As a band, KOYO have always been purveyors of interesting rock music, but trying to pin an easy identity on their sound is a thankless task. On their 2017 debut, they jumped between styles, somewhat gleefully, with the semi-psychedelic ‘Lost In The Kingdom’ playing like a lost Jane’s Addiction track overlaid by bleeping new wave keys, ‘Now I Understand’ sounding a bit like a Charlatans deep cut, and ‘Tetrachromat, Pts. 1 & 2’ dipping its toes into a world of contemporary sounding prog, where a complex arrangement was joined by Hawkwind-esque sax work, creating a trippy feel, augmented by a melodic metal undertone. Their 2020 release (‘You Said It’) saw them experimenting with shorter songs and a punchier sound, but for those willing to invest the time, the best songs still conveyed a sense of adventure, with the title cut blending modern indie sounds and a pinch of post rock crunch. Better yet, the album standout ‘Obelisk’ worked a huge art rock sound, where jerky rhythms collided with huge metallic riffs and trippier passages reminded listeners that the band who’d shared ‘Lost In The Kingdom’ just a few years earlier were still there…somewhere.
Listen: Tulipomania unveil new track ‘I’ve Been Told – Absolution’
Tulipomania have always been a musical act who are keen on crossing genres and pushing boundaries, but with their ‘Dreaming of Sleep’ album (released in the dying weeks of 2023), the art rock duo took a big leap into the unknown. By dispensing with all guitars, the album’s material took an even darker and rather fierce turn, blending post punk, darkwave and goth influences to unleash a very arty collection of songs. It was the kind of record that wouldn’t appeal to a wide audience, and even some of their actual fans would be expected to work a little harder to reap the rewards, but it was never less than interesting.
THE REAL GONE SINGLES BAR #76
Welcome back to the Real Gone Singles Bar, the place where we explore some of the individual tracks that have landed in our inbox over the previous few weeks. This time around, in places, things are slightly rockier than usual, but we feel the selection will still present a pleasing variety of artists and styles. There’s a great new number from a hard working British act, a couple of singer songwriters sharing strong hooks, and you’ll also find the return of some familiar faces… It’s time to open your ears and dive in – as always, if you find something new to enjoy, our work here is done!
*
SLOWER – Rage And Ruin
Formed as a vehicle for playing Slayer classics at a doom metal tempo, Slower had the potential to be the greatest “novelty” band ever. They were smart, though: once you’d got past the amusement of hearing some of your favourite speed-oriented metal bangers played as funereal dirges, their debut album held up on its own merits. Fu Manchu man Bob Balch and members of Kylesa, Monolord and Year of The Cobra each bought their own unique talents to the project, and each of the tracks played out like the ultimate in classic doom and sludge fare. The result certainly wasn’t what Tom Araya had envisaged, but it was fantastic to hear a new twist on the classics.
Watch: Ecce Shnak return with blistering new track ‘Jeremy, Utilitarian Sadboy’
There are plenty of bands out there who claim to break down musical barriers. Quite often, this turns out to be little more than posturing, but sometimes one will come along and share something that transcends genre. You’ll hear various influences scattered throughout this current single from Ecce Shnak, not least of all from the mighty Mr. Bungle, but this truly experimental band combines sounds and influences in a way that feels genuinely inspired.