KEN mode’s Venerable Is Brutal Noise

Yell! Magazine Review:

KEN mode’s Venerable hits shelves today, March 15, 2011. In a few words, it verges on post-hardcore and progressive post-metal that smears the likes of Rollins, Clutch, Helmet, and Unsane into one fucking brutal sludge-fest.

KEN mode “Obeying the Iron Will”

I haven’t heard so much from a bass guitarist in years, and on Venerable all that badass bass riffage is owed to new-comer Thérèse Lanz of Mares of Thrace (check out her simple yet sick-as-fuck intro on “Never Was”). The rest of the vicious madness on Venerable is owed to brothers vocalist/guitarist Jesse and drummer Shane Matthewson.

Every turn this doomy KEN mode album leaves you feeling like you’re getting the shit kicked out of you MMA style, and that’s likely no mistake since Jesse takes Muay Thai (a perfect specimen for Yell! Magazine standards).

KEN mode kicked off a supporting tour for Venerable on Friday, March 11, 2011, but they’re not stopping until May, so there are plenty of opportunities for you check them out and their tour mates Black Breath, Fuck the Facts, Engineer, Khann, and Ganon–plus they play multiple dates at SXSW. See the tour schedule below.

You can stream the album in its entirety at Stereogum.com.

Verdict:

If you’re looking for something that’ll challenge you while blowing you away with raw intensity and sludgy doom, Venerable is for you. Listen to this album is like having an ear orgasm.

03/11 ­ Sioux Falls, SD @ Latitude 44
03/12 ­ Denver, CO @ Blast-O-Mat
03/14 ­ Dallas, TX @ TBA
03/15 ­ San Antonio, TX @ The 1011
03/16 ­ Austin, TX @ Emos (Brooklyn Vegan Day Show)
03/16 ­ Austin, TX @ Scoot¹s Inn (Thrasher Death Match Show)
03/18 ­ Austin, TX @ Lovejoy¹s (Brooklyn Vegan/1000 Knives Day Party)
03/19 ­ Austin, TX @ Valhalla (Profound Lore Showcase)
03/20 ­ Kansas City, MO @ Scion Lab
03/21 ­ Champaign IL @ Dan Aykroyd¹s House
03/22 ­ Windsor, ON @ Coah & Horses
03/23 ­ Hamilton, ON @ Casbah
03/24 ­ Toronto, ON @ the Garrison
03/25 ­ Ottawa, ON @ Cafe Dekcuf
03/26 ­ Quebec City, QC @ Le Scanner
03/27 ­ Montreal, QC @ Katacombes
03/28 ­ Sherbrooke, QC @ Bar Le Magog
03/29 ­ Burlington, VT @ 242 Main %
03/30 ­ Boston, MA @ O¹Brians Pub %
03/31 ­ Syracuse, NY @ TBA %
04/01 ­ Long Island, NY @ Ethical Humanist Society
04/02 ­ NYC, NY @ Webster Hall !!
04/03 ­ Brick, NJ @ Bricktown Moose Lodge !!
04/04 ­ Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter !!
04/05 ­ Greensboro, NC @ TBA ^
04/06 ­ Savannah, GA @TBA ^
04/07 ­ Gainesville, FL @ TBA ^
04/08 ­ Tampa, FL @ Transitions Art Gallery ^
04/09 ­ Orlando, FL @ Will¹s Pub ^
04/10 ­ Tallahassee, FL @ The Farside ^
04/11 ­ Hattiesburg, MS @ TBA ((
04/12 ­ Birmingham, AL @ The Firehouse ((
04/13 ­ Atlanta, GA @ TBA ((
04/14 ­ Chattanooga, TN @ JJ¹s Bohemia ((
04/15 ­ Akron, OH @ TBA ((
04/16 ­ Rochester, NY @ Monty¹s Krown
04/17 ­ Columbus, OH @ TBA
04/18 ­ Detroit, MI @ TBA ((
04/19 ­ Buffalo, NY @ The Funeral Home #
04/21 ­ Indianapolis, IN @ The Melody Inn #
04/22 ­ Chicago, IL @ the Mutiny #
04/23 ­ Minneapolis, MN @ TBA (venue change) #
04/24 ­ Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium #
04/26 ­ Boise, ID @ The Shredder #
04/27 ­ Portland, OR @ Rotture #
04/28 ­ Seattle, WA @ The Comet #
04/29 ­ Victoria, BC @ Logan¹s Pub #
04/30 ­ Vancouver, BC @ Funky Winkerbean¹s #
05/01 ­ Kamloops, BC @ Pogue Mahone #
05/02 ­ Edmonton, AB @ Filthy McNasty¹s #
05/03 ­ Calgary, AB @ the New Black (all-ages) and Dickens Pub (18+) #
05/04 ­ Saskatoon, SK @ Amigos #
05/05 ­ Prince Albert, SK @ PA Arts Center #
05/06 ­ Regina, SK @ O¹Hanlon¹s Pub #
05/07 ­ Winnipeg, MB @ The Royal Albert (Hometown Record Release) $

% w/Engineer
!! w/Black Breath
^ w/Khann
(( w/Ganon
# w/Fuck the Facts
$ w/Fuck the Facts & Withdrawal