SKIMASK // Cute Mutant

I’m thankful for my relationship with Sophomore Lounge because not only do they pump out amazing content, but they send me downloads! They are quickly becoming one of my favorite labels and their latest release by Boston noise duo SKIMASK further cements that sentiment. 

Residing somewhere in the chaos between similar duos Lightning Bolt and Death from Above 1979, SKIMASK does not shy away from causing a ruckus. Their heavily distorted guitars don’t resemble a stringed instrument as much as a buzzing monster of crunching noise. Plus the vocal shouts, moans, and (occasional) singing seem degraded to the point where it sounds like they are being forced on max volume through a speaker system with busted cones. Depending on the kind of music listener you are, that will sound either completely off-putting or it will sound exhilarating. I happen to agree with the folks at Sophomore Lounge in agreeing with the latter. Yes, this is noisy, abrasive, exhausting music; but at the same time it is bleeding pure sonic energy from every orifice. I’ve heard tell that seeing them live is the only way to go, so until then Cute Mutant will have to do.

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NO WEBSITES?! (NEVERMIND)

 

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Antique Pony // Museum of Blood

I’d been seeing links to this Antique Pony album all over my Facebook lately, but for whatever reason I did not click. Then the band emailed me yesterday which left me with no excuse to continue being ignorant because goodness, gracious, great balls of fire! this stuff is pretty great.

The gang of Scotland natives billed their music to me as noise/art rock, and while that might be somewhat true of their sound, I think that sells them short a bit. There is so much more melody and exploration here than that tag suggests. In some ways this album has a case of dissociative identity disorder. There are times where it is poppy and downright welcoming guitar rock before it slips down into this almost dark, slightly manic post-punk; and yet it all undeniably comes from the same source. If you can get into it it will certainly keep you on your toes. Oh and Antique Pony will be releasing a split with Teen Suicide in the near future if that helps you put it into perspective at all.

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BANDCAMP | FACEBOOK

 

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Black Pus // PUS MORTEM

Black Pus, the side project of Lightning Bolt’s Brian Chippendale, released a new digital album this week titled PUS MORTEM. This guy and his music have been around long enough that you most likely already know how you feel about them, good or bad. Personally PUS MORTEM is just about all I’ve listened to for 24 hours now. These rhythms aim for the chest and either they crack your sternum and inject themselves straight into your heart or they simply bounce off, leaving you feeling nonplussed.

The most instantly recognizable quality of Black Pus’ music is that it initially seems extremely chaotic. Frenetic and somewhat primal drum beats literally leave no room to breath on this thing, guitars are distorted to the point where they are little more than buzzing, crunching noise all while Brian’s somewhat obfuscated vocals are shouted at you through what sounds like a megaphone. It’s an intensely disorienting cacophony of noise at first, but the more you let it sink in the clearer it’s bigger picture becomes. If you are into noise or experimental rock then PUS MORTEM is a must-hear.

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BANDCAMP | BLOGGER | TWITTER

 

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mnttaB // Rocky 4,2 and 3 EP

Take a look at the cover artwork for mnttaB’s latest EP Rocky 4,2 and 3. I mean take a really good look at it. Now try your best to compress all of that information down into a musical representation of what you are seeing. Chances are that whatever you are dreaming up in your mind is pretty close to what this Australian band actually sounds like.

The band displays an impressive knack for chaos with an industrial edge that will have people citing Suicide before you even have a chance to blink. Riffing on math and noise rock in a way that would make Lightning Bolt proud, mnttaB emits a jarring punk rock energy that will leave shards of metal and broken glass strewn across the common area. Suffice it to say, you had best watch your step.

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BANDCAMP | MYSPACE | FACEBOOK

 

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Let me first say that I highly recommend this EP. The artist(/band?) is called Ancient Faces and that is really all I know about them. This (free) EP is called Wilderness Mother and is quite a trip. It sounds like whoever made it traveled deep into the jungle to create some noise/drone music and all of those wild, tribal influences leaked their way into the music resulting in four wicked jams. The EP is being released through Girls Are So Pretty, so head over there and check it out.

 

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