Reviews

Kanak Attack

Drivel A Gracious Favor From Our Creator cassette

Samples! This is enough to get a powerviolence enthusiast excited! Powerviolence and samples go together like peanut butter and jelly. They are used to set an atmosphere and “say” what can’t be said in the songs. This helps to paint a visual picture, in this case, of decadence. DRIVEL is a raw powerviolence project that follows the guidebook written by NO COMMENT, adding a bit of the MAN IS THE BASTARD weirdness, with characteristic super slow and super fast dynamics. It is not overproduced, which is something that is great for old school powerviolence enjoyers, as modern bands tend to homogenize productions so it all sounds the same.

Drivel Drivel cassette

DRIVEL, hailing from Washington, DC, describes themselves as “noisy rock shit.” That’s certainly one way to describe it! It’s going for a blasting powerviolence thing, and they certainly do it well. I wouldn’t necessarily say that it’s anything to write home about, but it’s an enjoyable listen for anyone into the more blasty side of punk music.

Qiik Qiik demo cassette

Fast, pummeling hardcore punk from Honolulu, Hawaii. A demo living up to how I imagine their band name is pronounced, cramming all eight songs into a mere three minutes and twelve seconds, with the longest track on the demo clocking in at a whopping forty seconds. QIIK stomps through song after song, barely giving you enough time to comprehend what just transpired before clicking immediately into the next track. The physical cassette is somewhat hard to follow along with, as the tracks are recorded on a loop with each side not necessarily starting with the first track. Nobody is manning the rolley-coaster, so buckle in, turn it on, and enjoy the ride complete with bonus laps.

Qiik Qiik II cassette

Second demo by Honolulu punks QIIK. And quick they are! Short bursts of intensity, with each song dripping with anger and frustration, propelled by snotty, in-your-face vocals. There’s a sense of urgency in every second, making it clear that QIIK isn’t here to make friends. Fast-paced, no-frills punk in the tradition of the USHC originators that doesn’t pull any punches, this new demo hits the mark perfectly.