The Stranger, Seattle's Only Newspaper: Line Out: Loud

Brute Transcendence: MTNS Bring the Noise to the Summit

Dave Segal — Wed, 15 May 2013 11:58:40 -0700

Kelly O
Daniel Enders, a Satan Donkey, and Austin Hund.

MTNS play the Black Lodge TONIGHT with Black Pus and the Numbs!

For their big Debacle Fest matinee performance at the Highline on May 4, Seattle duo MTNS are barefoot and wearing silk slips like it's no big deal. Slender Austin Hund ignites a bass dirge that ripples pant legs. Burly Daniel Enders coaxes crackles from a light theremin, then grabs his drumsticks and stands on his stool in order to beat on the venue's ceiling pipes. Eventually he sits down at his kit and attacks it with feral grace, his face distorted into a demonic grimace.

MTNS then launch into a wild, methodical growl and stomp. The twosome's portentous noise rock unexpectedly accelerates with mad energy, revealing roots in speed metal and no-wave. Enders drops a stick twice in 10 seconds, but no matter. The apocalyptic tone's been established.

As the set progresses, Hund makes his bass corkscrew and spasm in strange contortions and squeal like a pig (see: Deliverance), with a predilection for ratcheting up the tension to infernal degrees. But MTNS are about more than just speed and power. Their last song of the set—and the finale of their excellent new album, All Songs Are Spells—"Hut on a High Peak," shows that they're capable of writing a moving, majestic melody. Marked by an ascending recorder motif, it's one of the best songs by a Seattle band this year.

MTNS and Sissy Spacek: A Recipe for Insanity

Kyle Fleck — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:46:57 -0700

Contretemps by Sissy Spacek

For my money, the can't-miss show at Debacle Fest this year is the matinee at Highline on Saturday (show starts at 3 pm), with an aurally lethal lineup including Seattle noise/math duo MTNS and deranged Los Angelenos Sissy Spacek.

Check out Spacek's album Contretemps on their Bandcamp page. The whole thing is less than five minutes, so it's not too much of a commitment—what else can decimate your sense of self and general well-being in that amount of time? I haven't seen them but judging by their records I'm expecting confrontational, batshit-levels of insanity from their live show. One can hope.

And if you've never experienced the spectacle that is MTNS, you are in for a sweaty, chaotic treat. For those who have, I suggest placing bets: How long will it take for drummer Dan Enders to strip down to his underpants? How many amps will be blown by the end of the set? Will anyone make it out alive?

Yes, I'm aware that this Saturday will likely be the sunniest we've seen all year, but I nevertheless suggest spending the afternoon in Seattle's finest vegan dive bar, getting down to some seriously unhinged tunes.

The Stranger, Seattle's Only Newspaper: Line Out: Loud

Brute Transcendence: MTNS Bring the Noise to the Summit

MTNS and Sissy Spacek: A Recipe for Insanity

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