Viet Cong

It takes less than sixty seconds of album opener “Newspaper Spoons” for you to decide that Viet Cong‘s self-titled debut is a winter record. The guitar doesn’t snarl until the end of that opening minute, but it still presents a palpable iciness in just a few short moments. It’s bitter. It stings. But once you’re in it, and you’re bracing yourself and charging ahead, as the songs moves from a punishing, almost militarized drumbeat to a melody that’s still menacing but also delicate and almost celestial. That instinct for humanizing a stone-cold song is Viet Cong’s greatest gift and sharpest weapon. It’s harsh, but exhilarating.

Viet Cong will be joined by Toronto grunge-rockers Greys.