Grievances
October 9, 2015 12:17 PM Subscribe
Kowloon Walled City exist in the space between the atmospheric gloom of Neurosis, the sludgy twang of late-period Godflesh, and the echoing space of Low. Kurt Ballou of Converge interviews Scott Evans of KWC on the process of recording their excellent new album Grievances.
A combo of Neurosis, Godflesh and Low? These are some of my favorite things. Neurodflow must be experienced.
posted by FatherDagon at 12:51 PM on October 9, 2015
posted by FatherDagon at 12:51 PM on October 9, 2015
Kind of reminds me of a slightly less dynamic, definitely more vocal Pelican.
altho Pelican did slip some vocals on the last album and i was like whaaaaaat
posted by FatherDagon at 1:05 PM on October 9, 2015 [3 favorites]
altho Pelican did slip some vocals on the last album and i was like whaaaaaat
posted by FatherDagon at 1:05 PM on October 9, 2015 [3 favorites]
I really dig KWC. Brutal Panda Records has a pretty amazing stable.
posted by gwint at 2:55 PM on October 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by gwint at 2:55 PM on October 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
Yes! I'm going to see them with Fight Amp in November.
posted by Existential Dread at 3:03 PM on October 9, 2015
posted by Existential Dread at 3:03 PM on October 9, 2015
To someone on the outside of metal, this is almost impossible to see as anything other than a post that says 'Metal band sounds like metal band'. Its hard to not get 'your favorite band sucks'-ish (bad form, I know) in response to a band promo post - though I'd argue its also hard to make a band promo post that doesn't invite it, unless it really brings something more to the table than 'this is a band'.
From the description and the 3 bands referenced, I was more curious than I would have been if it /had/ said 'This is a metal band I like', for sure, so thats a plus, but its pretty impossible for me to enjoy this in the least as soon as the vocals start. I like some of the textures and powers in the minimalist opening bars- they did momentarily make me think of Low, or Godflesh, or even the later works of GSY!BE or Russian Sparrowes, or even, for a moment there in one or two string plucks, the raw power of Shellac, but it disappears, it all disappears with the voice.
The cookie monster voice.
I just can't get over how ... much the same it sounds to everything else. I'll admit that it might sound less samey to me if I was a fan. With affinity comes understanding and nuance, sure. But to me it just seems like a caricature. I'm sure other people who find themselves on the outside of other self contained niches feel the same. Maybe people would think some of the hip hop I like all sounds the same. . . there are definable boundaries which allow us to demarcate genres and styles etc .. but I just don't get it with that voice. That cookie monster voice.
Maybe its as unnatural and yet importantly quasi-natural as 'the homosexual north-american man voice' that also seems so fake, so affected, but has become too transmuted into something genuine to matter. Its a signifier of belonging. It has stepped out of pretense to decide for itself that it is authentic.
So, while I /do/ think this band sucks, I will at least try and appreciate that the 'this is a band' post got me to think about why I think that, which is more than I normally get from just turning the dial when I hear modern metal ( or reggae) (or Corporate Country (tm)) etc etc.
posted by blackfly at 4:22 PM on October 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
From the description and the 3 bands referenced, I was more curious than I would have been if it /had/ said 'This is a metal band I like', for sure, so thats a plus, but its pretty impossible for me to enjoy this in the least as soon as the vocals start. I like some of the textures and powers in the minimalist opening bars- they did momentarily make me think of Low, or Godflesh, or even the later works of GSY!BE or Russian Sparrowes, or even, for a moment there in one or two string plucks, the raw power of Shellac, but it disappears, it all disappears with the voice.
The cookie monster voice.
I just can't get over how ... much the same it sounds to everything else. I'll admit that it might sound less samey to me if I was a fan. With affinity comes understanding and nuance, sure. But to me it just seems like a caricature. I'm sure other people who find themselves on the outside of other self contained niches feel the same. Maybe people would think some of the hip hop I like all sounds the same. . . there are definable boundaries which allow us to demarcate genres and styles etc .. but I just don't get it with that voice. That cookie monster voice.
Maybe its as unnatural and yet importantly quasi-natural as 'the homosexual north-american man voice' that also seems so fake, so affected, but has become too transmuted into something genuine to matter. Its a signifier of belonging. It has stepped out of pretense to decide for itself that it is authentic.
So, while I /do/ think this band sucks, I will at least try and appreciate that the 'this is a band' post got me to think about why I think that, which is more than I normally get from just turning the dial when I hear modern metal ( or reggae) (or Corporate Country (tm)) etc etc.
posted by blackfly at 4:22 PM on October 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
'Metal band sounds like metal band'.
