Hailing from Monte Carlo (Monaco) comes ShitNoise. An area known for its wealth and extravagance some of its residents include/have included Bono of U2, Mohamed Al-Fayed, Aryton Senna and Christiano Ronaldo, so to say you have to have a few quid to live there would be an understatement.
It is curious then that said trio (consisting Aleksejs Macions – Vocals/Guitar, Vova Dictor - guitar, and Paul Albouy on Drums) would emanate from such a grotesquely opulent environment. Somehow I doubt the band gets many invites to play at Prince Albert's residence, as entertaining as that would be to witness. I Cocked My Gun And Shot My Best Friend follows up from 2023's Moments Before Drowning and Good Luck (Welcome to Hell) released earlier this year.
Cruel Nature's promotional notes promise a release that marks a departure from the band's previous Noise-centric approach, well, no-one told the band as opener 'Ho-Ho (No More)' demonstrates. Harsh Japanoise that embraces Merzbow, The Boredoms and Hantarashi but infused with with a Hardcore Punk ethos. Warning, if you are listening to this on headphones you may want to turn the volume down, just a friendly warning. A blistering start. 'Brown Morning' employs a tad more melody, there are discernable Vocals this time as opposed to all out shrieks, with some of the track's feedback and distortion delightfully reminiscent of The Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine at their most extreme. “Gum Opera” starts off with some pretty cool murky Grunge not totally unlike Mudhoney and Aussie Post-Punkers The Scientists before descending into a Free-Jazz Maelstrom. The Grunge influences continue with 'Pleasant Guff' adding in a little Noise-Rock/Post-Hardcore along the way, think Helmet, Unsane and their like, this superb track more than living up to its name. If 'Brown Morning' hinted at melodicism then 'X-Ray Phantom' is knee-deep in it. Washes of Pixies/Nirvana quiet-loud dynamics are abundant resulting in a track that will lodge itself firmly into your brain.
'Endless Void' marks the album's halfway point with a melancholic, dreamy and atmospheric piece to offer one a brief respite before 'Floating' takes us deep into Sonic Youth No-Wave territory accompanied by that band's sense of effortless cool and style. More Nirvana worship is on the way with 'Teenage Survival' which bares a startling similarity to that band's 'Territorial Pissings' but thankfully sans minus Nevermind's over-polished production. Kurt would have been proud. 'Hacked' injects a little Metal into proceedings though fortunately we are spared that genres obsession with puked vocals and inane lyrical subject matter. Think Pre-Roots Max Cavalera era Sepultura mixed in with a smattering of Jesus Lizard discordance, its that good. “Si Tu Touches À Mes Pédales” or If You Touch My Pedals is unfuckable furious Sludgy Noise/Hardcore Punk which alone should act as a massive incentive for you to check out the album, while the longest track at over seven minutes, “Hashish (The Yelling Song)' is a wonderfully mesmerising epic blend of Psychedelic Space-Rock, Krautrock and Ambient Noise in the vein of Mancunians Gnod. Finally 'The Ballroom Brawl' concludes the album on a Bluesy Garage Acid-Rock damaged vein reminiscent of the late, great Roky Erickson. André Caspard once more brings his Sax to the party though far less chaotic sounding this time round. An impressive finish to an equally impressive album.
With this album ShitNoise have demonstrated that there's much more to Monte Carlo than a bunch of pampered millionaires. There's kids out there willing to fuck with and defy societal conventions and norms and that's more than fine by me.
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