Whore Paint
Menarchy
Anchor Brain Records
February 2012
If you threw Cadallaca, Black Flag, Babes in Toyland, and Dick and the Del-tones into an audio blender and hit frappé, you might be fortunate enough to end up with something as delicious as Whore Paint. The Providence, RI trio’s mix of surf and punk goes down smooth, hits you hard, and might well make you feel like dancing barefoot in your favorite underwear. The percussion alternates between heavy, grunge-y stomp and post-punk sprint; the guitar distorts, arpeggiates, and tremolos ferociously, and the vocals consist of operatic howls and pleasingly blood-curdling screams. The resulting sound is rhythmic and sensual, dark and humid, and unapologetically wild. You can practically feel the sand, waves, and salt air when you listen to it, but Menarchy ain’t no day at the beach — it’s midnight in a seaside cave with your coven. Which is, of course, infinitely better.
Listen to this: While driving on a warm night with the windows down, preferably with your best friends, as you talk about the band you’re going to start this summer.
— Jamie Varriale Vélez