Ecce Shnak is an extraordinary art rock band, who take you by surprise each time you listen to their sonic ventures. This time they present us “Vincent”, which lasts only one and a half minutes, enough time for Ecce-Shnak to produce sonic chaos and overwhelm us! This new single, which comes from the upcoming full-length release of the band (“Dandy Variances”), is a crazy, frantic song, which rudely kicks the door, laughs in your face and leaves nothing but hell behind! What do we actually have here, then? Even though Ecce Shnak blur the boundaries between different genres, you could say they take art rock and progressive metal and blend them with the raw energy of punk rock and hardcore, all filtered through a theatrical lens. Whatever label you choose, what they ultimately achieve is something that feels both avant-garde/experimental and immediate, packed with energy and completely uninhibited. And when you factor in the operatic vocal approach, you begin to understand the fascinating paths Ecce Shnak are leading us down this time. The band’s eccentricity reaches peak levels here, yet despite all its wildness, it’s remarkably easy to connect with the final result. That contradiction within Ecce Shnak’s art is exactly what gives them their uniqueness. “Vincent” will leave you in awe, no matter how advanced or progressive your musical tastes may already be. Trust them — I’m convinced this surreal collective’s upcoming album will surpass anything they’ve done before. There’s really nothing more to add. Ecce Shnak warned us.
♦ 8,5/10
Dimitris Zacharopoulos
