Echthros and Death Glaze at Initial Shock II

Two more artists performing at INITIAL SHOCK II on July 6.

ECHTHROS is sheer sonic agony in the form of meticulously arranged industrial/power-electronics, delivering a central theme of ongoing colonial violence perpetrated by the Canadian Government and Catholic Church against the Indigenous Peoples of so-called Canada. Haunting and poignant samples of living survivors of the Grouard Indian Residential School as well as contributions from other Indigenous kin are featured throughout their body of work. ECHTHROS’ storytelling delivers anguish, vengeance, determination, and celebration through a wall of harsh drone balanced with the calm uneasiness of what is to come next. Latest release “God is Love” was released on Iron Lung Records.

DEATH GLAZE arose from the tumult and boredom of 2020. It is the concept of longtime noise, experimental music and horror movie fan, Thomas Brust. Initially an HNW project, it has evolved into something more dynamic while continuing to celebrate the sustained coarse and crunchy textures characteristic of the aforementioned noise sub-genre. On recent works, caustic and overdriven harsh noise is conjured from processed recordings of metal, junk and other detritus. The combination of sonics and thematics which DEATH GLAZE utilizes is meant to be emblematic of the inevitable demise of mankind.

Tickets on sale now: https://www.venuepilot.co/events/82671/orders/new#/

The Nausea and Paxillus Succubus at Initial Shock II

As INITIAL SHOCK II is only a few months away, it’s time to begin profiling the artists playing the festival this year.

The Nausea combines experimental violin, harsh noise, and soundscapes to create dismal sonic environments. Sounds and textures are created live, and then processed to contribute to the development of live compositions with musical and anti-music elements. Touring an LP out on Absurd Exposition and Buried in Slag and Debris, The Nausea’s appearance at Initial Shock will include material from the debut LP “Requiem” as well as new material to debut at the festival.

Paxillus Succubus, a project blending field recording, industrial noise, theremin and drone, draws inspiration from the spirits of the earth, mushrooms, tree communication through roots, underground waves, and the sky. It explores the symbiosis between urban brutality, industrial zones, ghettos, and the rustling of the forest, with banshees and the laws of nature. Paxillus Succubus shares her life experiences, growing up in working-class neighborhoods, gun shots and violence, surrounded by city noises, finding freedom in the woods during summer, and delving into the human experience in all its cruelty and truth. The work intertwines memories, experiences, and an individual’s role in the world, both in material and imaginative realms.

Tickets on sale now: https://www.venuepilot.co/events/82671/orders/new#/

Announcing Initial Shock II

Scream & Writhe and Disaster Sources are pleased to announce Initial Shock II. The second edition of the Montreal noise fest will take place Saturday, July 6th at La Sotterenea.

Full lineup: Richard Ramirez (PA) / The Nausea (BC) / Heat Signature (OH) / Slime Street (SK/OR) / Flatgrey (BC) / Skin / Parasite Nurse (NY) / Echthros (AB) / Deep Grey (MB) / Death Glaze (ON) / Murmur (ON) / Fowl / Paxillus Succubus / Come and See / Splinter Assembly

$30
2PM-11PM
La Sotterenea

The After Shock matinee will take place the following day (Sunday, July 7th) at MAI/SON.

Featuring: Thin Mountain (PA) / Molena (BC) / Erin Altomare (BC) / Green Mist (OR) / Jon Vaughn (SK)

2PM
$10 PWYC
MAI/SON

Artist bios and advanced ticketing info to follow
Poster designs by Chris Gibson
Sponsored by FACTOR, Pizza Bouquet, Untitled Zine
See you soon!

Initial Shock 2023 Wrap

Almost a week later and we’re still riding the high from Initial Shock! We’d like to extend heartfelt thanks to all of our performers, each of whom brought their own unique and dynamic presence to the festival; to all those who attended, as your support was vital to the success of the festival; to our volunteers Owen Cole, Daniel Broomberg, and Sarah Etter whose help was essential in keeping the ship afloat and we could not have done it without any of them; and to our sponsors Cheap Thrills, Untitled Zine and Pizza Bouqeut for having our backs and providing us with treats for performers and attendees alike. Final shout-outs are owed to La Sotterenea and their staff for being great hosts, and to Lore for being the official festival photographer.

