Making waves since the come-up of his occult-like track “Poor Taste,” artist Junkhead continues to personify grungy darkness in his first EP, LOVERBOY (prod. by gre). A five track snapshot of nights gone twisted, the EP stays true to Junkhead’s industrial vocals and gre’s gritty thematics. The duo have worked on numerous tracks together, solidifying their sounds into one strong, discernible tone.
Listening through LOVERBOY evokes an intense energy similar to that when accidentally biting one’s tongue: Irritable shock, followed by an attempt to suppress pain, and ending with a stinging, metallic taste. Unlike the nasty surprise of tongue biting, however, the EP is structured well, tightly produced, and an experience you want to go through again.
LOVERBOY begins with “You Know Im No Good,” taking place in the grimy limbo between lust and drugs. Junkhead asks why women continually gravitate to him, regardless of their or his relationship status: “You know I’m no good, why you love me? You know I’m no good, why you come over to fuck me?” Its lightly throbbing beat transitions well into the paranoia of Club Dance, which itself is carried by a pulsing, eerie buzz. Not necessarily a song to get down to in the club, however, it does feel like the 4am disoriented comedown after a night of mixed toxins.
The next two track tracks, “Lil Suzy Pt 1″ and “Lil Suzy Pt 2,” show the passage of fantasy to reality. Part 1 has a creeping, crawling feel stemming from high sliding pitches. Part 2 is darker, digging up old demons and forcing them to look at themselves in the mirror. Listening back to back, the tracks are like the initial curiosity of entering an asylum, dissolved into the terrible acceptance that you have to stay there.
“Suicide Party” wraps up the EP in a darkly ironic way. Junkhead speaks upon the futility of both life and material possession and how we, as a collective, are forced to engage in both to survive. A steady bell pattern rings consistently throughout; perhaps it is a death toll. Revolving clicks scattered throughout enhance the song’s sense of foreboding. We are left with a final cliffhanger – “Do you suffer?” Let’s hope it’s hypothetical.
With a handful of music videos under his belt and 3 projects set to come out this year, Junkhead is an artist to keep on your radar. We’re curious to hear what eccentric sounds he explores next. Check out all his previous work on his Soundcloud down below.