Negative Bones – ‘Anandamide’ – Progressive Discordance

Negative Bones – Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

‘Negative Bones is a magic swamp where amps outnumber people…’

– He saw that…

It’s great when bands challenge what has been established. Whether it’s through a full throttle change-up, or simply via the subtle changes that often becomes the quality that ultimately sets them apart. That was a bit wishy-washy wasn’t it? Down to business.

I was contacted in December 2014 about a forthcoming project and release from a two-piece from Baltimore, MD, with nothing but a live recording to go on (Click Here). It’s now August 2015 and an eight track album has surfaced. And believe me, this is an album that sounds far bigger than just two men throwing some instruments around in a genre-crossing, distorted maelstrom of sound.

Bands that came to mind for that whole “For fans of…” chit-chat came to me very quickly for this one. I mean, those into Punk in general will appreciate –  if not down right enjoy – this band, but it’s all so much deeper than that.

Fast, gritty and distorted genre crossing noise that brought my ears back to the Progressive Punk and Post-Hardcore of the likes of Fugazi, Rites Of Spring, Big Black, And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of The Dead, Refused and, newest to the scene, Danish discordant Punks, Iceage.

‘Junkie Wedding’ is the albums opener. It captures 80’s Hardcore in instrumentals, albeit with a proggy-Punk twist, and features vocals reminiscent of the faster Fugazi tracks. The whole track is just dirty-upbeat-punk-noise.

It’s worth noting that the distortion of this band sometimes leans past the “As it fucking should be” Punk distortion levels, and onto a mild Industrial line for more dirty noise.

‘Cat’s Meow’ pits beautifully chaotic Punk rage in a to-the-death brawl, with 80’s/90’s Post-Hardcore giving as good as it gets. And to quote Forrest Gump, ‘…and that’s all I have to say about that.’

‘Bissu’ starts as if it’s about to go into Prog-Metal, but that soon relents and a Black Flag-esque riff and rhythm holds its head well high before the manic and strained (in a good way) vocals battle the music yet again for supremacy.  Next, ‘Window Kid’ is a far longer track, more upbeat and playful in its own way. Personally, I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much, but I wouldn’t kick it out of bed… Perhaps a second date needs to be arranged?

‘Lubbock’ is just as discordant and chaotic with its Punk, despite its playful nature and slower tempo. It’s almost cheeky if I’m honest, a side to early Post-Hardcore that these two non-gents capture so well.

Regarding, ‘We Begged For Peace But You Sent Missiles’, I’ll leave you this:

‘Show some restraint, you know I can’t. I’ll tell the city when I’m done. You’ve given up, I can’t relate and you can tell your friends how I never even tried’

‘I Don’t Think You Believe In The Punk’ as a title seems like it was said to the band by some elitist twat perhaps? Anyway, the riffage is pummelling in a The Shape Of Punk To Come, Refused-style manner and clocks in at 2:19 in its instrumental glory.

The title track ‘Anandamide’ basically blast’s it’s way in dirty-durge after this something of an intro that I would expect via Post-Rock or Post-Metal. That’s one way to do it Negative Bones. I’ll give you that.

‘Punk for Punks that hate Punk by Punks who used to co-star Punk’d (syke)’

Like your Punk and general heavy music on the progressive side? Well follow all the direct links below and grab some tasty FREE music:

• Find the band via their Facebook: Here.
• Download the debut release via their bandcamp: Here. Where it’s up for the ‘FREE/Name Your Price’ thang.

#StayFresh