ALBUM REVIEW: Fire Island, AK -The Jester as Victim

(Notice: If you’re one that subscribes to the belief that melody and rhythm are imperative to music, this probably won’t suit you. Personally, I enjoy listening, from time to time, to something that you can’t sing along to or bob your head with.)

While driving in a hellacious southern summer storm, I thought it might be fitting to give Fire Island, AK‘s new release ‘The Jester as Victim’ a listen. Perhaps that wasn’t the best idea. I found myself feeling as if I may have a panic attack. That nervousness coupled with hydroplaning made my heart feel like it was going to fall out of my ass.

In case you’re not privy to the work of Fire Island, AK, here’s the skinny: Thomas Boettner (the brains and sole member of this project) is from Spartanburg and has played all over the place. In fact, ‘The Jester as Victim’ was recorded in Spartanburg shortly before he packed his bags and moved to, you guessed it, Alaska. I’ve known Mr. Boettner for many years and aside from being a superb human being, he’s also an amazing musician with an ability to make very beautiful sounds. However, this album is far from beautiful in any conventional sense. It will actually be quite ugly and abrasive to some.

This four track album is a swirling, abrupt and violent combination of distorted and manipulated frequencies. Imagine a trou de loup, a punji pit for the ears. From beginning to end this album makes the listener feel as if they’ve just fallen into a deep hole in the forest that is rigged with very sharp sticks in the bottom. Death is certainly imminent. Out of the gate a gauntlet of high-pitched cacophony and fuzz burst from the speakers. Images of panzer tanks and St. Peter crucified on an inverted cross come to mind. Snarling inaudible lyrics are littered throughout the album but Baphomet only knows what he’s saying. The vocals are intentionally pitch-shifted, creating a tone akin to that of a demon. That being said, this record, according to T. Boettner, is based on the book ‘Demons’ by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Thomas was highly successful in creating a boisterous thunderfuck so grand it is actually endorsed by the Great Serpent Himself.

Synopsis? This is the most frightening thing I’ve ever heard. I love it.

You can purchase the album here, and you can listen to older work here.