Rutherglen, VIC*
Licensed All Ages
Presented by Triple M
Guests: Hoodoo Gurus and All Our Exes Live In Texas
ticketmaster.com.au | Ph: 136 100
Saturday 26 March 2022*
Nikola Estate, Swan Valley, WA
Licensed All Ages
Presented by Triple M
Guests: Goanna and Stephen Pigram
ticketmaster.com.au | Ph: 136 100
Wednesday 30 March 2022
Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, SA
Licensed All Ages
Presented by Triple M
Guest: Jack River
ticketek.com.au | Ph: 132 849
Saturday 2 April 2022
Darwin Amphitheatre, Darwin, NT
Licensed All Ages
Guests: Busby Marou and Emily Wurramara
ticketek.com.au | Ph: 132 849
Wednesday 6 April 2022
Convention Centre Arena, Cairns, QLD
Licensed All Ages
Presented by Triple M
Guest: King Stingray
ticketek.com.au | Ph: 132 849
Saturday 9 April 2022
Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast, QLD
Licensed All Ages
Presented by Mix 92.7
Guests: Goanna and Jack River
ticketek.com.au | Ph: 132 849
Wednesday 13 April 2022
Riverstage, Brisbane, QLD
SOLD OUT
Licensed All Ages
Presented by Triple M
Guests: Busby Marou
ticketmaster.com.au | Ph: 136 100
FRI 15 April 2022
Bluesfest | Byron Bay NSW**
bluesfest.com.au/tickets
Tuesday 19 April 2022
Stage 88, Canberra, ACT
Licensed All Ages
Presented by Mix 106.3
Guests: Emily Wurramara and Jack River
ticketek.com.au | Ph: 132 849
Thursday 21 April 2022
Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, NSW
SELLING FAST
Licensed All Ages
Presented by Triple M
Guests: King Stingray
ticketek.com.au | Ph: 132 849
*EVERY patron must have a ticket regardless of age, and under 18 patrons must be accompanied at all times by a responsible adult with their own ticket. This is a licensed, loud music event, staged over a long time: we recommend that this event is suitable for adults only.
**Not promoted by Frontier Touring
All shows subject to final regulatory approvals. Frontier Touring reserves the right to alter show details to comply with government and health regulations.
Patrons are advised to purchase tickets only through authorised ticket sellers.
We cannot guarantee any ticket purchase made through any means other than the official ticketing agents listed on the Frontier website.
