Ecce Shnak return with “Anna O”, the third single from their upcoming full-length album “Dandy Variances”, and once again prove that predictability is simply not part of their musical vocabulary. Coming from New York’s experimental art rock scene, the band delivers a wonderfully chaotic composition that blends grunge, alternative rock, punk, progressive elements and theatrical extravagance into something that feels both wild and meticulously constructed. “Anna O” immediately grabs the listener with its explosive energy. The guitars have a raw, gritty edge, while the rhythm section gives the song an almost unstoppable momentum. There is plenty of weight here, but Ecce Shnak are not interested in straightforward heaviness. Instead, they constantly shift between aggressive passages, melodic moments and more eccentric arrangements, creating an unpredictable musical journey that keeps the listener alert. A major part of the song’s identity comes from Bella Komodromos’ extraordinary vocal performance. Her soprano voice brings an almost operatic dimension to the composition, contrasting beautifully with the grungy guitars and muscular rhythm section. At times theatrical, at times haunting and elsewhere completely unhinged, her performance gives “Anna O” an enormous personality. The production by Jeff Lucci, with mixing by Mario McNulty and mastering by Kris Crummett, allows the song’s many layers to retain their impact. Ultimately, “Anna O” is an exhilarating and wonderfully eccentric piece of art rock. Ecce Shnak sound like a band completely unwilling to follow established rules, yet they possess enough compositional discipline to make their musical madness work. Fans of Nirvana, Pixies and The Jesus Lizard will certainly find familiar territory here, but there is considerably more going on beneath the surface. If “Anna O” is any indication of what “Dandy Variances” has in store, Ecce Shnak’s upcoming album promises to be one seriously unpredictable and adventurous ride.
♦ 8/10
Dimitris Zacharopoulos
