Buzz on December 3rd, 2012

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The softening power of time can age the offensive into something agreeable and, after several decades, much of punk rock has more or less lost its bite – note the number of West Coast bands now working in forms of lo-fi, surf or stoner rock. Ostensibly aiming for something more aggressive, San Diego based “glitch-punk-rock-dubstep” duo (and identical twin brothers) Jack & The Ripper have regressed  the sound of modern punk back to a dark, uncomfortable, jarring place, and the result is as perplexingly beautiful as it is vicious. The injection of glitch and dub isn’t subtle, with heavy use of drum and bass elements and a constant wobble, if you’re not already a devout dub fan searching for the punk-inspired nuances will quickly grow tiresome. When Jack & The Ripper turn from shredding guitars to unraveling dub synths, it quickly becomes apparent that their true talent lies in seamlessly interlocking the two, rather than formulaically placing them next to each other. One of four new tracks off their upcoming album, “Dancing Mutant Man Child” abruptly and unpredictably transitions from guitar driven to dub with uncommon ease. Vocals remain especially prominent throughout, and always with a perfect glitch. Expect an album in early 2013.

||| Stream: “Dancing Man Mutant Child” and “Rainbow Shot Himself”