More about: Scalping

Anyone who has been lucky enough to see SCALPING live over the last few years may have an idea of what to expect from their debut album Void. A sensory assault from start to finish, at their live shows the quartet batter the audience into submission with their thrilling, unique techno-rock.

Yet while it’s true to surmise that the album represents them well, it also demonstrates that there is much more to the Bristolians than meets the ear. The harsh aesthetics remain on the likes of gnarly, ear-splintering ‘Caller Unknown’, a piece of science-fiction heavy metal and the second track (following the disconcerting, tense opener ‘Blood Club’ which hints at what is to come via Isaac Jones cacophonic drums). Yet from there on, things take an interesting turn. The crunching, scything ‘Flashforward’ rattles woozily while the distant guitars on ‘Desire’ chime in the background, as if waiting for their moment to strike but threatening rather than delivering. 

Parallels to The Prodigy are obvious yet valid, but on ‘Cloak & Dagger’ the group mix that influence with Faithless, melding striking single-note synths with filthy guitar. Impressively, the album was compiled with its creators working separately before combining their efforts, but it doesn’t show, such is their alchemy. The sound of controlled madness during the witching hour.

Void arrives 29 April via Houndstooth.

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More about: Scalping