Sometimes, artists need to shake things up to find a new source of inspiration. Oliver Ackermann, the frontman of this Brooklyn-based band, is not afraid of a little revamping to ensure true cohesion within the group. With the couple John Fedowitz (bass) and Sandra Fedowitz (drums), he’s put his faith in a duo with proven automation (and they didn’t wait to make a name for themselves with A Place To Bury Strangers either, they’re well-known within the independent music scene under the name Ceremony East Coast). After an already promising EP, the singer-guitarist’s decision to release an LP is a great one. If fuzz bass and various noisy, experimental and distorted sounds are the order of the day, then the trio’s post punk style dotted with electro accents really fits the bill. Plus, they’ve avoided falling into the trap of writing predictably simple, catchy songs. They perfectly maintain this delicate balance, even including elements from the shoegaze and garage genres (I don’t know How you do it) and flirting with industrial sounds (I’m Hurt). Naturally, any good APTBS album worth its salt has got to have destructive guitars with a raw, dirty sound. Songs like Anyone but you and so Low are a perfect testament to the band’s aversion to sugar coating its message. It’s loud and arty all at once. It’s the perfect cocktail, and one that masterfully shows us a new side to the band, whilst still giving us their signature sound. © Chief Brody/Qobuz