You’d Have to Be a Supercomputer to Riff Better Than Gnarwhal

If you've watched the anime film Summer Wars, then you know that being really good at calculus can save the world. If you haven't seen it but saw the Digimon movie way back in the day, then that's fine, because they're pretty much the same film by the same director. The point being: math is Good, actually, in all forms, but especially when employed by adventurous post-hardcore bands like Gnarwhal. The tech-punk duo of Chappy Hull and Yautja/Mutilation Rites drummer Tyler Coburn have returned to challenge all conventional notions of rhythm and harmony with their new album, Crucial.

There's plenty of wizardry on display here; if you can properly count out the riffs in "Being Kidding," you're likely a supercomputer of some sort. But what obviously makes Crucial work is its tumbling momentum, tearing out of the gate with the storming "Marathon Ripper." The album only eases up for a few brief, Reichian interludes of arranged vibraphones and guitar loops. It is intellectual as fuck, and will also claw your eardrums out.

Preorder the album from Exploding Sounds Records here, and check out our full stream below:

GNARWHAL ON TOUR:
05/05 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Loading Dock w/ Pile
05/06 - Denver, CO @ Lost Lake Lounge w/ Pile
05/07 - Omaha, NE @ River City Star w/ Pile
05/09 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry w/ Pile
05/10 - Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club w/ Pile
05/11 - Chicago, IL @ Subterranean w/ Pile
05/12 - Detroit, MI @ Marble Bar w/ Pile
05/13 - Lakewood, OH @ Mahall's w/ Pile
05/14 - Rochester, NY @ Bug Jar w/ Pile
05/16 - Brooklyn, NY

Phil Witmer is shredding the gnar on Twitter.
Photo by Reese Faw