Clockcleaner - Babylon Rules

Many bands might take the description "ungodly sludgy ugly mess" as some sort of negative reaction, but I doubt Clockcleaner would, and rightfully so. This trio combine the ramshackle chaos sleaze of The Birthday Party with the sneering surreal scumfuck boogie of NoMeansNo but somehow manage to make those ingredients sound much, much heavier...and nastier. In a world where shock tactics are par for the course, it's nice to hear music made by people who are genuinely unstable; Babylon Rules is a strong contender for The Skinny's prestigious annual award for most choruses on one album based around "cumming inside." Clockcleaner's depravity, filth and all round existentialism are accentuated by primal pulsing bass and semen encrusted guitar, making lullabies for an AIDS-infected world. If this all doesn't sound like a high recommendation, then listening probably won't change that, but for those who like their rock demented, Clockcleaner are a trip and a half. (Ali Maloney)