Seattle’s VHS (Violent Human System) have been putting out tapes of self-described “gloomy analog garbage” for a couple of years; making the leap to 7-inch EP last year; their sound is a little ruthless, a little warped, a lot bleak, but most certainly extremely catchy. Reminiscent of the kind of experiments at the edge of punk in the early ’80s that became the sprawl we call post-punk, experiments that drew in dystopian literature and film as equal referents, VHS are energetic standouts in a subgeneric field currently littered with grasping soundalikes too sick with nostalgia to see the deep frustration, kicking against uniformity and need for truth that informed those original pioneers. It’s no wonder that they’ve signed to Suicide Squeeze for a forthcoming LP in the summer.
Listen to the A-side of their forthcoming second 7-inch EP on Casino Trash Records below:
VHS’ “Needles for Pricks” EP is available for preorder from Casino Trash Records.
VHS tour dates:
February
18 Seattle, WA @ The Highline
19 Portland, OR @ The Know
20 Santa Rosa, CA @ Atlas Coffee
21 San Francisco, CA @ Thrillhouse Records
22 Oakland, CA @ 1234 Go! Records
23 Los Angeles, CA @ All Star Lanes
24 Costa Mesa, CA @ Wayfarer
25 San Diego, CA @ Tower Bar
26 Los Angeles, CA @ The Redwood
27 Merced, CA @ Tigers And Daggers
28 Reno, NV @ Spectre Records
