Lovers of post-punk heroes Sonic Youth will appreciate what’s coming out of Long Beach, California this spring when Sterile Jets release their latest with No Gods, No Loss.
Call the relatively little-known band post-punk, post-hardcore, or, just noise — whatever they are — the trio compares themselves to that of Sonic Youth, Melvins, Fugazi and the Butthole Surfers, while at the same time proudly claim to not belong to any specific style or genre. Due out May 4, No Gods, No Loss certainly has the grungy dissonance and appealing honesty of the aforementioned bands.
Their first single from the album is online now with “Fireside Drive.” It’s a solid glimpse into the experimental sound the band is going for — something of a spoken-word on acid brewed with an abundance of distortion.
“The video is based almost entirely on a bunch of clips, movies, and psa’s that are in the public domain, ” said guitarist and vocalist Robert Bly Moore. “I edited it down into a loose (ok very loose) story, that matched the building tension of the song. The song is about a girl B.ILL was really into, but when he found out she wasn’t into him, the song (and video) took a darker turn.”
Sterile Jets is unquestionably experimental, embracing the composition of ‘noise’ and post-rock metal that brings out rage, frustration and the complex irony surrounding love and other wide-ranging emotions that define humanity.
In other words, if you’re not already into the post-hardcore/post-punk scene, you’re likely not going to fall in love with No Gods, No Loss. If you do like jarring, deafening and uncanny tracks that elicit a heart-racing grunge attack, then Sterile Jets’ latest may be your thing.
Buyer beware, tracks such as The Arsonist, Piss On Your God and White Satan may explain all you need to know about No Gods, No Loss before blaring it in your office cubicle.
Everything about Sterile Jets, especially Moore’s vocals, is radically unorthodox.
“Our inspiration comes from what’s going on around us,” Moore said. “This record was written during a point of collective turmoil. We were grappling with chaos, the death of close friends and toxic relationships. That uncertainty comes out on the record. The songs have more anger and darkness this time around, but we don’t write with preconceived notions of what it’s going to sound like. We just do our best to give you something that’s truly us at that moment.”
Josh Helmuth is an editor for Crave and a longtime music lover whose first record was Eric Clapton. However, his first concert? That choice he will take to the grave.
Listen to and/or buy “Fireside Drive” from ‘No Gods, No Loss’ here.
No Gods, No Loss will be released May 4, 2017.
