It's definitely good news that Winnipeg noisecore titans KEN Mode will be unleashing their follow-up to 2008's Mennonite on March 15. As previously reported, the upcoming album is called Venerable and will be the band's first release for Profound Lore. Leading up to the release date, Exclaim! has obtained an exclusive stream of album track "Flight of the Echo Hawk."
The instrumental slow-burner is definitely a departure from KEN Mode's typically thrashing chaos, building a mid-tempo groove from thumping bass, pulsating drums and complex guitar leads, bringing to mind the post-rock informed metal of Isis or Pelican. But if you weren't already more than a little pumped for Venerable, this should do the trick.
Speaking of "Flight of the Echo Hawk," KEN Mode's Jesse Matthewson explains, "It's a tribute song to David Kelly from the band Kittens (a Winnipeg noise rock band that has near legendary status in a lot of circles in Canada), who passed in 2008. We wrote it partially with Jahmeel Russel, who was in Kittens, and also played on our last album. The other link, is I played bass for Kittens when they did two reunion shows back in 2006, as Jahmeel couldn't make it for the shows (they essentially ceased operations back in 1998). I wear a cowboy hat when we play live as a tribute to Kittens and the Winnipeg noise rock legacy."
"Flight of the Echo Hawk" can be streamed below, and as we mentioned, KEN Mode have lined up a North American tour in support of Venerable. Head here for the rundown of dates.
The instrumental slow-burner is definitely a departure from KEN Mode's typically thrashing chaos, building a mid-tempo groove from thumping bass, pulsating drums and complex guitar leads, bringing to mind the post-rock informed metal of Isis or Pelican. But if you weren't already more than a little pumped for Venerable, this should do the trick.
Speaking of "Flight of the Echo Hawk," KEN Mode's Jesse Matthewson explains, "It's a tribute song to David Kelly from the band Kittens (a Winnipeg noise rock band that has near legendary status in a lot of circles in Canada), who passed in 2008. We wrote it partially with Jahmeel Russel, who was in Kittens, and also played on our last album. The other link, is I played bass for Kittens when they did two reunion shows back in 2006, as Jahmeel couldn't make it for the shows (they essentially ceased operations back in 1998). I wear a cowboy hat when we play live as a tribute to Kittens and the Winnipeg noise rock legacy."
"Flight of the Echo Hawk" can be streamed below, and as we mentioned, KEN Mode have lined up a North American tour in support of Venerable. Head here for the rundown of dates.