They don't even sound like metal though.
I just can't get over how ... much the same it sounds to everything else.
What band sounds like them?
The cookie monster voice.
Are you listening to the same band? Kowloon Walled City has clean vocals.
posted by MisantropicPainforest at 4:34 PM on October 9, 2015
They don't even sound like metal though.
I just can't get over how ... much the same it sounds to everything else.
What band sounds like them?
The cookie monster voice.
Are you listening to the same band? Kowloon Walled City has clean vocals.
posted by MisantropicPainforest at 4:34 PM on October 9, 2015
https://brutalpandarecords.bandcamp.com/track/anthem-godflesh-cover
that sounds like cookie monster to me.
posted by blackfly at 4:48 PM on October 9, 2015
that sounds like cookie monster to me.
posted by blackfly at 4:48 PM on October 9, 2015
Check out their last two albums, entirely clean vocals.
posted by MisantropicPainforest at 4:54 PM on October 9, 2015
posted by MisantropicPainforest at 4:54 PM on October 9, 2015
Were! They left Brutal Panda.
posted by MisantropicPainforest at 5:49 PM on October 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by MisantropicPainforest at 5:49 PM on October 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
To someone on the outside of metal, this is almost impossible to see as anything other than a post that says 'Metal band sounds like metal band'.
I can see that. I tend to assume these posts are not going to be general interest, so I don't make special efforts to invite that. Metal can be a pretty impenetrable culture. I selected the bands in the FPP to demonstrate that this isn't Chainsaw Gutsfuck or Hammer Smashed Face (not that there's anything wrong with Hammer Smashed Face), but there's something deeper going on here. IMO it wouldn't be any more helpful to try and describe the music in general terms, like "slow and heavy, with elements of sludge and hardcore and lots of space."
I assume if people are curious but don't have a background with Neurosis or Godflesh, they'll just check out the music.
I also have a tendency to set context and bury the lede, which in this case is the really interesting interview on recording techniques used.
Its hard to not get 'your favorite band sucks'-ish (bad form, I know) in response to a band promo post
This is why I stayed out of the rap thread from yesterday (not my thing, nothing to contribute) and, with the exception of one poorly considered comment, the poptimism thread. I think hyper-produced pop sucks. It adds nothing to conversation for me to say it, so I won't. Frankly, I don't really care if people do say it here; I want people who like this stuff to be aware of it, and people who don't...whatever.
The cookie monster voice.
It's an acquired taste for sure. The vocalist on the Godflesh cover is from Batillus, incidentally. Scott Evans doesn't have that harsh of a voice.
My friends are on Brutal Panda Records! Yay!
Which band?
posted by Existential Dread at 6:41 PM on October 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
I can see that. I tend to assume these posts are not going to be general interest, so I don't make special efforts to invite that. Metal can be a pretty impenetrable culture. I selected the bands in the FPP to demonstrate that this isn't Chainsaw Gutsfuck or Hammer Smashed Face (not that there's anything wrong with Hammer Smashed Face), but there's something deeper going on here. IMO it wouldn't be any more helpful to try and describe the music in general terms, like "slow and heavy, with elements of sludge and hardcore and lots of space."
I assume if people are curious but don't have a background with Neurosis or Godflesh, they'll just check out the music.
I also have a tendency to set context and bury the lede, which in this case is the really interesting interview on recording techniques used.
Its hard to not get 'your favorite band sucks'-ish (bad form, I know) in response to a band promo post
This is why I stayed out of the rap thread from yesterday (not my thing, nothing to contribute) and, with the exception of one poorly considered comment, the poptimism thread. I think hyper-produced pop sucks. It adds nothing to conversation for me to say it, so I won't. Frankly, I don't really care if people do say it here; I want people who like this stuff to be aware of it, and people who don't...whatever.
The cookie monster voice.
It's an acquired taste for sure. The vocalist on the Godflesh cover is from Batillus, incidentally. Scott Evans doesn't have that harsh of a voice.
My friends are on Brutal Panda Records! Yay!
Which band?
posted by Existential Dread at 6:41 PM on October 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
Russian Sparrowes
If this is a joke, it's a good one.
Also, thanks for this. Before I moved to the music desert I currently inhabit (although I maybe ought to do a post on the Hawai‘i DIY scene), I used to see these guys on show posters all the time, but never got the chance to check them out.
