So what in the hell are the Test Icicles? We giggled like junior high kids at their band name. They confused (and entertained) us during their CMJ performances, as well as at their NYC set at Cake Shop late last year. They have been described as electro-emo, danceable-punk-metal, industrial-post-hardcore, the list goes on and on. Lets look at the facts, shall we? The group is a UK trio consisting of Rory Aggwelt, Sam Merrann and Devonte Hynez. Their debut full-length album, For Screening Purposes Only, is hitting the states in the US through none other than Domino. From what I have witnessed live, as well as on their album, is that these are three talented, pissed off young lads with a broader range of influences than one might expect. Sure, you can easily hear their dance-punk roots from the opening seconds of “Your Biggest Mistake”. Some of the electro-noise these guys make would make Alec Empire quite impressed, drawing from the finer moments of the good ol’ Digital Hardcore days. More than just programmed chaotic beats, Test Icicles do sneak in some mighty tasty hooks, such as on “Circle Square Triangle”, which perfectly melds melody and mayhem together in one damn good track. Vocally, frontman Sam Merrann’s throat-shredding vocals, such as on “Catch It!”, make you reach for a Sucrets. The trio’s screams are like the Blood Brothers after chewing on broken glass and chasing it with Liquid Plumber, Yeah, these Brits can scream their asses off. The unpredictability of their live show translates well into the album, as they easily shift from the pop-ish rock goodness of “Snowball” to the Muse-flavored “What’s Your Damage?” in the blink of an eye. Oh yeah, and there is plenty of dance-punk insanity, such as on “Dancing On Pegs”. They’re loud, their name refers to balls, they have some damn impressive musical chops and they don’t give a fuck what we think about their music. They do whatever they want, which… at least on this album…. worked in their favor. So grab a copy of this album, turn it up, and hold on to your icicles!
- Test Icicles Explain For Screening Purposes Only
- Test Icicles Announce Pair Of NYC Dates This Month
- Live – Test Icicles Pack ‘Em In At NYC’s Cake Shop
- TVOTR’s Tunde Adebimpe To Guest Narrate NYC Film Screening
- Pick Out Your Best Flannel For Jonathan Demme’s Neil Young Documentary Screening This Friday
