It's sort of remarkable how much the music of Taciturn doesn't sound like that of earlier D.C. bands. Like recent groups such as Priests, Puff Pieces, and Flasher, Taciturn are interested in considerably expanding the sort of sonic palette one finds in use here in the nation's capital. Their newest album, Punk Death, is full of introspective, proto-garage rock workouts and noise-freak ruminations. Heavier than anything saddled with a shoegaze tag, these cuts here are invigorating and full of the sort of surprising force one sometimes finds from one of the newer groups from this younger generation of D.C.-based musicians.
"So Stupid" pummels, even as the textures morph, however briefly, into something like an old Loop side, while "Come, Entertain US" is even better, with the vocals from singer and guitarist Nyle Hamidi and bassist Natasha Janfaza colliding over the sort of riffs Sonic Youth would have embraced circa 1986. "Doesn't Matter" churns, taking things further back, to the kind of riff-making one found on Stooges records, and on records from bands who wanted to be The Stooges. Forceful, concise, and deadly, this cut, along with the simple "In My Head", really impresses. These tunes punch far above their weight -- thank drummer Kevin Ralph for some help there -- such that fans of The Jesus Lizard and Swervedriver might find some common ground here in these bludgeoning hooks. And while Taciturn are intent on stirring up chaos, there's stuff here on Punk Death with more nuance. "Interlude" is downright beautiful, equal parts "No More Sorry" by My Bloody Valentine and snippets of some old Crime and The City Solution number, even as closer "Take It" dips again into the well that fueled so many excellent jams by Moore/Gordon and Renaldo years ago. Punk Death surprised me with its force. These young musicians are assured in their command of the sort of music that sounds like a soundtrack to a ride into the void. Excellent stuff here, folks.
Punk Death is out now via the link below.
More details on Taciturn via the band's Facebook page.
[Photo: Taciturn Facebook page]