Yes! I'm going to see them with Fight Amp in November.
heart Fight Amp. Such a powerful show and super nice dudes to boot. That's going to be a great bill.
posted by deadbilly at 9:18 PM on October 9, 2015
If this is a joke, it's a good one.
Also, thanks for this. Before I moved to the music desert I currently inhabit (although I maybe ought to do a post on the Hawai‘i DIY scene), I used to see these guys on show posters all the time, but never got the chance to check them out.
Yes! I'm going to see them with Fight Amp in November.
heart Fight Amp. Such a powerful show and super nice dudes to boot. That's going to be a great bill.
posted by deadbilly at 9:18 PM on October 9, 2015
Thanks for the post.
I guess I second the less dynamic, more vocal Pelican comment. I haven't listened to this particular type of metal for quite some time, but I'm sort of surprised by how little it's changed.
A few months ago, I googled top 10 metal albums for 2015 and came across this. To be honest, I'd never read consequence of sound before, so I have no idea their reputation. I just wanted a quick low-down since I hadn't listened to any new metal in a few years, save from Deafheaven, Gojira, and a handful more. Anyway, although I ignored some of the albums listed due to a lack of interest based on the description, I found the initial hook to be wildly misleading: "unbridled originality of the artists."
I quite liked some of the releases listed...
Misþyrming – Söngvar elds og óreiðu is great and melodic black metal, for free
Obsequiae – Aria of Vernal Tombs is super catchy (but come on, medieval chamber music with black metal is original?)
Elder - Lore is a great rock album
Anyway, I'm not sure that the point I'm trying to make is that these bands need to be original or unique, nor do I think that you were saying this KWC album is anything but good. For me though, they don't really fill a niche. I definitely don't think metal has run its course. As a sort of vehicle of classical music, I personally think metal can and should do a lot with minimalism, neo-classical, and ambient/drone influences especially. I guess I'm just a little bored otherwise.
I just got to the end of "True Believer" from the bandcamp. I really liked that.
posted by heycoder at 9:55 PM on October 9, 2015
I guess I second the less dynamic, more vocal Pelican comment. I haven't listened to this particular type of metal for quite some time, but I'm sort of surprised by how little it's changed.
A few months ago, I googled top 10 metal albums for 2015 and came across this. To be honest, I'd never read consequence of sound before, so I have no idea their reputation. I just wanted a quick low-down since I hadn't listened to any new metal in a few years, save from Deafheaven, Gojira, and a handful more. Anyway, although I ignored some of the albums listed due to a lack of interest based on the description, I found the initial hook to be wildly misleading: "unbridled originality of the artists."
I quite liked some of the releases listed...
Misþyrming – Söngvar elds og óreiðu is great and melodic black metal, for free
Obsequiae – Aria of Vernal Tombs is super catchy (but come on, medieval chamber music with black metal is original?)
Elder - Lore is a great rock album
Anyway, I'm not sure that the point I'm trying to make is that these bands need to be original or unique, nor do I think that you were saying this KWC album is anything but good. For me though, they don't really fill a niche. I definitely don't think metal has run its course. As a sort of vehicle of classical music, I personally think metal can and should do a lot with minimalism, neo-classical, and ambient/drone influences especially. I guess I'm just a little bored otherwise.
I just got to the end of "True Believer" from the bandcamp. I really liked that.
posted by heycoder at 9:55 PM on October 9, 2015
What band sounds like them?
I'm so going to borrow that next time someone goes "it all sounds the same".
The album didn't quite survive first contact, I'm afraid. Not bad at all, but got a bit bored. Will give it a few background spins to see if that works better.
(In the meantime, for the sludge folks in this thread, here's some first-rate Swiss post-sludge: Ø L T E N.)
posted by effbot at 7:09 AM on October 10, 2015
I'm so going to borrow that next time someone goes "it all sounds the same".
The album didn't quite survive first contact, I'm afraid. Not bad at all, but got a bit bored. Will give it a few background spins to see if that works better.
(In the meantime, for the sludge folks in this thread, here's some first-rate Swiss post-sludge: Ø L T E N.)
posted by effbot at 7:09 AM on October 10, 2015
Which band?
Whores. MisanthropicPainforest is right, though; they announced their new label recently. I am a terrible friend that I got that wrong.
posted by Kitteh at 2:45 PM on October 10, 2015
Whores. MisanthropicPainforest is right, though; they announced their new label recently. I am a terrible friend that I got that wrong.
posted by Kitteh at 2:45 PM on October 10, 2015
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posted by dortmunder at 12:29 PM on October 9, 2015