Featuring members of the Black Halos and Front Line Assembly, Left Spine Down are winning fans in both the punk and industrial camps
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“This is going to hurt you a lot more than it’s going to hurt me,” warns Left Spine Down programmer and synth-man Jeremy Inkel.
While such words uttered by an up-and-coming band typically come across as more false bravado than your average Hatebreed concert, in the case of this Vancouver-based sextet, Inkel speaks unquestionable truth. A raucous band that pulls its members from such established and revered musical names as Front Line Assembly and The Black Halos, the sonic punch in the face that is Left Spine Down is a malicious crossover of punk rock’s aggressive stance, electronic music’s sinister atmosphere and new wave’s undeniable catchiness. Inkel, vocalist kAINE Delay and guitarist Matt Girvan virtually crawl over one another to deliver their own accurate description.
“Left Spine Down is a mix of politically driven punk hardcore smashed with heavy break beats and distorted synth and bass lines,” says Inkel.
“We call it iPunk — electro-punk-trash with a twist of lemon,” adds Delay. “We want to make something different and honest…. I wanted us to make something viciously noisy and catchy at the same time; the adrenaline factor with a sweet tooth, like a carbonated-energy-drink-buzz-while-flooring-it-on-the-autobahn kind of music. There's always been a very intense vibe about the band, ever since the beginning. The music's just a result of that vibe.”
Girvan chimes in that due to the band’s diverse yet moderately similar musical tastes, Left Spine Down’s sound is something akin to locking The Sex Pistols, Depeche Mode and Atari Teenage Riot in a room full of gear and refusing to open the door until they play nice. He’s also quick to point out that despite the infamy of some Left Spine Down members, this is an entirely new project. The double-edged sword of winning over new fans and not alienating supporters of their previous endeavours is incredibly sharp.
“The positives [of being compared to old bands] are as obvious as the negatives,” he shrugs. “On one hand, we have a wealth of experience to pull from, and on the other, [comparisons] can sometimes stall us from getting work done. It helps a lot having people in the band who've done extensive touring, because they can bring that knowledge into the fold.”
Together for just over two years, Left Spine Down has quickly garnered attention as much for their energetic performances as for their truly unique amalgamation of genres that blend about as subtlely as oil and water. And while Left Spine Down has yet to establish its own dedicated fan base, the band (rounded out by drummer Tim Habgerg, bassist Denyss McKnight and guitarist Jared Slingerland) has been blessed with diverse proponents thanks to playing with the likes of Genitortureurs, DOA, Malhavoc and The Birthday Massacre. Hitting Calgary in support of their own independent EP Smartbomb during an opening stint for Edmonton punk rock heroes SNFU, the band hopes their innovative style will carry over here as well as it has back home.
“[Acceptance from different crowds] is hit and miss,” admits Delay. “For the most part, the audience doesn't know what to make of us in the first half hour, which, if we're the opening act, is the entire set… not to say we don't get people digging it. If there are some diehards in the crowd, there'll be a mosh pit, usually too violent for any new kids to jump into and feel included. That's something I don't really know what to make of. I can appreciate the intensity, but I'd like it to be more of a team effort.”
Girvan interjects. He’s simply pleased that the band’s aforementioned crossover potential is accepted by the leather-and-mohawk set. “I’m happy that the SNFU crowd welcomes us,” he says. “We've played with so many electronic bands it was starting to get stale. These shows are like a breath of fresh air. It’s confirmation that we can carry over pretty well.”
