God bless the Wax Donut label, not only have they graced us with some truly fantastic records over the past year or so (most of which I've reviewed for The Sleeping Shaman, bar one), but they've also helped expose me to a ton of new bands too. One of these was The Kronk Men who featured on both the New Wave Donut (a tribute to the Post-Punk and New Wave of the late 70's/early 80's) and Goat (a tribute to the classic Jesus Lizard album of the same name) compilations.
A trio, from the small unincorporated community of Terrebonne in Oregon (near the city of Bend) they formed way back in 1999. The band who consist of Jake Spece (guitar), Dirk Spece (bass), and Charlie Cook (drums) have had a flurry of activity recently playing the No Coast Festival in 2022, Caterwaul this year, (the latter featuring a host of Noise-Rock bands including legends Oxbow and Brainiac) and they are currently touring with Punk-Metallers CNTS. Catalogue wise the band have only really started putting out releases over the past 6 years, starting with II, I and 3 in 2018, the Cornucopia of Evil EP in 2019 and now a brand, spanking new EP in the shape of A Fool's Errand. I should point out the aforementioned 3 and II are available on CD at Forbidden Place Records. As someone with a fondness for Instrumental music I'm curious as to what the band have put together for this their latest effort and hence why I am particularly excited about covering it. There's only three tracks here, therefore I'm not envisaging a particularly lengthy listening session, so let's crack on shall we?
'A Fool's Errand' is tasty as fuck, awesomely twisted dark Surf with a Punk energy that reminds one of artists such as Orange County Hardcore-Punks Agent Orange, Dick Dale and Guitarists such as the Pixies Joey Santiago and The Dead Kennedys' East Bay Ray who both had a love of said genre and utilized some of those sounds in their playing. There's also a speed, tightness and technicality that puts most so-called virtuosos to shame. An incredible start. Next up we have the shortest track on the EP at a mere one minute twenty four seconds long 'Skin Shifter'. There are some supercool Psych vibes and Noise-Rock flourishes here and I was also reminded of late 80's Post-Hardcore SST outfits as Gone, Painted Willie, Saccharine Trust and Lawndale. As a huge fan of that particular label I cannot tell you how happy this made me. The track overall is something of an interlude and is over before you know it, its purpose I suppose to provide a supporting role to the lengthier bookended numbers either side of it. It works whatever its intention. The longest track on the EP at 3:43 'Pyramids Babylon' is a far less frantic affair and recalls more laid back Desert Rock outfits as Yawning Man, certainly that band's Gary Arce came to mind with some of the Guitarwork that is on offer. This is more than ably backed up by a solid rhythm section that gives the track an overall Stoner Rockish style groove as well as a stylish conclusion to what is a highly enjoyable listening affair.
You'll have surmised by now that I thoroughly enjoyed A Fool's Errand, which despite its relatively short running time is packed full of diversity and freshness rarely heard in the Noise-Rock, Post-Punk, Surf, whatever genres you wish to ascribed to it, scenes. Another stunning release from a highly accomplished band.
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