THIS IS THE EP OF A BAND CALLED ADEBISI SHANK

One of the slew of second waver math rock artists to emerge in the early 2000s, ADEBISI SHANK followed in the footsteps of Slint, Drive Like Jehu and Shellac but most of all was smitten by bands like Don Caballero. Formed in Wexford, Ireland in 2006, ADEBISI SHANK consisted of Mick [Michael Roe] (drums), Lar Kaye (guitar) and Vin [aka The Vinny Club] (bass) and existed until 2014. In its eight year existence the band released three albums and this debut EP. The band's name refers to the character Simon Adebisi from the HBO prison drama series Oz which aired from 1997-2003. The band was notable for its crazed energetic live performances which featured bass play Fincent McCreith covered in a mask.

ADEBISI SHANK is one of the more brutal hardcore math rock acts in hate vein of Hella or The Flying Luttenbachers but also features a sensual smoothness and indie rock sensibilities that has gotten the band compared to Battles. THIS IS THE EP OF A BAND CALLED ADEBISI SHANK was the first release and it featured four feisty tracks with a hardcore punk delivery system glazed over with electronic effects and of course the nerdy rhythmic complexities that give the math rock genre its own genre placement. The band starts out of the gate in hardcore mode with the abrasively quickened "Horse" which features heavy distorted guitar riffs that culminate in extremely erratic solos and an energetic drive that's equivalent to a metal band.

"Jump Out" tones down the metal aspects a bit with choppy repetitive riffing and cleaner guitar tones more in the post-rock camp however with an energetic bantering bass groove. Likewise the drumming patterns are highly caffeinated but the track also shows dynamics shifting from the clean guitar riffing passages to more layered echoey counterpoints. "You Shouldn't Be In White" returns to the raw hardcore math-rocky craziness that the band has been referred to as. While the guitar riffing is back on metal intensity, the soloing showcases the band's use of processing synthesized sound effects to create a touch of chaos amongst the jittery rhythmic drive. Likewise the closing

"Caddyshank" continues in the ferocious hardcore guitar riff driven noise-fest but once again alternates with clean riffing and offers more variations. This one features the most stark contrasts from insanely brutal metal riffing bombast to unaccompanied clean echoey guitar parts slowly strumming away. The band was skilled at the art of contrast and changing things up so the music didn't become monotonous. The mathematical precision which math rock is best known for is fully implemented especially on this closing track. Overall this is an excellent debut EP that showcases the band's ability to deliver some of the most demanding style of math rock that despite showcasing its influences in its mix still managed to find a unique spin on the math rock scene.

Definitely one of the heavier math rock bands out there this debut featured a brutal rawness that the band had pretty much polished over with elements of electronica, bit pop, synth punk and other smoother elements by the time ADEBISI SHANK released its third and more heavily produced final album which also featured Daft Punk style vocoder effects. A pretty unique band in the scheme of things and even you have heard all three albums, this shorter 17-minute EP is well worth your attention as well as it established the band as a heavy hitter in the raw and technically energetic niche of the math rock universe.