Nirvana doesn’t appear on Metz’s list of influences, just like Parquet Courts are slow to cite Pavement among theirs. On the former’s sophomore LP, the Toronto trio source generously from the aforementioned grunge gods, as well as contemporaries like the Jesus Lizard. “Acetate” opens acerbic, instrumentation battling: drums hard-hitting, vox bellowed, guitars in the red. Lyrically, a somber theme manifests early on, singer/guitarist Alex Edkins despondent in “The Swimmer” (“You let me down – again”). That irresolution endures, as both noise and power defy any presumed trio limitation. At just 25 minutes, these 10 tracks zip quick, but their aural, emotional weightiness demands compression. (Fri., 1am, Levitation Tent)
This article appears in May 8 • 2015.