I Freak Out (EP)

In February 2016, the band went to Birdland Studios in Melbourne to record their second EP, working with producer Lindsay Gravina (who'd previously worked on albums for The Living End and Magic Dirt) to create the bands first record not managed entirely by David and Upton themselves.{{Cite web|url=https://scenestr.com.au/music/don-t-freak-out-adelaide-punks-the-hard-aches-are-back|title =Don't Freak Out...Adelaide Punks The Hard Aches Are Back|first= Edward|last= Johnstone|website = scenestr|date = 6 October 2016|accessdate=15 March 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theaureview.com/music/ben-david-of-the-hard-aches-adelaide-on-touring-new-ep-i-freak-out-and-more/|title=Ben David of The Hard Aches (Adelaide) on touring, new EP I Freak Out and more!|date= 20 September 2016|first= Margy|last= Noble|website=The AU Review|access-date=15 March 2023}}

In May 2016, The Hard Aches released the single "Glad That You’re Gone", which was added to Triple J's full rotation.{{Cite web|url=https://finnsmag.com/2016/07/04/the-hard-aches-we-wouldnt-trade-our-hometown-for-the-world/|title=The Hard Aches: "We wouldn't trade our hometown for the world"|first=Dani|last=Brown|website=Finns Magazine|publisher=WordPress.com|date=4 July 2016|accessdate=15 March 2023|archive-date=17 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017092249/https://finnsmag.com/2016/07/04/the-hard-aches-we-wouldnt-trade-our-hometown-for-the-world/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite tweet |number=730230060771205121 |user=TheHardAches |title=Just got word that "Glad That You're Gone" has been added to @triplej full rotation starting next week. |author=The Hard Aches |date=11 May 2016 |access-date=15 March 2023 |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web|url=https://musicinjection.com.au/2016/05/28/adelaides-the-hard-aches-release-new-song-glad-that-youre-gone-with-a-killer-message/|title =Adelaide's 'The Hard Aches' release new song 'Glad that You're Gone' with a killer message.|website = Music Injection|publisher=WordPress.com|date = 28 May 2016|accessdate=15 March 2023}} The song, along with its accompanying music video,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ITMM4mujb0|title=The Hard Aches – Glad That You're Gone |date=21 May 2016|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=15 March 2023}} were well received by critics and fans. In August 2016, the band announced the upcoming release of their second EP.{{Cite web|url=https://musicinjection.com.au/2016/08/09/the-hard-aches-release-new-ep-announce-national-tour/|title =The Hard Aches release new EP & announce national tour|website = Music Injection|publisher=WordPress.com|date = 9 August 2016|accessdate=15 March 2023}}{{cite web|url=http://themusic.com.au/news/all/2016/08/06/the-hard-aches-to-drop-new-ep%2C-announce-monstrous-national-tour/|title=The Hard Aches To Drop New EP, Announce Monstrous National Tour|publisher=The Music|date=6 August 2016|access-date=15 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821071634/http://themusic.com.au/news/all/2016/08/06/the-hard-aches-to-drop-new-ep,-announce-monstrous-national-tour/|archive-date=21 August 2017|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://aaabackstage.com/indie-punks-the-hard-aches-announce-new-ep-and-national-tour-to-celebrate/|title =Indie-punks The Hard Aches announce new EP & national tour to celebrate|last1=Muggleton|first1=Sam|website = AAA Backstage|date = 9 August 2016|accessdate=15 March 2023}}

The Hard Aches released their second extended play, I Freak Out, in September 2016. The six-track EP spawned a second single, "Gut Full", which also received a music video on 16 September 2016.{{cite web|url=https://themusic.com.au/news/the-hard-aches-drop-new-clip-for-gut-full/vVSu0dDT0tU/16-09-16|title=The Hard Aches Drop New Clip For 'Gut Full' |publisher=The Music|date=16 September 2016|access-date=15 March 2023}}

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = The Brag

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev2 = Metratone

| rev2Score = {{Rating|3.6|5}}

}}

The extended play received positive reviews, and marked the band's first-ever appearance on the ARIA Album Charts. The Brag praised the EP, saying "I Freak Out cements The Hard Aches as a band to watch, cramming emotionally and musically dense content into every second, leaving the release bursting at the seams".{{Cite web|url=https://thebrag.com/hard-aches-i-freak-out/|title =The Hard Aches: I Freak Out|first= Spencer|last= Scott|website = The Brag|date = 21 September 2016|accessdate=15 March 2023}} Metratone gave the album a positive review, stating: "amongst all the catchy guitar riffs and belt worthy lyrics, the only complaint I have is that I don’t want it to end".{{cite web|url=http://www.metratone.com.au/the-hard-aches-i-freak-out/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221081142/http://www.metratone.com.au/the-hard-aches-i-freak-out/|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 February 2017|title=The Hard Aches – I Freak Out|date= 6 October 2016|website=Metratone|access-date=15 March 2023}}

Track listing adapted from BandCamp.

{{tracklist

| title1 = I Freak Out

| length1 = 2:28

| title2 = Breakdown

| length2 = 2:55

| title3 = Gut Full

| length3 = 2:53

| title4 = Glad That You're Gone

| length4 = 3:18

| title5 = Incoherent

| length5 = 3:03

| title6 = Alcohol and Cigarettes

| length6 = 3:54

| total_length = 18:31

}}

;The Hard Aches

• Ben David – lead vocals, guitar
• Alex Upton – drums

;Production

• Lindsay Gravina – producer, mixing and mastering
• Brenton Conlan – audio engineer

;Design

• Elliot Oakes – photography
• Chris Cowburn – artwork

{{Reflist}}

Category:2016 EPs

Category:The Hard Aches EPs