Crank this to 9.6 of 11 - Editors' Pick
Released: 2020
Genre: Punk, Math Rock
Sounds Like: These Arms Are Snakes, Pissed Jeans, Barkmarket
Greece noise rock quartet Mammock deliver one hell of a debut album with Itch. Containing elements of modern noise rock with 90s math and punk, Mammock has delivered one of most unique releases to hit our rotation so far in 2020. With influences stemming from bands like Barkmarket and These Arms Are Snakes, Itch travels through peaks and valleys of heavy punk and math rock with a bit of choas to throw us for a loop. Vocalist Andreas K. fits this mathy vibe perfectly as his tone drifts between a raw semi-spoken word style and punk. Think of what David Yow brings to The Jesus Lizard or David Sardy to Barkmarket, just when you think they’re about to sit on a rhythm, they take a quick left turn and throw us for a loop.
Albums like Itch are far and few in between as its a very difficult to pull off this style of rock. It’s a refreshing album that has total command of our rotation for the foreseeable future.
Tracklist:
1. Caterpillar 03:06
2. Theme For Pets 04:56
3. Shark Attack 03:27
4. Dirty Shoes 02:53
5. Inconstant State, Hot Summer 06:29
6. This Letter 09:47
Standout Track(s)
”Theme For Pets” is a brilliant tune that showcases everything Mammock has to offer. It has a dark vibe with tremendous Jesus Lizard start-stop action. Each instrument is fucking played to perfection as you will hone in on something new with each listen.
Adult Beverage Pairing
Assassin by Iowa’s Toppling Goliath Brewing Company. This strong 12% ABV Imperial Stout has a slight liquor/vanilla flavor with a full body. A nice companion with Mammock.
ROTATION RECAP:
Vocal Performance
9.7 out of 11
Risk of Subwoofer Damage
9.1 out of 11
Captivation and Variety
9.6 out of 11
Weight of the Heavy
9.3 out of 11
Lyrics and Song Structure
9.4 out of 11
Overall Album Flow
9.5 of 11
Originality
9.4 out of 11
Album Cover Aesthetics
8.5 out of 11
Production Value
9.6 out of 11
Final Thoughts
Itch is an album that is directed toward a targeted audience who frequent the chaotic nature of math and punk. For now it’s a Name Your Price on Bandcamp, so it’s a win-win if your in the exploring mood for something offbeat and heavy.
Line-up:
Giannis A.: Guitar
Klearhos G.: Bass
Vangelis D.: Drums
Andreas K.: Vocals