Smarmymob is one twisted collection of new wave from bizarro land. With the pure sonic aggression of
Lightning Bolt, Death From Above, and
Melt Banana and the dentist chair grindcore of
the Locust and
Holy Molar,
Neon Hunk -- a drum and keyboards duo -- flashes through 17 largely instrumental tracks of drilling, piercing, and groaning dance music for insects. From the evil scrapes of "Nugglies" to the
Black Dice-esque chirps on "Goob Tooblies," this album, the follow-up to the band's self-released CD-R, Secrets of the Hunk, establishes a new breed of punk rock that jumps off from the comparatively accessible abrasion of groups like
Erase Errata. Songs like the wailing repetitious "Hunkamaniac" and the buggy scream-along "Uncle David" could hardly be called catchy, but they do possess a skronky clamor that sticks with you.
Smarmymob is likely to come off as unapproachable, even painful, to many listeners, but to those familiar with noise music,
Neon Hunk is the Casio punk entry into the new no wave. ~ Charles Spano