Kal Marks / Thank

About

There’s this impression out there, in the ether, that noise rock isn’t fun. Sure I get it. On the surface, the genre can feel a little alienating, and sure, for at least a generation that has been quite obviously the MO. But scratch the surface of even some of the genre's staunchest originators - The Jesus Lizard, or Shellac for example - and the humour is very much there. You shouldn’t be surprised then, when I tell you, that this line-up - which features two of the most exciting bands in the genre - is not just furious and loud, but yeah, it’s fun. Really fun. And really uplifting too, especially if you're out there looking for catharsis (and right now, who isn’t?).

Boston’s Kal Marks have always underpinned their alienation with a hopeful, humorous optimism but with their most recent record, Wasteland Baby, they’ve tethered it to a relentless, danceable backbeat that infuses the almost-concept album with an energy that slices through the late-millennial malaise. The result is irresistible, you gotta check it out. This is a super rare London date for them - and who knows if and when they’ll make it back - so make sure you’re in the room, because they’re ya know, gonna blow the roof off it (etc etc).

There is no band, anywhere, quite like Thank. The Leeds quartet combine hardware techno squelch, jungle-inspired drumming, synth-pop bombast and anarcho-punk spartan aggression, acid-fried and internet-poisoned with a shit-eating grin on its face. Few bands wrestle with the alienation and dread of modern Britain the way Thank do, and for sure, none of them manage to dance maniacally with it while the whole damn thing sinks into the sea.

So join us, laughing lovingly and manically into the void. You won’t regret it. Click click.