Insomnia’s latest onslaught, ‘Fleabag’, is a ferocious synthesis of no-wave grunge and unrelenting hardcore punk rhythms. The standout on their LP ‘Idiosyncrasy‘, is a caustic celebration of noise, embodying the spirit of grunge pioneers with a fresh, chaotic twist. The guitars screech with electrifying distortion, while hardcore punk drums thrash out a beat that pummels listeners into submission, offering no respite from the band’s sonic fury.
In the eye of this storm are the vocals—raw, unfiltered, and dripping with disdain, they transmit a message of ‘we’re all mad here’ vindication for anyone wrestling with the chaos of the human psyche.
Undeniably, Insomnia, hailing from San Diego, has mastered the art of avant-garde obscurity. With the cultivated approach of Glenn Branca’s compositions fused with the brashy energy of Napalm Death, the breakthrough band injects listenability into their sound while ensuring their deliverances of no-wave are unfeigned, unfiltered and unafraid to descend into the sonic abyss. Imagine what Pavement would sound like if they were demonically possessed and you’ll get an idea of what is in store when you hit play.
Stream the Idiosyncrasy LP in full by heading over to Spotify.
Review by Amelia Vandergast