Kultur Shock
House Of Shock
For almost three decades, Kultur Shock has been gleefully tearing down the walls between punk, metal, Balkan music, gypsy traditions, and rock 'n' roll. Now the Seattle-based sonic wrecking crew returns with the second part of their double album series House of Shock, another volatile collision of furious riffs, soaring melodies, Eastern European musical traditions, and the kind of musical chaos that has earned them a dedicated international cult fanbase. Led by Bosnian-born frontman Gino Yevdjevich, Kultur Shock has spent decades refusing to fit comfortably into anybody's musical filing cabinet. Their music can go from a traditional Balkan melody to a face-melting metal riff, from punk-rock fury to heartbreaking beauty, often within the same song. To describe Kultur Shock's style and sound, people usually refer to Gogol Bordello, System of a Down. Dubioza Koletiv, Manu Chao, The Pogues, or Band of Four but none of that does the band justice, because Kultur Shock's sound and approach to music is in a league of their own. House of Shock continues that tradition while showing a band that has never been particularly interested in standing still. The record is aggressive, theatrical, melodic, unpredictable, and unmistakably Kultur Shock. This isn't "world music." This isn't "Balkan punk." This isn't "fusion." It's Kultur Shock. House of Shock push the boundaries of Kultur Shock's sound is. The result is the latest chapter from a band that is more than a high-voltage blend of multi-ethnic music, attitude, and raw stage presence. It's an open, ever evolving platform that continually breaks through creative limits and happily sheds the weight of legacy.