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With a dizzying blend of synthwave, psychedelic, shoegaze and dream pop, Indianapolis based trio KARATE, GUNS & TANNING craft a uniquely alluring sound on their sophomore full-length Krisis Genre. With a hearty dose of nostalgia for the 1980s as well as a desperate thirst for experimentation, three-piece KARATE, GUNS & TANNING, led by vocalist and bassist Valerie Green alongside guitarist Joy Caroline Mills and drummer Erik Fox, craft a deep and intriguing world full of dense synth textures and driving percussion. Building on the groundwork laid on their 2021 debut album Concrete Beach, KARATE, GUNS & TANNING move in a darker more cinematic direction on their follow-up Krisis Genre.
From the swirling first notes of opener Glassy, KARATE, GUNS & TANNING lay their intentions bare, throwing together ‘80s influenced synthwave with dynamic shoegaze and psych rock wrapped in an accessible pop package. Building up around a confident rhythm section, Glassy quickly morphs into a stomping, sleazy ‘80s style post-punk track with a slick veneer of modern alternative saturation. While their mishmash of genres may seem a little disorganised on paper, KARATE, GUNS & TANNING pull their disparate styles together with ease, balancing their retro inspirations with a forward thinking twist and memorable, radio-friendly songwriting.
As Krisis Genre continues the trio’s desire for experimentation deepens with more off-the-wall synths and eclectic elements borrowed from other genres entering the fray. With tracks like Widowmaker embracing NINE INCH NAILS style industrial energy with more aggressive drumming and fuzzy synths and Diamond Sized’s blend of eerie 1960s inspired psychedelia and ‘90s dance music, smashing together fast, tight drums and buzzing synths with kaleidoscopic guitar textures and ethereal vocals, KARATE, GUNS & TANNING are truly flexing their expansive songwriting abilities.
Although the eight tracks of eclectic experimentation can leave Krisis Genre feeling like it has a little of its own genre crisis at times, the moments when KARATE, GUNS & TANNING’s unique voice breaks through are some of the album’s most exciting. The trio are at their brightest when they lean into their special blend of psych, synthwave and bedroom pop on tracks such as the instrumental One Thousand Bats, with its danceable beat and lush synth textures balanced out by off-kilter psych passages and dense layers of shoegaze influenced guitars, or album closer New Tropic, which places flamboyant ‘70s style guitars, hypnotic vocals and shimmering chimes into a stomping retro-futuristic synthwave track. While their frantic mishmash of genres can lead to some exciting results, these moments where KARATE, GUNS & TANNING step back and allow their core concept to shine are some of the album’s most rewarding.
With so many moving parts at play Krisis Genre could easily have fallen apart under the weight of its own ambition, however, KARATE, GUNS & TANNING manage to find a sweet spot between their warring genres to craft a truly one of a kind sound. With just as many hip-shaking beats as intricate textures, the Indianapolis trio develop themselves into an experimental powerhouse without veering too far off the rails.
Rating: 6/10
Krisis Genre is out now via self-release.
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The post Album Review: Krisis Genre – Karate, Guns & Tanning appeared first on Distorted Sound Magazine.
