Times New Viking

Siltbreeze label head Tom Lax is fucking brilliant. The man who brought you everyone from Dead C and Strapping Fieldhands to an early Guided by Voices 7-inch recently revived his hibernating, pile-of-noise record company in order to drop Times New Viking's debut, 2005's shambling freak-out Dig Yourself. A collection of tracks the fledgling trio taped during band practice, the disc's raw, treble-heavy indie rock found its way into Lax's hands and he immediately tracked down the Columbus, Ohio, art students and released it.

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More About

• Tom Lax
• Times New Viking
• Beth Murphy
• Adam Elliott
• Columbus (Ohio)

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A year and a half later — a time span that included a feisty S.F. set at the Hemlock — TNV is back hawking its second full-length, Present the Paisley Reich. Here the group offers more of the glorious same — screeching thrash-pop guitar lines, blistering drum kit destructions, and Beth Murphy and Adam Elliott's killer yelps. Paisley Reich is the real lo-fi deal; warbly and hissing and pummeling with punk bravado. All 56 seconds of "Allegory Gets Me Hot" destroys, showcasing a euphoric mess of drums and nonstop vocals, while anthemic album standout "Teenagelust!" is a pounding rave-up.

Newly signed to Matador, TNV's next record won't be stamped with the Siltbreeze seal of approval. Lax has given the band his blessing, though, so perhaps Paisley Reichwill be the label's Bee Thousand — but for now just revel in how damn good pop debris gets. — Mike Munz