Abrasive, industrial, fiercely original, terrifying in a Prodigy kinda way (see: key track Swallow), Npcede (pronounced N P Seed) are Chapter Records’ last-ever new artist signing.
Absolutely everything about Npcede – sonically as well as aesthetically – intrigues; we can definitely see why Chapter selected this debut five-track EP (by a brand new outfit, no less) as one of their final new releases.
Comprising brothers Victor (vocals) and Roy Moore (bass) plus their childhood friend Zac Hellyer (electronics), Npcede formed in late 2022, and they’re already all that and then some. The last time we remember feeling this pumped about a musical discovery was following one of Tame Impala’s very early gigs at The Tote back in 2008.
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Mesmeric, with an uncharacteristically tender vocal delivery, the opening Hear Them gives us Shivers (the Rowland S Howard-penned Boys Next Door song) until the two-minute mark, when what sounds like a swarm of agitated bees ushers in a whirring, clicking, crashing beat.
Spleen follows, resplendent with finger snaps and heavy breathing. Roy told Beat during a recent interview that this track’s phenomenal, 3D-animated music video – created by Victor without AI assistance – is about “growing up with porn and seeing the world through this twisted erotic environment”.
Featuring bleeps and ominous creaking-door sounds, Tabula Rasa brings Mica Levi’s genius Under The Skin soundtrack to mind. This standout cut’s tempo accelerates throughout, building suspense like a demon hunter in hot pursuit.
Set Dressing’s unholy yowling could surely summon Hellhounds before closing out the band’s thrilling self-titled EP with a single word: “STOP.”
Like King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard and Amyl And The Sniffers before them, this exceptional Naarm/Melbourne trio deserve international acclaim.
LABEL: CHAPTER RECORDS
RELEASE: 9 MAY
