Imagine the spawn of Ziggy Stardust having mated with Sonic Youth prowling the streets, looking for an ear canal to excite with its aural molecules. Unhinged melodies and ramshackle imagination are ciphered through chunk-crisp guitars and dirty feedback.

12 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Post-Rock/Experimental, POP: Quirky

Details:
Thunderbeast is Skamperâs new release, slouching toward Bethlehem to be born on a bed of sonic chunk and melodic noise. The band was born in 2001, with head maestro, founding member and songwriter Lawrence Lewis as the vortex that draws everything near its center â members and ingredients changing as the stew continues to take on strange new flavors. The one constant, musician and artist Devon Paulson is the perfect musical compliment to Lewisâ idiosyncratic imagination, and Thunderbeast does not fail to deliver a punch of sonic substance and intrigue.

You could describe their sound as glitter-punk-cronk-choas but handles donât really do it justice. Lawrence has been cooking up these fascinating brews for the last few years in a Silverlake closet, and Phillip Haut (The Centimeters, Listing Ship, Veronica Lipgloss and the Evil Eyes) did the recording honors. But the albumsâ mixes were scrapped just before mastering, and Jason Gossman (The Thrills, The Rumble Strips, Sondre Lechre, Flogging Molly) stepped in to lend a new set of ears and a masterful remix.

Some songs feel like beds of keenly constructed noise and feedback, cradles for melodies that sit tightly while they ride the waves. Others feel more like primal noise jelly and will drive you to jump up and rock your spasmodic body into blissful seizures. Internet and indie airwaves, get ready. Those of you hungry for a new aural ear-bang, be ready. This is one beast youâll definitely want to meet on a dark street.

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