From the Vaults: Skrummasjien
- Skrummasjien: (l) Mark – Drummasjien, (r) Righard – Strummasjien
Skrummasjien was a two-piece noise rock outfit consisting of myself on guitar and Mark Van Niekerk on drums. The central idea was to fixate on an almost comical heaviosity based on power chord riffs, thrash metal drumming and feedback, coupled with noise loops.We liked the idea of jumping from one idea to another in a hyperactive way, so the tracks were often 10 minute sections that consisted of 5 or 6 ideas in quick succession. We gigged VERY occasionally, opening for Throatball (Ian Watson’s awesome thrash metal band) on one occasion and Action Blueprint (Paul Opie’s project after Blackmilk), and then another one in the back room at EVOL, which we played in the middle of the room with no PA.
We recorded our jams pretty diligently, though often on very rudimentary equipment, and there is hours of this stuff – not all listenable. During a recent visit to Mark he drew my attention to this section that was better than i remember.
Another ‘track’ that i personally love, even though the clipping on it is positively caustic, is one we’ve titled ‘Kepler (Vessels of God)’
Skrummasjien – Kepler (Vessels of God)
We also compiled a cd-r of live and practice recordings that was kind of the inaugural release on One Minute Trolley Dash (which i still have plenty of copies of by the way)
In the time of shitgaze getting serious cred, this stuff doesnt sound THAT preposterous – but be warned, it is lo-fi city we’re talking here!
“Shitgaze”?? Who on earth coined THAT term?
It’s a genre name being bandied about on the pitchforks etc of the world, describing this noise-psychedlic stuff that’s floating around. Obviously a bit of a joke. I think it was coined by someone in one of those bands.
“shitgaze”??? HAHAHAHAHAHA!
I Love the Skrummasjien CD-R!