Bodychoke - 'Cold River Songs'

The now-defunct band, featuring members of Sutcliffe Jugend and Whitehouse, offers up a bleak sound-scape fit for fans of the Swans and the Smiths.

Relapse, who have reissued classic material from exceptional artists ranging from Pentagram to Atheist, have now revamped a remastered version of Bodychoke’s long-out-of- print, final album Cold River Songs. This version includes three bonus tracks and a first-time printing of the release’s lyrics.

Boasting members of Sutcliffe Jugend and Whitehouse, Bodychoke disbanded ten years ago following its six-year existence. Atypical from traditional forms of heavy music, the basis for their sound most closely resembled noise rock (think of The Birthday Party’s dramatics and The Jesus Lizard’s primal violence). Difficult to neatly categorize, the members’ power electronics roots clearly pierced through their veil as well.

Opening track “Control” adequately sets the stage for what follows, immediately shelling out a discomforting drive reminiscent of Whitehouse or the Swans, followed by a stuttered drum pattern and depressed vocals not too unlike the Sisters of Mercy’s Andrew Eldritch (and that’s before the screaming ensues).

While variety, in terms of tempo and mood, is one of the album’s strengths, there seems to be a misguided, meandering nature to the songs, like what you might hear on a demo. Yet at the same time, the instability and uncertainty of Cold River Songs bears fruit in that it mimics reality’s chaos and confusion.