Another Track from Wax Chattels

Up until now, I felt like I had New Zealand’s Wax Chattels pegged; the band offered a heavy hitting blend of noisy rock, sans guitars. Now, they’ve unleashed this dense new track from their forthcoming LP, and while it surely holds some of the noisier elements, the opening 2 minutes reveals a soft belly that I wasn’t expecting. Amanda Cheng haunts this tune, letting her voice drip all over, even when the band begin punishing your ears with electronic noise and pounding rhythm section. I like a band that can stretch their sound, and I’m always a sucker for a group on Flying Nun/Captured Tracks; their self-titled debut drops May 18th.

New Music from Wax Chattels

New Zealand music in the United States often gets boiled down to the swirling guitar pop we adore, but Wax Chattels aren’t going that route, and in fact, they’re entirely guitar-free. Here we have the band crafting this spastic blast of noisy punk, off-setting rhythms, and rounds of noise alienating more pop-centric listeners. This track has the same punishing quality early DFA 1979 (or whatever they’re called nowadays) had, as if they could destroy anything in their wake just by the sheer madness/volume of their tunes. Perhaps this is wishful thinking, but when the group drop their self-titled LP in May via Captured Tracks.

Wax Chattels Sign with Capture Tracks and Flying Nun

What more do you need to know than that simple post title? You’ve got two great labels in Captured Tracks and Flying Nun, but are Wax Chattels any good? My answer? Absolutely. For starters, there’s a frantic force pushing through your speakers, all accomplished sans guitars; the trio is nothing more than 2 piece drum kit, bass and synths. In a way, its reminiscent of early Death From Above, though this feels way more like its willing to take that sound to the limits. Energetic and noisy, yet wholly consumable by the masses. Look for the New Zealand act to be high on everyone’s list of favorites from here on out.