NEWS: Bulletbelt go intergalactic with “Cosmic”!

Ahead of the release of their fifth album and European tour, New Zealand natives Bulletbelt have shared an intriguing Jason Howden directed music video for second single “Cosmic“. Titled “Burn It Up“, the album will see release via Impaler Records on 22nd September with the band taking a new musical direction and by their own admission stepping outside of their comfort zone…

Catch Bulletbelt live…

10/10 Manchester, Rebellion
11/10 London, Underworld

“‘Cosmic’ is a big step for us. Taking Bulletbelt in a new direction required us to step outside our comfort zone and strip everything back. All clean singing which is a first, and a chance to show we can be heavy without having to be ‘balls to the wall’ tempo! This is Diego’s first contribution lyrically and he takes the listener on a deep trip with a conversation with God, only to realise he is his own God.” ~ Steve Francis

“The COSMIC ENERGY clip was inspired by the rawness and simplicity of late 80s and early 90s hard rock and grunge videos. It was like they were intentionally rejecting the grandeur and visual effects embraced by the big pop acts of the era, and stripping it back to just a band playing together in one location. Instead they projected a working-class, anti-corporate image.

I fell in love with Bulletbelt’s song, and it felt like its energy would suit the stark, raw look of black and white Super 8 film.

I work in VFX which often involves manipulating footage to a psychotic degree. So I challenged myself with just shooting on 8mm film cameras with as little digital interference as possible, just digitizing, editing, then rendering, not even colour grading. It was the smallest (and coolest) crew I’ve ever worked with: just myself, cinematographer Bill Bycroft, camera assistant Anna McIntosh, and the band.

We didn’t try to sync sound, and didn’t shoot full takes as we only had 10 rolls of film. Two of the film rolls were expired stock from the 80s, and the developed film looked incredible, like it had been stabbed, dragged behind a car and dumped in a polluted lake.

We shot the clip outside an abandoned incinerator in Wellington Harbour. Allegedly it was used to burn medical waste, so I guess all the bloodied swabs, leftover organs and amputated limbs used to get cremated, downwind from residential housing. I’m not sure where they go now, hopefully not near me.

It was a rewarding experience, and I’m beyond thankful that the band trusted me with it” ~ Jason Howden, music video director