SHZine: London

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Kunt Puncher - Take Drugs and Eat A Kebab

Kunt Puncher - Take Drugs and Eat A Kebab
Grindcore Karaoke

Featuring ex and current members of My War, River Freshney, Dripback, Yes My Ninjas?, Nebukadnezza, & Damnas. Kunt Puncher Are a four piece experimental cyber-grind group from London, England.

Another outstanding release from Grindcore Karaoke Kunt Puncher blew me away all through their six song, nine minute debut release. Opening with a dreamscape of soothing sounds and narration describing the band's intent of mind control, these themes repeat throughout the record, at times ethereal, but mostly just brutal. I feel like this is the grind band that Douglas Adams could've been a part of in another dimension somewhere.

The wry, and extremely cacophonous use of television and film dialogue, the synaptic mash of it all; it's really what makes this record so good. I find it hard to focus on any one sound for more than a few seconds. This is musical ADHD in cyber-grind form.

I would recommend this to fans of Two Dead Sluts One Good Fuck, or The Penguin Collector. I give this album a rating of "A Bruce Lee side kick in the throat" (trust me, that's a good thing).

Bandcamp | Website | Label

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Florence + The Machine - Ceremonials

Florence + The Machine - Ceremonials
Island Records

The primary description that comes to mind when I listen through this record is spiritual envigoration. The intensity of emotion that singer Florence Welch conveys teeters on the robust extacy of expressed sincerity, as the music this band creates tends to reveal itself as a memorandum of inspirational anthems to soothe, awaken and energize the soul. Not only are the songs comforting, they are also addictively catchy, lending to the credence of their rising popularity.

Compared to the last album, this one has a tad bit of a fuller soundscape and some moments of spooky mysticism with tracks like Seven Devils and Bedroom Hymns. Also, the album is definitely dance-worthy; maybe not in the nightclub or weekend party sense, but dramatic flailing, pausing and contorting feels encouraged.

About

Started in 2000, Scandalized Human Zine is a Fraser Valley, BC based music webzine with the intention of covering a range of music that fits the personal tastes and intrigue of the contributors. Considering the vagueness and unpredictability of what we deem fit to print, we would like to give exposure mostly to lesser known, quality artists that pass our way -or to even whatever miracle of music we may surprisingly stumble upon out in the world. We also give props to our local friends, because they kick ass so much.

SHZine's subtitle used to make reference to such genres as mathrock, postrock and avant garde; but behold! This was only a lure to those who may deem themselves as wise in their ways. It's true, we do enjoy the more challenging styles that defy description so we can make up our own genres and become historical figures in the documentation of rock and roll, but it's also hard to ignore the more genuine inventions of spirited composers that easily fall into the categories of simply amazing, relevant or moving.

It's also true that 'we' means myself and the very gratefully appreciated contributors; and we run everything to do with SHZine from editing, design, html, reviews and correspondences in our spare time as a hobby.

I currently live in Abbotsford and am working with my good friends who run Champion Jack's Emporium, a choice vintage and record shop in Historic Downtown. Also, Daryl has a show on UFV's 101.7 FM CIVL Radio called Disposable Existence. Feel free to check out our other friends, contemporaries, and colleagues in the links section.

Thanks to our readers, writers, friends and most of all the artists.

-Stu