When referring to The Two Koreas, Jimmy Shaw of Metric said “These guys are local heroes of mine … they get together, under the cover of night, sporting patent white leather shoes and rock your face off while you’re not looking. Gives me hope for music and all things unplanned.” That is quite the endorsement from a respected musician. The Toronto band have shared the stage with Wire, Japandroids, Monotonix, Owen Pallett, Constantines, and Metric.
After a few listens through their new album Science Island,it is apparent to see why the band have received such accolades. The album is full of fun charged energy. Opening track “Scared Straight” constantly bombards you with the sound of clashing symbols and distorted guitars before the vocals join in. The whole album has a very black leather rock and roll feel to it, something that has come from a band that are more than comfortable playing shows in big cities until the wee hours of the morning. While the album may start to feel somewhat repetitive with tracks like “Haunted Beach”, “Diamond Geezer”, and “Withering Heights” all moving forward at such a fast speed and using similar tricks from song to song, the ending saves the album. After the 45 second short track “Dinck Helen”, the album ends with two tracks that are over 7 minutes long. Closer “Majored in Swimming” gives the band an opportunity to showcase their ability to slowly build up a song to a feverous pitch, then slow it down again. It’s no surprise that Jimmy Shaw is so fond of the band as there tracks seem like they are built to be played live. If you’re looking for something with a little kick to it, try giving The Two Koreas a spin.
