by Tim Buck (@aidmoozic)
Kal Marks have been signed to Exploding In Sound for around a decade now, slotting into the label's ethos like a perfectly mismatched puzzle piece next to labelmates like Pile and Melkbelly. They offer that jagged, dissonant, yet melodically captivating strain of indie rock that we at Post-Trash have long admired. On Wasteland Baby, the Rhode Island / Brooklyn quartet have traded their raw, clunky sound for a more refined and immersive one - think rich, resonant tones, pop nuances and an emphasis on booming, drum-driven rhythms. The band have sought to set aside egos of the individual and focus solely on serving the integrity of the music. This collective mindset has allowed them to push creative boundaries. Even the artwork is of a refined quality, reflecting some real attention to detail.
On "Insects," we hear percussion laden with toms and guitars that are discordant and caustic. The band's noise rock lineage remains clearly palpable, yet they introduce a heavily rhythmic allure that sets the album apart from the rest of their discography, drawing upon a wider spectrum of influences. The band's chief songwriter, Carl Shane, has likened this creative journey to crafting a cinematic work, with each song intended to flow naturally into the next.
Lyrically, Shane is confronting some of his own anxieties over the course of the album. The man is no stranger to discomforting subjects in his songwriting, but this time he's grappling with a deeply personal and existential fear: the daunting prospect of bringing a child into a world fraught with uncertainty. The use of the word "Wasteland" in the title could be a subtle insight into to how Shane perceives the world around him gradually deteriorating. The concept of channeling anxiety into music is often rooted in the belief that, in some way, the process will serve as a form of therapeutic release. That's likely what's happening here.
"Whatever the News" might be considered the album's heartbeat, revealing an underlying paranoia in the lyrics while integrating musical elements commonly associated with pop. The chorus features an additional female vocal from Christina Puerto in a higher octave - a nod to pop conventions. Still, the track retains a dark and brooding atmosphere, preventing it from fully embracing that pop sound and keeping it anchored in somberness.
Overall, Wasteland Baby represents a bold and ambitious step forward for Kal Marks; it combines their signature noise rock intensity with a touch of sophistication, proving they can evolve without losing their core identity. It serves as a reflection of their growth and their willingness to confront inner turmoil through art—and we're all the better for it.