Review: Venus Twins ‘/\/\/\/\/’ EP
Denton, Texas has a history of producing pretty killer punk rock, what with the likes of The Marked Men, The Riverboat Gamblers and the criminally overlooked Wiccans (any true hardcore aficionado should have a copy of Sailing A Crazy Ship in their collection). Now it’s the turn of Venus Twins who were formed in 2018 by twin brothers Jake (drums) and Matt Derting (bass/vocals) and who later relocated to New York City. About starting a band together, the brothers state that ‘Being twins is definitely an unusual life experience; it seems the only way Venus Twins works is that the only two people in the band have this specific connection to one another.’
The /\/\/\/\/ or Stitching EP is the band’s latest following 2019’s debut release Kickass, 2020’s Eat Your Dogs, 2022’s RAXIS and the Flaming Skull On TV single with 360 Quickscopes. The title of the recent EP references bassist/vocalist Matt‘s love of sewing and making clothes as well as the fact he was practising a lot throughout its recording. Stitching marks the duo’s first release on Justin Pearson‘s Three One G label, who have been putting out some truly stunning works of late by the likes of Stress Positions, Venamoris and Nonexistent Night. Pearson is clearly a man with a good ear for up-and-coming talent and is what makes this such an exciting listening prospect.
Prelude alternates between random clattering sounds, creepy ambient atmospherics and deranged noise-punk of the type that the likes of Hella and Melt-Banana pioneered. I’d certainly advise listeners to keep the volume at a reasonable level if they’re listening on earphones/headphones as the music could kickstart any latent tinnitus lying dormant within. Uncompromising, bizarre and experimental, I freakin’ love it.
I Just Can’t Get Enough shouldn’t be confused with Depeche Mode’s lightweight synth-pop classic of the same name as fans of that band will be bitterly disappointed. Instead, it’s a blistering whirlwind of bonkers Locust influence hardcore punk as well as tips of the hat to traditional noise-rock fare of The Jesus Lizard, especially with some of the slower tense passages and Duane Denison guitar effects.
Uncompromising, bizarre and experimental, I freakin’ love it…
God Help Me Bury This Fucking Light displays quite a progressive influence, with a rampant unpredictability that makes the track so intoxicating and intriguing. It sees Lighting Bolt and their ilk sound, by comparison, like trendy art-school hipsters, put it this way, if Dazzling Killmen and Squid Pisser are your idea of a fun time, you’ll be in hog heaven here with this absolutely sublime piece of work.
Stitching is a big indicator of what I find so enjoyable about this release, there’s a free jazz ethos present reminiscent of Ornette Coleman, Kaoru Abe and John Zorn; in fact, regarding the latter, it’s like a punkier Naked City and/or Painkiller. Finally, once more referencing free jazz, It Can’t End Like This again employs that genre with the feedback sonically resembling saxophone squeals. There’s also a Japanoise influence too which is what makes the track seemingly so thrilling and brilliantly unhinged. The drawn-out quieter passages are especially similar to what can be heard on albums like Boredoms creative masterpiece Vision Creation Newsun and help to forge a superb conclusion.
At a mere thirteen or so minutes, this isn’t a band that hangs about, simply put, the EP rips through so quickly that it requires quite a few listens to pick up on all the musical nuances which lurk beneath the layers of hardcore noise. A fun record and one which should be checked out as soon as possible.
Label: Three One G
Band Links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Scribed by: Reza Mills
