Release of the Day: Institute - Salt EP

If you've paid any attention to my blog, you know that one of the bands (if not the band) that has had the biggest "Holy Shit" effect on me this year has been Institute. I've written about two other releases from this year so why the fuck not write about their third release, which happens to be on Sacred Bones Records? The Salt EP is a step up in production, at least from their demo, and another step down in intelligible lyrics, which is fine by me. You get the sense of impending, demented nihilism from Moses' delivery though without a lyric sheet in hand, it is hard to know exactly what he's saying through palsied dribble.

I really wanted to be the first interview with this band, but Jane Chardiet beat me to it, who succeeds wonderfully in her piece, which is a great place to learn more about the band. I'm still holding out for an interview of my own, if anyone from Institute is reading this.

Salt contains my favorite Institute song, " Familiar Stranger," which has this sinister, snaking lead guitar take control of the song. I remember the first time I heard it, which was in a basement in NWI before Destruction Unit played and being fucking floored by how good it was. It hasn't had an official studio release until now, though it's on their live tape, which can be seen in full on this YouTube video. This video has a couple of songs that make their way on Salt, including the title track.

This high-caliber release from a band emerging from gestation is high-profile though, and could easily propel them out of DIY spaces. I wouldn't be surprised to see them on their own headlining tour soon, though I have a feeling that the best place to see Institute will always be in dusty, dark basements.

Release of the Day: Institute - Giddy Boys 7"

I saw these guys with Destruction Unit twice at the end of May. One set was at the Void House in NWI and the other was at the Township. At the time, other than Destruction Unit, the only bands that I was familiar with who were playing were Carbonleak, Final Grin, and Gas Rag. Institute floored me, though. There's this angular sickness that comes out of the guitarist's strums and a dead-to-rights seriousness in the music. The singer is in a league of his own, though, man. I thought Moses Brown had minor cerebral palsy as he performed. He pigeon-stepped from side to side, wide-eyed, spitting and sputtering with a crumpled witch hand collapsed on his shoulder holding the mic. And when I saw him walk off after the set normally, I didn't know what to think. Had I just witnessed something incredibly offensive? Probably. And am I a bad person for loving it? Stay tuned, sportsfans.

Institute just released a great 7" on Brooklyn's premiere punk label Katorga Works, which has put out records by Ivy, Merchandise, Blotter, and more. It's called Giddy Boys and features another three demented punk songs from these sick fucks. You can check out the songs on their Bandcamp and while you're at it, give the Demo a spin too, which is excellent stuff in the vein of 80s California deathrock. This one is going to go fast too, especially with the news that these guys just signed with Sacred Bones for an upcoming 12" EP called Salt - I already preordered this and have heard some of the songs live or on their live cassette and these are some killer jams. I can't wait to see them come back through. Keep an eye on them because they are for sure going places.