aaamusic | On 29, May 2011

Polar opposite to the delicate poise of the influential jazz bassist Scott LaFaro from which this Belfast quartet takes their name, LaFaro are a wrecking ball of a band. Their rhythmic post-hardcore is designed to pulverize dance floors and leave no bottle of beer undrunk – this is music distilled to its fundamental elements – ‘We hark back to time when rock music was still fun’ states lead rabble-rouser Johnny Black ominously.

Recalling The Jesus Lizard, Shellac, Helmet (with whom the band have toured Europe) and NI heroes Therapy? LaFaro have character, chops and emotion oozing through every seedy riff ‘I love to write about life’s dark little secrets – the things we all know happen but never get discussed’.

On ‘Easy Meat’ their sophomore offering, LaFaro have transplanted their sound into a black, hellish and apocalyptic space. Gone is the echo of grunge, it has been replaced with metal’s electric chair. Part meditation on Northern Ireland, part metal concept album ‘Easy Meat’ is a dense, troubling and exhilaratingly kick ass affair – these are riffs to shoplift to.

The LP will be out at the back end of the summer, preceded in August by a limited edition 7” vinyl release of the title track and select, UK/Ireland tour dates with pop-punk princes Ash:

06/06/11 – Whelan’s – Dublin, Ireland ***SOLD OUT***
07/06/11 – Playhouse – Portrush, Northern Ireland
08/06/11 – Empire – Belfast, Northern Ireland
23/07/11 – Glasgowbury