2025 marks the 30th anniversary of Big Heavy Stuff entering Charing Cross Studios in Sydney’s Waverley to record both their primary 90’s releases “Covered In Bruises” and “Maximum Sincere”. Love As Fiction Records is proud to release a deluxe reissue in association with the band that cover the complete sessions, along with a subsequent complete recording at Troy Horse Studios which bridges the gap between the “Max” and “Size Of The Ocean” albums. Many tracks appear across the two releases either as alternative arrangements of future songs or unreleased tracks appearing for the first time anywhere. All songs have been freshly mixed from the 2 inch analogue master tapes by Wayne Connolly at Alberts in 2025 especially for these editions. “Maximum Sincere”, originally released in 1997 on Shock Records, was the second full-length album from Big Heavy Stuff. It spawned 4 singles, had widespread radio airplay and took the band on a nationwide touring schedule with the likes of Powderfinger and Radiohead. First single “Bigmouth” was a radio hit and presented the band in a more uptempo light with its use of cowbell and an almost Motown style beat. The heaviness remained from their previous singles, however. “May”, the second single released from “Max”, remains the most familiar track from this period of the band with its mixture of pop hooks and power. Greg Atkinson’s knack for melody still gets under the skin. Life was moving at a rapid clip for BHS at the time, the songs had been coming thick and fast. The album was intended to reflect this and, in case there was any misunderstanding, the title seemed the perfect foil. The “Maximum Sincere” album was an ambitious project, with nearly-completed tracks abandoned due to looming deadlines, young engineer David Trumpmanis doing his best to sort out the chaos the band left him to mix. With the original album release in 1997, the bands new label Shock showed faith by releasing the CD in two editions with 4 seperate CD singles (and attendant bonus tracks from the album sessions) while the band hit the road, playing live with Stone Roses, Babes In Toyland and Radiohead along with local heroes Mark of Cain, Powderfinger and Jebediah. Legendary Australian record producer Wayne Connolly prepared this very special 2026 anniversary edition of the original album from the original 2inch multitrack reels. It includes all songs from the original release, along with 4 extra tracks from the sessions, two of which have never surfaced in any form previously. The new mix reveals the bands ambition to present a diverse and large array of songs able to be digested in one sitting, despite the albums length typical of the CD era. Each track now with its own sound world exposing a more inviting approach to the 1997 original version. Released in limited 2LP/CD/cassette formats through Love As Fiction, “Maximum Sincere” in 2026 is a 19 track double album of power, melody and questioning that shows a band at the peak of their artistry and collaboration.
