Severe is the fourth album by Australian experimental trio, My Disco, which was released via Temporary Residence Limited on 30 October 2015. It was short-listed for the 2015 Australian Music Prize.
During the five years following the release of My Disco's third album, Little Joy, and its associated tour, lead guitarist Ben Andrews moved to Jakarta. His brother Liam Andrews, on bass guitar and lead vocals, was living between London and Barcelona, while drummer Rohan Rebeiro was living in Melbourne. The tracks on Severe were written during a three-month period, from April to June 2014. According to Liam, the distance between fellow members made the recording process more "exciting". Unlike the band's two previous albums, Paradise (2008) and Little Joy (2010), which were produced by Steve Albini, Severe was produced by Cornel Wilczek â a film music composer.
Severe received largely positive reviews. Outlets such as Chicago Reader, Spex, and The Quietus praised the album's harsh, uncompromising sound.
Music website The Quietus listed Severe as the 30th best album of 2015. Dave Segal of The Stranger put Severe at the number seven spot on his list of "Top 10 Records of 2015 That Dave Segal Dares You to Check Out If You Think You Can Even Handle It". It was short-listed for the 2015 Australian Music Prize.
Credits adapted from liner notes