Death by Audio? Total Sonic Annihilation? Sounds altogether frightening along with the band name; A Place To Bury Strangers. Fear not though. Just prepare your eardrums as this band takes the stage for a headlining show at the Whole Music Club at the University of Minnesotas' Coffman Memorial Union on October 15th.
The trio hails from New York City. The line up consists of frontman and guitarist, Oliver Ackermann, Jay Space on drums, and newcomer Dion Lunadon on bass.
This band is unlike any other band that you will hear these days. Apart from the volume and vision-distorting reverberation that they acquire with the help of effects that are hand built by Ackermann, the overall sound is dark, sensual, angry, lustful, and spiteful all at once. It's a sonic version of a bad break-up with a lover; you don't want to believe it as you try desperately to hang on to the good and beautiful, but the feelings start to volley between love one minute, anger the next, the sadness and anxiety of a loss, and finally the exuberance of picking yourself back up. Ackermanns' vocals are distant and haunting behind the intensity of his guitar, Jay Space has the drumming speed and precision like that of a drum machine, and Lunadons' bass is bone-rattling.
In a recent interview with Oliver, I questioned him as to what prompted him to start building his own effects pedals. He stated that he has "always been an effects junkie" and that he was "looking to get sounds that no one else had". Well, then there was the issue of needing more funds. So, he took a do-it-yourself approach, and created his first for-sale pedal, Total Sonic Annihilation. Now, his company/venue/living space/ work space, aptly entitled Death by Audio, has grown to be patronized by such acts as My Bloody Valentine, TV on the Radio, and Nine Inch Nails.
Lyrically, Ackermann sounds heartbroken, lovestruck, and pissed-off all at once; Again, I questioned him as to whether he is in a constantly heartbroken state, "Those are some of the most common and easiest feelings to write about", he laughs. Ah, yes. A good old fashioned heartbreak does make excellent fodder for creativity.
With the technology available these days, it's easy for just about anyone to get their music out to the public. The result? A barrage of music coming at everyone extremely fast, and not all of it so great. So, what other bands are they enjoying these days? "Well, Skeleton Party. They're really good. And another band called Reading Rainbow. You should check them out as well" replies Ackermann.
Opening acts for the October 15th show include two locally based bands: To Kill A Petty Bourgeoisie, and Artifact Shore. So, what to expect from the headlining act that night? Tracks from their most recent sophomore album 'Exploding Head", and even a few tracks from their 2007 self-titled debut.
So, cancel your current plans for the 15th, and make your way down to The Whole to experience the wall of sound that is A Place To Bury Strangers. Did I mention the assault on the eardrums? Listener be warned...
Please check out their latest video below from "Exploding Head"
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