photo by John Figler
Investigative underground music cult Nefarious Industries welcomes British experimental rock band IRK to the label’s unpredictable roster.
IRK formed in Leeds in 2013. Driven by the stripped-back lineup of vocalist J.S. Gordon, bassist Ed Snell, and drummer Matthew Deamer, the trio’s abrasive and rhythm-heavy sound balances the technical intensity of mathcore with the raw energy of noise rock to create a distinctive brand of angular, unpredictable music.
IRK released their debut EP, Bread And Honey, in 2014, followed by a split with London sludge outfit Wren in 2015, quickly attracting attention for the wild spontaneity that defines their live show. The group continued to hone their craft with extensive touring throughout the UK and Europe, performing at festivals like Arctangent, Wrong Festival, and Strangeforms, and sharing the stage with Liturgy, Dope Body, Pissed Jeans, Blacklisters, USA Nails, Whores, Part Chimp, Frontierer, and many more.
The band’s debut album, Recipes From The Bible, was released in 2018, showcasing chaotic, snappy tracks contrasted against longer, more progressive songs, as well as the inclusion of guest vocals and saxophone. Recipes From The Bible was the platform IRK needed to probe the stranger depths of the subgenres they sit within, capturing an uncompromising sound that makes the listener feel truly estranged and uncomfortable.
While their second LP is being completed for release in 2025, IRK presents a new single through their partnership with Nefarious Industries, today unveiling “Toothache In Prison.” The track was recorded, mixed, and produced by Andrew Edwards and Matthew Deamer at Glide Studio in Leeds, UK, and mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege in Portland, Oregon (The Armed, Locrian, Deadguy).
IRK vocalist J.S. Gordon states, “Right, so this might come as a massive surprise, but this song is largely inspired by someone I know who had toothache whilst in prison, and it sounded fucking awful. As the song spirals outwards musically, a load of other themes get touched on, such as the wider prison-industrial complex, police abolitionism, and public opinion around prisoners’ worth as members of society, especially in their endeavors to contribute something more meaningful than labor, such as art, during or after their incarceration.”
Listen to IRK’s “Toothache In Prison” at all streaming services through Nefarious Industries RIGHT HERE.
Details on IRK’s impending second LP will post early in the new year.
IRK:
J.S. Gordon – vocals
Ed Snell – bass
Matthew Deamer – drums
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