The dust has settled and another Initial Shock is in the books! Thanks to all the performers, volunteers, sponsors, venue staff and attendees for making it another great edition. Initial Shock III will take place July 5, 2025 – see you then!
– Taylor & Aaron
Countdown to Saturday! The fest draws near and we’re excited to see everyone.
Last but not least, we’d like to thank FACTOR Canada for being a sponsor. A foundation long-dedicated to helping Canadian artists develop their practice, we’re happy to be partnering with them and for their interest in supporting the festival. Three days away. Advanced tickets still available. See you soon.
Our latest addition to the AFTER SHOCK matinee on Sunday, July 7 is Montreal-based EXUVIE.
EXUVIE is a newly formed noise duo that blends harmonious sample collage, abrasive high pitch frequencies and gnarly electronics to create a harsh ambient sonic landscape. This is not a process of disfigurement but rather one of magnification, the aim being to render what was once peaceful as now engaging and intense.
The After Shock matinee is $10 PWYC at the door.
Advanced tickets are available for the main night of Initial Shock: https://www.venuepilot.co/events/82671/orders/new#/
We’re grateful to have Pizza Bouquet return as a sponsor for INITIAL SHOCK II. Locally-owned and operated in Montreal since 2018, @pizzabouquet is a spot favoured by many for their large slices, 16” pies and unique specials that make them arguably the best pizza joint in town. They’re open 12-9pm all week and located in Little Italy at 45 Rue Beaubien East, so you know where to go next time the craving strikes. Special thanks to Andre and the crew for taking care of us.
INITIAL SHOCK II kicks off at 2pm Saturday, July 6 @ La Sotterenea (4848 Boul. Saint-Laurent). Advanced tickets: https://www.venuepilot.co/events/82671/orders/new#/
Aaron was invited by the More Noise Please program on Met Radio to curate a fest-related playlist.
The show airs tonight at 8PM on metradio.ca / AM 1280 in Toronto.
The playlist:
Richard Ramirez – Spinal Mutilation (Certain Cruelty, 1995, Slaughter Productions)
The Nausea – Ascension (Requiem, 2024, Absurd Exposition)
Slime Street – Cold Rushes (Séance, 2024, Disaster Sources)
Murmur – 1 (Balcony, 2023, Buried in slag and debris.)
Fowl – 2 (Balcony, 2023, Buried in slag and debris.)
Thanks to Jen Creagh for the invite.
Taylor was invited by the Psychic Ceremony program on CJLO to speak a bit about the fest and present tracks from a selection of the artists.
The show is archived for the next 4 weeks here: http://cjlo.com/shows/psychic-ceremony/episode-24062419
The playlist:
Richard Ramirez – Severe Retraction (The Japanese / American Noise Treaty, 1995, Release Entertainment)
Heat Signature – Shedding the Human Psyche (Dehumanization In Progress, 2019, Oxen)
Parasite Nurse – Clarity (Life Is Beautiful, 2023, Oxen)
Paxillus Succubus – Acte 3 – Scène Finale – Terres De Guerre (Paxillus Succubus x Splinter Assembly, 2023, self-released)
The Nausea – Ascension (Requiem, 2024, Absurd Exposition/Buried In Slag And Debris)
Death Glaze – Rend (Collapse, 2024, Absurd Exposition)
Primitive Isolation Tactics – Hazy Nightmare Reality (Time Hole, 2024, White Centipede Noise)
Thank you to Josh Dimakakos for the invite.
FOWL is the solo sound project of Ben Symonds that has had recorded material appear over the past year on labels like Buried in Slag and Debris and Disaster Sources. Dragging objects, cheap microphones and a predisposition for quiet moments result in impulsive organic noise.
SPLINTER ASSEMBLY explores the sonic connection between the mechanical and the human, often manifesting itself in scorching hot and brief live performances or self-released cassette tapes. By use of home appliances, found objects, contact microphones and magnetic tape, SPLINTER ASSEMBLY creates dark and jarring soundscapes. Influenced by sounds of urban life, monotonous household items, and gothic imagery. Short, loud and blistering.
Tickets: https://www.venuepilot.co/events/82671/orders/new#/
We’re fortunate and thankful to have sponsors of the festival, one of whom is Untitled Zine, a pro-printed publication reporting on noise, avant-garde, and contemporary sound art practices. Its editor, Chris Gibson, has been a big supporter of the festival since day one. Not only did he design all our promotional materials this year, he’ll also be performing at the After Shock matinee gig on Sunday, July 7 as part of the Rhoda & dang. collaborative set. Thank you to Chris for your generosity and support.
The newest issue of Untitled Zine is out now, featuring articles, artwork and interviews with:
• Jazzhand – Interview by Ross Henteleff
• alonewithlabor [ Kem Bond, Impact Initiative ]
• Pain Chain [ Sam Gruca ] – Interview by Kate Rissiek
• Aaron Scholz on Latitudes [ Disaster Sources, Catholic Stare ]
• Met Glas [ Kale Van Reekum ]
• Veikko Rajanen [ Mogao, The New Boyfriends ]
• Frans de Waard [ Kapotte Muziek, Vital Weekly ]
• Jeph Jerman – Interview by Barrett E. Lediard
• Jack Davidson [ Noise Not Music ]
• Elisha Morningstar [Joy de Vivre ]
• Film-Field: Punishment Park – Review by Sam Risser
• Will Kemper [ PRESSORTAPE, FBFFFBFBBBF, SIGNAL CORPS]
Support Chris and Untitled Zine by picking up copies at https://buriedinslaganddebris.bigartel.com or ordering from the following distributors:
Scream & Writhe (CA), Obsolete Records (Halifax), Skeleton Dust Records (US), Malevolent Relics (US), Satatuhatta (FI), Discreet Music (SE), Sentimental Youth (DE), Amek Collective (BG) + more.
Advanced tickets for the fest are available: https://www.venuepilot.co/events/82671/orders/new#/
Heat Signature is an American harsh noise duo formed in 2016 by Brad Griggs and Luke Tandy. They have released tapes and CDs on labels such as Dada Drumming, Oxen, Found Remains, and more, and have toured throughout the US and Europe.
Come and See is a one man (Yannis Panos) noise project from Montréal, Canada. Through heavy processed found sounds, field recordings, movie samples, Come and See aims to explore and illustrate the skewed perspectives of an anxious mind.
Tickets: https://www.venuepilot.co/events/82671/orders/new#/
ERIN ALTOMARE is a harsh noise performer from Vancouver, BC. 15 years ago she began taking photos at noise shows in Vancouver, later becoming half of the noise project MOLENA. She now performs as a solo act. She enjoys pushing sounds into disintegrating, repeating, grinding patterns from whatever sources she is currently obsessed with.
DANG. is Danielle Jakubiak, a sound artist and therapist from Halifax, NS. Her current work has been focused on field recording and translating that into something compositional and intentional. She uses various processing techniques, and each procedure is a way for her to show to the listener how her own listening frames the world. She has released tapes on the label Buried in slag and debris and played at the Everyseeker Convention and Upstream Halifax.
RHODA is Chris Gibson. A sound and visual artist from Halifax, NS who works with field recordings, found sounds, tape machines and various electronics. He runs the label Buried in slag and debris, and is the editor for Untitled Zine. Chris is also an active member in Bleep in the Dark, an experimental collective who organize shows in Halifax.
The After Shock matinee is $10 PWYC at the door!