DC hardcore ‘shock rock’ punk band PsyOp conducts a psychological operation in their latest EP, Permanent Underclass.
DC Punk just makes sense. Regardless of what quadrant you’re in.. Chances are there’s something to be angry about: Gentrification, Parking Tickets, George Santos…
In the DC Hardcore scene, you may end up at a venue like Slash Run… You might end up in a skate park… You might even end up in a basement show featuring Pyramid Head murdering a teddy bear. What ties these spaces together is the face-kicking bands that throw their heart & soul and, in this case, literal blood onto the stage…
The term Shock Rock has been used to describe Rock performers of any subgenre that have the tendency to thrill in terrifying fashion with their on-stage persona and not just the musical experience. The intention of these performers is to induce a visceral reaction from their audience. Sometimes carrying a message along with the horror. In the mid-Atlantic few do it like PsyOP.
Their Newest EP “Permanent Underclass” dropped this week and is as Shock Rock as it is Hardcore DC Punk.
Daniel “DK”, Won, Doug, and Tom make up the four-piece Punk band. At first glance they’re the ruggedly handsome emo lookin’ boys from your Sociology class. On stage however, the instrumentalists are busy giving you whiplash going from almost groovy bass intros and drops to, in their words “Blasts of fury to postpunk freakouts.”
These Experts in tension and release arrange Doug’s squealing power chords, chugs, and riffs, with Won’s bass slides amongst Tom’s breakdowns in such a way that you get minimal release with the tension. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN CARLOS??? It means that the rage is palpable. It means that when DK is screaming at you about landlordism you should stay away from your landlord because you might staple your lease to your face instead of paying rent…
Which brings us to DK. While his Rollins-like attitude, grit, and vocal tone are top tier, what makes him stand out is the…Props he uses for the Performance art segment of the show. DK has been seen using rope floggers with nails on himself; whips, glass, and paint, can all be expected at a PsyOp show. Most notably he has used staple guns to attach Political slogans and literature to his face. He’s donned “Abort the Court” “Free Palestine”, in case you were wondering what side of the political spectrum they sit. When asked why? DK says “Besides the shock factor it carries a straightforward message”.
PsyOp’s EP Permanent Underclass Is out now. The live tracked EP is as angry and powerful as expected. Won welcomes the listener with rapid fire bass in “Navy Yard Burning”. The band says, ‘Nirvana Junky’ uses imagery to describe feelings of abject despair” while tackling addiction. Fans of Cronenberg’s The Fly will appreciate “Scumlord”, the track opens with a clip of Jeff Goldblum’s character in The Fly. DK Says “’Scumlord’ is a song decrying the deprivation of the human right to shelter by landlordism – using the metaphor of landlords as parasitic insects. So we felt that clip fit lol”. “(Enemy) Generation” closes the album with a good ol’ headbanging two stepping punk song with geopolitical undertones.
Carlos Ramirez is a broadcaster from the DC region and lover of all things performance art with experience in theatre, television, and radio. Carlos believes one of the most important details that makes music magical is the culture. Supporting the artist is just as important as enjoying their art. Therefore, when he’s not on the air, you can find him at every open mic, hole in the wall, and basement show in town. @LosOnAir
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