Need a reason to attend Kiss the Anus of a Black Cat? Here you go!
”What´s in a name?” The famous quote from Shakespeare´s Romeo and Juliet suggests that names are arbitrary. It suits quite well for this band. Initially, you might think this is an amateur teenager Black Metal band seeking attention for ferocious blasting music.
It is nothing but. In fact, it is acoustic Dark Folk with guitar-based distorted undertones, sometimes leaning towards Panopticon´s Americana music. And with the emotionally ever-changing strong vocals and melodic themes, it is not a surprise if Nick Cave comes to mind.
The band is the brainchild of Belgian musician Stef Heeren, who at first was alone in the band, but it grew and became a full band. The album mentioned here is a re-issue of their influential Hewers Of Wood And Drawers Of Water released fifteen years ago, which has now in turn led to their Roadburn debut.
The album opens with a tender song and a soft vocal accompanied by the ever-present acoustic guitar. Throughout the album, the music develops and the vocals become more and more insistent in their execution. What makes the album intriguing, is how the vocalist performs his interesting lyrics, always changing the mood of the song, underlined by often distorted and darker melodic themes. The very captivating vocals become an instrument in and of itself, like on the song ”Harrow”. The next song, ”Veneration” is heavy with an excessive use of floor drums and strong vocals, growing stronger and stronger. In the closing song, there are the twangs of a banjo and a Dark Ambient rhythmic background, further underlining the album´s Dark Folk influences, but also the expansiveness of the band´s acoustic-based music.
Kiss the Anus of a Black Cat will perform on Sunday, April 19!
