NO KLUC, strange name but somehow I’ve seen it flutter past my brain before. Probably some sticker of the band in some dark club in the capital.
NO KLUC comes from Strausberg near Berlin and after two self-produced albums, they have now released their first album with a booklet, pressed CD, and label to celebrate the band's ten-year anniversary with “Photones of Death“. The label responsible is Puke Music, the punk label from Berlin-Friedrichshain, which tirelessly gives unknown bands a chance time and again.
NO KLUC has seized this opportunity and presents 16 songs on their CD that come in a very unique style and are therefore not easy to grasp.
The band consists of bass, guitar, drums, vocals, and double bass.
The double bass player gives the songs a very special touch with the aggressive, dry slap he plays, which is usually only heard in psychobilly bands.
However, the songs and the band's sound are generally more in the realm of simple, catchy punk rock. A mix that is overall somewhat of an acquired taste, as the band might be too soft for the psychos and this peculiar, special hardness is likely to come off as unhealthy to the punks.
In ten years of band history, the five-piece has certainly gained some fans, and those who like the sound will feel at home with NO KLUC. Especially since the band tries to bring linguistic variety into their songs with German and English lyrics. There’s no question that NO KLUC puts in the effort.
For me, however, the band's style is neither here nor there.
Craftsmanship is all well done, but it doesn’t appeal to me even after multiple listens.
