After some serious consideration, I’ve decided that the sounds featured on I Klatus’ Targeted (Dead Sage) would totally make sense in a David Lynch film. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is a compliment of the highest regard. Lynch made his bones in the film industry by following his own non-linear muse and at many times incorporating rad sounds into his work (see the Lost Highway soundtrack). I Klatus doesn’t mind taking some strange left turns and certainly isn’t interested in traditional songcraft.

Don’t misunderstand me, every year we get albums from artists who claim to be experimental or avant-garde but half the time that just translates to they can barely play their instruments. Or it’s just marketing speak to draw more eyes and ears for a band or artist. But those aren’t the case on Targeted, an album that feels alienating and yet compels to keep listening. 

I love that they chose opening track, ‘Solstice of Wind,’ to promote the album as it’s basically a prolonged intro piece. Just four minutes of sparse percussion and distant vocal chants. Yes, that’s the one that we’ll use as a lead single. Then on ‘Shitback and Halfway Damned’ we get the one track that can be deemed as closest to conventional. The vocals are a bit too dominant in the mix and feel overpowering, but I did like that they saved room for some lead guitar work and a meaty breakdown smack right in the middle. Then ‘Opium Cyborg’ – I challenge you to find a better song title this year – grabs all of the attention with an opening explosion of thrash metal beats. 

The adrenaline is rising but I Klatus pulls the rug and we’re suddenly in shoegaze territory, but don’t get too comfy because it’s now a black metal tune and all of that has happened in under four minutes. Now it’s time to sit in the cool-down tent and drink plenty of water. Ever wonder what it’d be like if John Carpenter covered Metallica’s ‘The Call of Ktulu?’ Take ‘Dance With The Skulls In The Church’ out for a spin and let me know what you think. 

If you’re looking to get weird tonight, Targeted is your ticket. 

Buy the album here: https://iklatus.bandcamp.com/album/targeted

8 / 10

HANS LOPEZ