Avon Ladies – Guns & Gold 7” EP (Katorga Works)
Four excellent tracks of total shit-on-the-walls from folks previously serving in the H-100’s and Pigeon Religion (I think). Per usual, the meatier the riff-cut, the nicer the song-steak and these are all juicy cuts. Hardcore bands always get to at least second base with me with mid-tempo noise, so the opener “Cyanide Lactater,” all random feedback, randomer pick slides and almost casual skin-pound under the Germsy rant-style, kicks it all off nicely. But the burners are also hook-rich, especially “Quality Programming” which breaks down into a rant about 1970s and 80s, both incorporated here without “TK worship” being needed in the catalog description. Closer “Power Failure” slows and speeds with the inner logic of a stomach revolting after that last double Don Julio you shouldn’t have had. An absolute highlight of 2011 and hell yes we await the LP. Price jacked up by classy foil-stamped jacket emphasizing commodity fetishism rooted in said object mitigated by fact it is hella easy to download for free, w/ band permission, all over the web. (http://katorgaworks.bigcartel.com)
(Joe Gross)
