Hilltop Hoods’ fifth album opens with a record-scratching bang, ushering in Suffa's and Pressure’s commanding, impactful trade-offs. The group's first LP on their own Golden Era label, State of the Art taps a cast of session musicians to give the songs a more spontaneous, in-the-room snap. Pairing members of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra with a lush Mad Lads sample, the lead single “Chase That Feeling” became the group’s first Top 10 hit in Australia. Their trademark pop culture fandom burns brightly on “Chris Farley,” an ode to hard-living talents who died before their time—from Elvis and Biggie to the titular comic legend. On a layered and empowering album, Hilltop Hoods cover an ambitious swath of human emotions while asserting themselves as a positive force in hip-hop.