Belfast quartet Makeshift Art Bar share riotous new effort ‘Discipline’, marking the second reveal from their forthcoming ‘Marionette’ EP (pre-order here), set for release June 26th via Heist or Hit (Westside Cowboy, Her’s)
Fresh from supporting Chalk on their spring European tour run, as well as the group’s own Dublin & Derry headliners+ 3Olympia show w/ Just Mustard, the frenetic four-piece have fast established themselves as one of the most fearless new voices in the underground scene. Folding post-punk into grunge into electronica, by way of proto sludge metal, hardcore and art rock, the rising sonic powerhouse stake a claim as one of the most exhilaratingly coarse noise-outfits on the planet through sheer guts alone.
Detailing the origins of their latest track, the group explained: “Discipline’ is an illustration of the effects of propaganda on an individual within the military-industrial complex. It is horrifying when stripped back to its pure action and not cunningly hidden away as a euphemism. Exposure to this truth is necessary, igniting a flame of moral destruction within this individual, having abandoned his true morals and becoming a cog in the machine of war.”
Accompanied by an official music video, shot on location in Benidorm and tracking the mental decline of a (genuine) Harry Styles tribute act, slowly losing his mind in amongst the faded glory, nostalgia, and kitschiness of cabaret shows and all-day breakfasts, director Colin Peppard explained: “I wanted to blur the line between tribute and identity. Where does The Harry Styles Show end and Sean McNicholas begin? Benidorm felt like the perfect place to explore that. The new town is all performance, neon, chaos and noise, while the old town feels like what’s underneath, something quieter and more real. There were moments watching the monitor where I genuinely felt like I was looking at Harry. It would just catch you off guard for a second. What Sean does is a real craft, and he’s meticulous about getting it right. After a few warm lagers and a late wander into the Tropical Bar, the line completely disappears. You just go with it, and it’s kind of amazing.”
Part-arch absurdist’s, part dissonant poets, the band shared scintillating EP lead single ‘Chocolate’ to plenty of fanfare in April, whilst the metallic intent of second reveal ‘Discipline’ squats on the chest as though Steve Albini is your sleep paralysis demon. The pain of accountability spews from the industrial regularity of the beat, apt to the narrative of a soldier coming to terms with the lies that made him commit atrocious, violent acts. Heavily influenced by 80s industrial music, the band lean on hypnotic repetition and harsh distorted electronics, processed every sound through distortion, cohesively fitting together each instrument’s texture, pulsating in and out of focus together as one.
Newly-partnered with indie heavyweights Heist or Hit, the enigmatic four-piece are primed for their own UK headline tour this autumn to celebrate their EP’s arrival. Having already ticked off a BBC 6 Music playlist spot and live session, praise continues to circulate throughout the press landscape with nods of approval from DIY Magazine, Dork Magazine, So Young, The Line of Best Fit, Clash and Rough Trade to name a few.
Produced by Gilla Band’s Daniel Fox (Sprints, MELTS, Psychotic Monks), Makeshift Art Bar’s ‘Discipline’ is out now via Heist or Hit and available on all digital platforms.
Live Dates
6 SEP – Edinburgh Psych Festival (UK)
12 OCT – The Cluny, Newcastle (UK)
14 OCT – Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds (UK)
15 OCT – The Quarry, Liverpool (UK)
16 OCT – The Abbey, Manchester (UK)
18 OCT – Exchange, Bristol (UK)
20 OCT – Green Door Store, Brighton (UK)
21 OCT – Dublin Castle, London (UK)
22 OCT – Croc’ the Rock Festival, Lausanne (CH)
Single Artwork © Alannah Quayle