SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: AYE NAKO – SILVER HAZE

Aye Nako
Silver Haze
Don Giovanni Records

The adjectives we use to describe punk typically have a strong affect on the noise. Pop punk, hardcore punk, folk punk, all have a particular sound and a potential listener has some idea of what to expect before the records first turn. However, Aye Nako defines themselves as “queer punk,” a label which regards the lyrical content and the members more so than the sound. So what does “queer punk,” sound like? Luckily for us, it sounds like Silver Haze, Aye Nako’s latest release off Don Giovanni Records.

Fans of Lemuria and RVIVR will feel at home with Silver Haze. The tones of the drums, bass and guitar are raw, as if they were designed for sticker ladened Brooklyn basements. This fits perfectly with the songs, which stretch just beyond a typical punk format. There are solos, there are riffs, but they’re all for the sake of the song. It wouldn’t be too far of a stretch to say there are some moments reminiscent of Nirvana’s Bleach, in the combination of melody and fuzz. The track “Muck” is the perfect example of this, starting out with feedback and then leading into jarring but melodic guitar riffs. “Sissy” has a very similar feel to that of “Floyd The Barber,” sharing the dissonant yet powerful vibe.

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