Sex Orgy Death Crash – “The Demo”
I like the name of this band because it describes an average day of mine, accurately.
Well, maybe not. Closer to the exact opposite, more like it.
Though maybe it’s how I imagine the everyday of my life to be.
So I guess that means I’d like to be a limousine driver for a famous person, like Vice President Pence. And he’d be having sex orgies in the back of the limo with people of all genders, all nationalities and all species, behind the black screen so I couldn’t see it. But the noises of walruses climaxing in pleasure would distract me- make me take my eyes off the road. And then we would crash with some unfortunate fatality. And this would happen every single day.
Sounds pretty sweet. Sounds pretty good to me.
But not as good as this band, Sex Orgy Death Crash, sounds to me. This is a band with elements of hardcore, metal and electronica and bash out tunes that are not only unpredictable and original but are also passionate, crazy and fun.
This music is like rocketships of passion, aimed at the moon, that ignites before take-off, exploding pure joy and electricity into your eardrums and soul.
Strap yourself in, let the journey begin:
“Tiger Fighter” starts off, after a yelled four count, with some grunge-y guitars dueling with some burbling, repeated synth line. That’s before the gruff, hardcore vocals barge in setting fire to the song like an overturned kerosene lamp in a farm barn. This song is dark and threatening, exciting and chaotic all at the same time. It makes me think of early electro-punk bands like Tuxedo Moon and The Screamers. The vocals take on a clean, theatrical voice before diving back into the hyperactive bees nest and then switches to a Jello Biafra like voice while the wah-wah guitar shoots sparks of off onto the third rail. This song makes me think I’m hearing a great, original blend of electro-punk and hardcore. I think I’m right.
“Human Roadblock” starts with a low, grooving bass and drums that sound synthesized along with vocals that are melodic and smooth. “All I have left is all I need/ All I have is my TV.” Soon hardcore/death vocals arrive with a synthesizer (or heavily processed guitar) zipping by in the background. As with the first song it’s energetic but not fast. It is ominous, foreboding, intense, exciting and weird as all hell. After a terrific Velvet Underground like drone sequence, we’re back at the start of the song. “I masturbate with the curtains drawn/ Try my best not to make a sound/ Have a beer to cool my hate/ Have a beer for my hot shame.” Another amazingly great, original song.
The next song starts with a modified Bo Didley/ New Orleans rhythm with paranoid background vocals edging in. But soon were into a rockin’ beat with heavily, fuzzed out guitar chords. After this the song, “Unfortunate Father Of Three,” kicks in- “Surprise!”- some low range rockabilly vocals pops in. This song, somehow, sounds like the late Lux Interior of The Cramps sitting in with The Dead Kennedys. But then the last part of the song changes course into a tango with a chorus of voices bellowing over it. Another wonderful, inexplicable song.
“Cuddle Cat” starts with a “Meow” or two and a synth sound building up the intensity. The vocals for this one are more in the theatrical/melodic tone with the guitars fuzzing and the synth buzzing along. The lyrics are written as if a cat wrote it, in keeping with the predictable leanings of this recording. The last part of the song evolves into a jazz waltz outro with cutting time signatures. “You can call me cuddle cat as long as love me.” Alice Cooper’s “Gutter Cat vs. The Jets” is recalled to me in this song and I want to thank them for that. You can call me astonished with this demo, not only in its excellence but in its ability to make all I’ve written about it, appear to be made up, on the spot, by my mind.
I really like this band and I must admit, one of the reasons I like them so much is that they confuse the fuck out of me.
I don’t think me calling them a theatrically, electro-punk band would mean much to anyone. And the only hints they leave on their bandcamp tags are hard rock, punk and hardcore.
But in their likes there are interesting bands like Neurosis and Sleep. So maybe they’re closer to the metal camp, I really don’t know.
What I do know is I became aware of them because they were supposed to play a recent show (that got snowed out) with the innovative Red Mantis, a bill that mixed punk with metal and experimental. (And one I wished took place and I got to see.)
And what I do know, is this is one of the most original sounding recordings I’ve ever reviewed and a damn, good one, too. Full of energy, guts and passion- not afraid to take the listener down a strange corridor where unspeakable things might happen to their ears and their mind. And yes, this is not punk music but it’s spirit is punk derived.
But no sex orgies, dammit! No Nascar racing death crashes either. No punk writers driving around closeted gay politicians whilst innocent walruses are defiled.
Just some of the most exciting, original, fun- new music around.
(Slimedog)
