Joe 4 - Enola Gay EP

Whosbrain [2011]

Got a request to review this recently. I was aware of this band's existence but had not really spent time with any of their material.
I just spent some time.
I like this.

Joe 4 is a trio from Zagreb, Croatia. I had to look up where Croatia was. Apparently it's next to Bosnia and across the bay (Adriatic Sea) from Italy. I will admit that learning this somehow increased the band's cool factor in my unreasonable mind.
Anyway, these guys produce some spectacular noise. Overall, the music offers a combination of classically angular noise rock with the melodic presence and energy of a post punk/ hardcore tune. The guitars are dry and metallic (that "aluminum" sound), the bass is gritty, and the vocals are barked with an intensity akin to a thunderstorm. Think Brainbombs doing a Fugazi cover. Ya, these guys sound like Brainbombs imitating Fugazi (in the best possible sense). All of this is tangled within that intensely staccato rhythm we might expect from such a venture. It's easy to see why these guys got Albini to do their most recent record.

Check these guys out and buy their stuff.

http://joe4.bandcamp.com/
http://www.facebook.com/Joe.Four