Make
noise not war! A bludgeoning attack on the senses from San Diego's
leading synth-punk band.
In
the current political climate it's maybe not the best career move to
name your band after a Russian dictator, but your have to admit,
Stalins Of Sound is an inspired choice of name. It suggests a sound
that's uncompromising, hard hitting, oppressive. Music that's been
made not to endear yourself to anyone but to issue some sort of
year-zero manifesto, some sort of call to arms. That's a lot to live
up to but to varying degrees of success, Tank
Tracks
does just that.
Although
at times suffering from a demo-like quality (it was recorded in a
bedroom so we can forgive that), this debut album does at least have
an aesthetic, an intent and a purpose. Its message is to wake up and
shake up, aided by aggressively programmed drum machines, distorted
guitars and shrill synth lines. So from a political and aesthetic
point of view it ticks some pertinent boxes. But musically is it any
good? Is it a Sherman tank or more merchant bank?
Despite
its rip-it-up-and-start again ethos it does have some predecessors
and touchstones – the uncompromising industrial assault of
Einstürzende Neubauten, Big Black metallic sheen, and Devo's
subversive art-punk. Over its nine tracks, the drum machine is
relentless in its pummelling, with abrasive metallic guitars, vocals
that mean-it-maan and nary a pentatonic scale in sight. Whatever your
definition of punk-rock, this is it.
A
nice attention to detail sees this album released on the nineteenth
anniversary of Shawn Nelson's tank theft and subsequent rampage
through San Diego. (An event also used for the cover art). If you
like your music loud, edgy, unpolished and unapologetic this one's
for you.
Click here for Stalins Of
Sound's website.
Click here for Slovenly Records.
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