Scene Mag
'Summerland'
The Herd
(Elefant Traks)
Well it's The Herd y'know? Shouldn't take things for granted but past experience is telling you that with this crew you are assured of two things: good songwriting; something to get your ass dancing; some simple-word socio-political comment; some horns, some kind of world music input … hang on that's more than two things. Point being you get a lot with this group. If you have heard lead single 'The King Is Dead' then they've already ticked most of the above boxes for you. Especially the dancing about one. Urthboy is as earnest and rollicking as ever. There is something so comfortable with his un-strained flow but it's Jane Tyrell and her totally unique voice that really adds the colour and emotion to some damn fine tunes.
 
XPress Magazine
Chris Z
"A fitting token of the seminal hip hop outfit's dedication and hard work, The Herd's fourth album Summerland, marks their entrance into a league of their own and the culmination of the a string of great records creating widespread influence...Most impressive, perhaps, is the extremely directed and focused approach taken with regard to subject matter without compromising on catchiness and playability."
 
Rave Magazine Album of the Week ****
Jody McGregor
"They're clearly mad as hell and not going to take it anymore and the result is a breath of fresh air that's undeniably a good thing for us.
 
Hobart Mercury ****
Jarrod Bevan
"The Herd's fourth album is their finest. Summerland is rich and punchy with catchy choruses — sometimes at odds with their heavy vocal themes, but it works...continually pushing the envelope."

The Age ****
KHALIL HEGARTY
Eight-member outfit the Herd tread a familiar line in Australian hip-hop: great instrumentation, good songwriting skills,
intelligent rhymes and an overtly political outlook. However, the production featured in the Sydney-based group's third album puts them on another level: the Spanish waltz of The Pearl is pure musical romance; the surfer go-go of Zug Zug adds humour where sorely needed and the instrumental The Next Movement is a lush, broad soundscape. It would be a perfect formula if their political tirades didn't get so, well, tiring. A third of the way through the album on the sombre, acoustic-guitar driven Time to Face the Truth, the group have already covered last year's election, the AWB scandal, Third
World dictatorships, indigenous problems and the songwriting of Kev Carmody. Summerland crystallises the way hip-hop has become the driving political force in Australia's musical culture, usurping the soapbox from pub rock and folk; it has the lyrical subtlety of a hand grenade - but unlike many of their local contemporaries, the Herd have a musical intelligence that backs it up.

Inpress Magazine
Luke McKinnon
"Summerland makes a bold statement. It is an album of it's time: socially savvy, culturally savage, the voice of a politically bemused generation. Produced with orchestral clarity and lyrical know-how, The Herd have once again delivered an album of remarkable strength."

Zoo Weekly *****
"Ten-piece Aussie hip-hop outfit cranks out a topical gem with Summerland! A bloody winner!"

Groupie Magazine ****
"Summerland is named in honour of sleepy Central-Coast town Summerland Point where the band recorded the album...It seems Summerland Point suited The Herd's relaxed, confident style perfectly as although obviously incredibly well conceived and considered, the album sounds effortless."

Sun Herald
"Politically active where most Australian bands are diffident, they celebrate the vanquishing of a foe with The King is Dead and mix revolutionary slogans with Australian history to create a deft cross-section of contemporary life. Their skill is in making sure the relevant never descends into hectoring...Played soft or blasted out, Summerland impresses." CRAIG MATHIESON

The Advocate
Haylee Van Beek
"Justice is not made to this album by being played softly because it's got everything going for it — great vocals, excellent instruments and a fantastic arrangement."

LIVE REVIEW:
The Herd
Hi-Fi Bar & Ballroom
SHANE P BENNETT
It almost felt like Midnight Oil's cocio political chest-beating would never be outdone. Just when it really counted though, Aussie Hip Hop was able to sneak onto the empty arena and reclaim what had seemingly been lost. At one end of the room the red carpet was laid out to a plethora of wacky political conundrums (Tampa, the Cronulla Riots, Terrorism), at the other end, to hip-hop acts like The Hill Top Hoods and the Herd.

2008 sees changes in the political winds though, and as protest may not be lingering as decadently in the air, Friday June 13 made the Hi Fi feel once again more like a new political youth group rally than a gig at the bar and ballroom. With the Pop Art-influenced black and white projector screen wrapping around the back of the stage, the bouncy, boppy, sweaty crowd waved more arms than an airstrip official as The Herd clambered onstage. Biting into their new album Summerland's material, Emergency, A Few Things, Zug Zug and Toorali with a confident reckless abandon, the atmosphere's vibrancy and joyousness only continued to lift.

2020 and The King Is Dead once again illustrated the group's vocal precision, with the added support of an outstanding amount of crowd involvement; shouting along to choruses, hand-waving, rump-shaking, and some bumping and grinding that could only be described as more Jacko than Elvis, with more crutch that pelvis. Tucking into the vaults of past singles, two boisterous encores followed; wrapping up a soulful 77%, an extremely fast paced Unpredictable, a placid Under Pressure and the ultimate Red Gum crowd favourite; I Was Only 19.

Either the shackles have broke and young Australia has finally been set loose to rejoice or revolution is in the air. The most fascinating thing about the Herd is their ability to create emotive reactions, visions of positive change ahead by challenging our modern day perceptions, whilst concurrently focusing on a need to shake off your own demons along the way. This was a powerful yet delightful combination for a cracking good time.