Holy shit this is good. This is stop-the-presses good. I recognize all these instruments, and I know how they typically sound, but it’s not usually like this:

That’s THE NONE, a fierce, blistering, brand new band from London. Their debut EP, MATTER, was just released today, and it’s incredible. Per this Bandcamp article, the members have played with lots of edgy acts over the years, but this is something completely different:

Between them they’ve played in Bloc Party, Blue Ruth, Cassels, Youth Man, and Frauds. Based on that, you might think you have an inkling as to what they sound like. You’d be wrong. Without intending a slight on any of those earlier projects, The None are far greater than the sum of their parts.

I only know some of those bands, but that live recording up there is nothing short of vicious. I can only imagine how hard that goes in front of a crowd. Vocalist Kaila Whyte (who has done some really interesting stuff with Blue Ruth) looks like they’re about to destroy something by the end of the track. The last band that hit me that hard out of the gate was Rage Against the Machine, and that was a decades ago.

An article in Noizze from a couple days ago talks about the origin of the band’s name and the ego-free approach to the music:

It is quickly apparent how every member in the [Zoom] room is comfortable, can speak their mind and yet not step on anyone’s toes whether in conversation or musically. ‘It is a product of how we all work’ says Gordon [Moakes, bassist]. ‘It’s just been so easy’ Chris [Francombe, drummer] reiterates whilst sipping a beer on the call in the Montenegro sunset. Rarely seen is a new band starting their lifespan so calmly and at ease.

It comes through in that video. The frantic pace and urgent vocals are almost incongruent with the polish and professionalism that each band member shows. Hell, it looks like Moakes is mentally organizing his to-do list after the recording session.

There’s another video, for “Cheap Cloth Soon Frays”. The song starts as a harsh, brutal punk assault before settling into a hypnotic groove, and eventually boiling over in a screamy, hardcore-infused crescendo and burning out. It’s a gripping performance by Whyte:

There are two other tracks on the EP, and it’s only available on Bandcamp (Bandcamp Friday is next week, it’s already in my cart). They’re touring now, with a few spots at festivals in the next few weeks, then with Canadians Metz in November.

I’ll be watching for performance footage. If it’s anything at all like the videos above, THE NONE will be a can’t miss live show.

via

---