Bear Makes Ninja released their second EP, the critically acclaimed ‘Shouting at Bridges‘, in 2012. From that point on, there was much talk of a full length release but nothing seemed to be happening very quickly on the recording front. Not that the band had been lazy; the next couple of years were taken up with numerous live performances and time spent sharpening the Leicestershire trio’s musical craft. Their long-rumoured full length finally appeared during the first quarter of 2016 and, for those already familiar with the off-kilter BMN style, does almost exactly as expected. There are times where an increase in production budget makes things seem a little more polished than before, but their angular math rock tunes and deliberately obtuse lyrics are still a far cry from easily digestible radio fodder. This, of course, is a good thing.
Tag Archives: math rock
THE FIERCE AND THE DEAD – Magnet EP
Post-rock quartet The Fierce And The Dead first captured the attention of listeners the artier end of the rock spectrum with their 2011 full length ‘If It Carries On Like This We Are Moving To Morecambe’. While the intricacy of the album’s music inevitably found the band gaining the “prog” tag, the instrumental wig-outs pulled far more from various alternative rock sources, with elements of noise rock, often making their love of Hüsker Dü/Minutemen et al fairly obvious. The following album, 2013’s ‘Spooky Action’ was potentially even more bonkers, showcasing four very talented musicians working their frenzied guts across a variety of angular rock sounds, with most of the material sharpened by brevity. With no filler, ‘Spooky Action’ is potentially TFATD’s masterwork; in addition to the world of looped guitars and mind bending, gleeful complexities, Kevin Feazey’s bass sound – particularly on ‘I Like It, I’m Into It’ – comes across with a genuine force. It is a record that anyone interested in quirky and thoughtful musicianship should lend an ear.
THE DECOY – Parasites EP
This EP from Welsh trio The Decoy is chaotic. It’s also quite brilliant. Restless from the outset, this band bring metallic edginess, new wavish quirks, post-hardcore sounds, alongside a dose of noise rock, touches of light reggae and jangly guitar rock together in a way that should appeal to the more open minded prog fan, or the math rock devotee. What they lack in obvious hooks they more than make up for with sheer balls. The results are not going to be for everyone, but we should assume that’s exactly how The Decoy like it.
DIALECTS – LTKLTL EP
Taking the jazzy mathrock complexities of Wot Gorilla? and fusing their complexities with a barrage of post-rock noise worthy of MaybeSheWill, on their debut EP, Glasgow’s Dialects instantly prove themselves to be fantastic players, ready to make an impact on the alternative scene with a real love of (largely) instrumental mathrock and post-rock sounds.
Dance Gavin Dance: US tour dates
Metalcore/post-hardcore band Dance Gavin Dance have a run of US live dates upcoming in support of their soon to be released LP ‘Instant Gratification’. All confirmed dates are listed below.