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As the music industry continues to explode via the Internet, the fallout has resulted in hundreds of thousands of clones of whatever flavor of the week band is popping on My Space and other networking sites. Deathcore, metalcore, mall-metalcore, emo, melodic metal/hardcore and even the boom in bands that are jocking the pioneers of stoner rock and sludge. Enter Khann; a band that takes pride in the fact that they do not subscribe to the hip trends of the Internet. Playing a self-proclaimed style of minimalist-grindcore, the Orlando based act boasts a distinct and unique style of metal incorporating latter day screamo with strong punk rock and psychedelic undertones, not excluding a powerful ambient, drone and hardcore influence.
Khann formed in early 2006 with drummer Josh Dulcie and guitarist, Andrew LaCour. As a two-piece, Dulcie and LaCour first recorded “Tofutopia” with producer Chris Owens (Lords, Ed Gein, Akimbo) in late 2006. In 2007, Khann rounded out the line-up with Patrick Chumley on bass, Josh Vitale (ex-Bodies in the Gears of the Apparatus) on vocals and entered the studio, once again with Chris Owens, to re-record “Tofutopia”. Shortly after signing to Black Market Activities, Khann added one more guitarist to the fold, Matt Sutton (ex-Catalepsy).
Taking lessons from bands like Pg99, Reversal of Man, Old Man Gloom, Orchid, Neurosis, Discordance Axis and The Jesus Lizard, Khann's music offers a refreshing break from the newest “cool” music. As beautiful as it is abrasive, there is a familiarity to Khann that recalls a much less jaded time period in music where there was a much more clear line between underground punk rock, hardcore and corporate America. The band has excommunicated itself from the iPod era and developed almost exclusively behind closed doors amidst mountains of vinyl from the late eighties to the late nineties with only the company of a record player to console their solace.
Developing within the most DIY music scene, “Tofutopia” is 23 tracks of vegan-activist, politically motivated and slightly agoraphobic songs played furiously through vintage tube amplifiers and large-scale booming drums meant to open your mind and inspire you at absurdly loud volumes. Khann has come up playing house shows in lieu of clubs or bars, which is probably the most natural and old school, punk rock upbringing for an aggressive band. Khann has already started to develop a cult following and strong reputation in the crusty, house show-bike messenger & DIY punk rock scenes, and with their excruciating determination, it is just a matter of time before they leave the basement and take over the rest of the world.
Artwork for “Tofutopia” by Josh Graham (Neurosis, Red Sparrows).
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