N0V3L/EXEK - Violent & Paranoid/The Lottery of Inheritance

You're a lucky fucker! So goes the refrain on the Exek side on this strangely under the radar split from two of the best bands out there doing it right now, and I can't help but agree. We sold a lot of the NOV3L mini album last year, so I know there's a good few fans out there. You wont be disappointed with this. Violent & Paranoid keeps traces of the honkin' 'n' skronkin' punk funk blueprint of that first record, but changes the pace somewhat. The elongated intro and expanded sonic palette suggest a band moving away from their influences, a band on the cusp of taking that initial promising energy and becoming something absolutely vital. Probably the best thing they've done yet. Exek, fresh off the back of their third and most accessible album on Digital Regress, move closer to the light. They still retain their weirdness, but chug along in a slightly enraged fashion that suggests the psychic connection between present day Australia and mid 80s post punk England is as real and true as ever. A crucial 7" this. V. limited and seemingly hard to locate over here.