Kulk - We Spare Nothing
On the 31st March 2018, I saw Kulk for the first time. I was blown away. Not by the songs but by the sheer, savage, intense NOISE coming from the stage. I’ve seen Kulk a good number of times since. The intensity has never dipped and the duo do not know the meaning of the word compromise. Performances are more art-rock-no-wave happenings than gigs. But, as this aptly titled sophomore album demonstrates, Jade Ashleigh (drums) and Thom Longdin (vocals and guitar) have added songs to their armoury. For now, beneath – very deep beneath – the savage but somehow glorious and strangely beautiful racket, there is melody, of sorts.
On the likes of opener Shuck, Forgetting Is Your Blessing, Lives For One and Lone Individual, Kulk come on like Pigs x7 jamming with GNOD on covers of early Swans. Both Goblin Dreams and My Old Man contort Bardo Pond’s more outré output into something even more twisted. Day Old Kebab is an industrial pounder that makes Throbbing Gristle sound like the Carpenters, which is a very good thing.
We Spare Nothing will absolutely not be for everyone and I’m sure Kulk wouldn’t want it to be. For those wanting an exhilarating new twist on sludge and doom, however, this will be an instant classic.
9/10
Kulk will be playing The Waterfront on 12th Nov supporting Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs
