“Getting in a room and being really noisy is just a natural response to what’s going on right now, because otherwise you’ll just go crazy. That gave Live Skull a reason to exist again.” – Mark C
Artist: Live Skull
Title: Party Zero
Formats: CD/LP/digital
Label: Bronson Records
Genre: No Wave, Experimental, Noise Rock, Alternative Rock
Stream and buy here: https://liveskull.bandcamp.com/album/party-zero
Review by Dawoud Kringle
In the novel The Taqwacores by Michael Muhammad Knight (a story about young Muslims who embraced punk subcultures while adhering to Islamic values), the protagonist made an interesting point when he said that “every punk is a legend.” There is truth to this. Anyone who chooses to walk their own parth, seek their own destiny, speak with their own voice, and spit in the face of an orthodoxy of conformist mediocrity is a legend.
In this sense, Live Skull are legends.
Alongside bands such as Sonic Youth, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Swans, Live Skull defined the term (and the movement) called noise rock in the 1980s, and spearheaded the post-No Wave underground music scene in NYC.
Party Zero is the latest in the band’s extensive discography. The present lineup is Rich Hutchins (drums), Dave Hollinghurst (guitar), Kent Heine (bass), Mark C (guitar – and MFM member. Check out his recent interview on the MFM Speaks Out podcast. You’ll also want to check him out on SoSaLa’s new album 1993. His work is extraordinary)
The album starts with “Magic Consciousness.” The opening track presents a very punk song structure. The overall feel is that of that defiance and declaration of one’s beliefs and purpose delivered in a vibe / attitude only 80s era NYC could have produced.
“Mad Kingship” begins with the drums relentlessly propelling a spooky guitar (and synthesizer?) dissonance that morphs into an equally spooky melody. This provides the perfect framework for the lyrics denouncing the lies we are constantly bombarded with.
The in-your-face defiance does not let up. “Neutralize the Outliers” brings us back to the post-punk song structure as the vocals snarl and rant about individualism.
The title track “Party Zero” harkens to the golden age of the 80s, but it has some truly subtle surprises. It’s catchy, energetic, and aggressive. No way you’re not dancing to this one! And its unexpected chord changes and sly vocal phrasing create a musical ride through some very interesting territories.
The entire album adheres to its No-Wave roots while providing some marvelous surprises. But Live Skull is not an old band harkening back with fondness for its glory days. And they sure as hell have not mellowed with age. They are musicians who are driven by a restless need to explore musical possibilities and express philosophical and social ideas that few have the courage to do. They masterfully produced an underground music that is just as innovative, provocative, and culturally relevant to the 21st century as it was 40 years ago.