Stay tuned! Our upcoming shows are Death Kneel and Moss Harvest on August 25th, Bastard Noise on December 2nd, and mark your calendars for the next round of Initial Shock on July 6, 2024!

Thank you one and all,
Aaron and Taylor

Raffle Prizes from Initial Shock sponsors

Tomorrow is the big day! We will be holding a raffle draw in the evening, with tickets available for purchase throughout the day. For $5 per ticket, you’ll be entered into a draw to win one of the following prize packs, each valued at $75.

Prize 1:

$50 Cheap Thrills gift certificate
Keiji Haino – Abandon All Words… 2CD (Alien8 Recordings, 2001)

Prize 2:

$50 Scream & Writhe gift certificate
Keiji Haino – Abandon All Words… 2CD (Alien8 Recordings, 2001)

Prizes 3, 4, 5:

Untitled Zine, issues 3-6
Masonna – Frequency L.S.D. CD (Alien8 Recordings, 1998)

Prize 6:
Artbreakhotel – Karas LP (Buried In Slag And Debris, 2022)
Merzbow – Aqua Necromancer (Expanded) 2LP – limited white vinyl edition (Absurd Exposition, 2022)

Thanks to Cheap Thrills for donating the gift certificate and classic Alien8 CDs, to Untitled Zine for donating copies of their publication and the Artbreakhotel LP, and thanks to Scream & Writhe for donating the gift certificate and Merzbow 2LP.

See you all tomorrow! The noise starts at 2:30PM sharp!

Skin Tone and Un Regard Froid at Initial Shock

Mere days away, Initial Shock is proud to be presenting two local heavyweights: SKIN TONE and UN REGARD FROID.

skin tone is a solo performance practice; is saxophone, voice, mbira and electronics; is an exploration of possible futures; is a recapitulation of hi-stories erased; is an echo of free jazz both spiritual and harsh; is black.

Un Regard Froid is the nom de guerre of multimedia artist Frederick Maheux (Death Orgone, Lamashtu), the musical entity behind his work in cinema, video games, and academia. Blending all forms of audio degeneracy, his project continues industrial culture’s information war through philosophical and technological hijacking. URF performances are known to be intense and cathartically hostile, favoring junk metal, power tools, and accelerated meat as instruments. “Snorting gunpowder and the ashes of philosophers”.

Saturday, July 1. 2pm-11pm. $30 at the door. See you there.

Pizza Bouquet sponsors Initial Shock

We’re grateful to have Pizza Bouquet as a sponsor for Initial Shock. 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 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 helping us feed performers during the fest.

Initial Shock kicks off at 2pm this Saturday, July 1 @ La Sotterenea (4848 Boul. Saint-Laurent). See you there!

Fundraiser Matinee Show

A quick matinee for those that won’t get enough at INITIAL SHOCK NOISE FEST on July 1st

MURMUR (Halifax)
https://absurdexposition.bandcamp.com/album/getting-by
DEATH GLAZE (Hamilton)
https://deathglaze.bandcamp.com/album/rehearsal-mmxxii
PRIMITIVE ISOLATION TACTICS
https://buriedinslaganddebris.bandcamp.com/album/compiling-beliefs
COME AND SEE
https://bentwindowrecords.bandcamp.com/album/come-and-see-ms-split

JULY 2
1PM-3PM
UNDER THE BRIDGE

PWYC – All proceeds go towards the out of town acts and to help recoup Initial Shock fest funds

Shameful and Reaching Needles + Bombaypainco at Initial Shock

With the fest only a week away, two more acts playing Initial Shock on July 1st are Ontarian noise artists SHAMEFUL and REACHING NEEDLES + BOMBAYPAINCO.

Shameful is a London, Ontario-based noise project formed in 2017. The goal is to create electronic sound that is as dynamic as it is harsh. Most recently, Shameful has had releases on Abhorrent A.D., Absurd Exposition, Industrial Coast, and most recently, an appearance on the four-way split tape released by Table Scraps. This will be Shameful’s first show back since 2018.

Granulated, glitching wall noise malpractice from Ottawa, Reaching Needles is Scott – chief bystander of Public Display of Affliction, the capital city’s best (only?) current noise show curator. For no other reason but to make things harder, R/N makes it’s Montreal debut as a duo with professional tattoo artist Jessica Vivian (Bombaypainco), armed with an amplified tattoo gun. With a general indifference to the pain of her partner, in an environment too loud for safe words, come witness the damage done.