Paul Cashmere sits down with James Roden of Snakeheads to talk about the powerful and deeply personal new album Belconnen Highs, out 29 August 2025 via Cassell Records/Impressed Recordings.
The record is the culmination of a lifelong friendship between Roden and the late Pete Lusty. Meeting in Year 7 at Belconnen High, the two bonded over punk, mod, and Aussie rock before forming a series of bands together – The Smart, The Morticians, and later The John Reed Club, who released on Ivy League Records, signed to EMI, and played festivals like Big Day Out and Homebake alongside Foo Fighters and You Am I.
After Lusty went on to co-run Ivy League Records and Roden formed The City Lights, the pair reunited in 2016. Weekly jams turned into a catalogue of songs written purely for fun, with no deadlines and no industry pressure. With the help of producer Wayne Connolly, drummer Kit Warhurst, and bassist Harry Roden, they began recording what became Snakeheads.
Tragically, Pete Lusty passed away in 2020 after a battle with lymphoma, leaving the album unfinished. Determined to complete it, James carried the project forward with producer Jay Whalley, drummer Graeme Trewin, mixers Mo Mayhem and Clem Bennett, and mastering by Robin Schmidt (The Hives).
Now, five years later, Belconnen Highs is complete – a raw, joyful, and hard-rocking tribute to friendship, youth, and a shared love of music.
Tracklist – Belconnen Highs:
1. Smash Hits
2. Sh*t I Don’t Have Time For
3. Top Of The Pops
4. Sick On the Bus
5. All I Want
6. Dumb Enough
7. Sonic Manipulation
8. Temptation
9. Exocet
10. Entropy
11. Kontrol
12. Should’ve Known Better
13. Out Of Control
14. Cheap Thrills
15. Dementia
16. Savile Row
17. Love My Friends
