by Ken Geiger
I need to admit that underground music I hear today lacks a certain element of organic danger. Sure, you have plenty of your GG Allin knock-offs harming themselves onstage every night. Then, there's the macho hardcore culture that always promotes that everyone moshes until they drop dead. But that's not what I mean when I think of organic danger. Those tropes have reached the point of boring predictability. Where are the new bands that make you think, "Holy shit! This has attitude" when you listen to them? Where are the songs that make you want to unleash that pent up anger that you've bottled up for the duration of your work week in the most animalistic way possible? I find myself going to or playing shows far too often in hopes of finding something like that, only to be met with disappointment. But, thankfully, Mr. CoolDad Jim himself dropped off the new Fake Limbs album to me this week, as if he knew this was what I needed to hear.
Matronly kicks off with an absolutely savage opener in "Murderbar." The quirky guitar riffs, pounding drum beats, and vocals that resemble something along the lines of a drunken ramble make me immediately think of bands like The Jesus Lizard and Halo Of Flies, who reveled in that type of sound over 20 years ago. But do not take that as a sign of second-rate imitation on Fake Limbs' part. The heaviness and jarring dissonance they add to these songs make for a sound that is unique to them.
If I had to mention a highlight on this album, it would probably be the track "ICE 2 C U." The guitar work here manages to combine some absolute moments of noisy chaos with some cool high-end melodies thrown into the mix, particularly at the song's climax. I love the use of the galloping drum beats on this track, as that is a personal preference of mine in more rock / punk styles of music. But I have to say that the vocals layered with reverb and distortion in the middle of the song were probably what sold this track to me as a favorite that I would point out to first-time listeners of the band. I just think they add to that aspect of insanity Fake Limbs possess, and they fit the mood of that particular song very well.
For anyone who does feel as hopeless as I do at times in search of weird, yet rocking music in the underground, then look no further. Fake Limbs are your solution.
Matronly is out now on Don Giovanni Records.
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