Chris Ingalls: Suitably creepy. And not just the video, which looks like David Lynch ransacking a Harmony Korine script. Parts of the song seem like they’re trying too hard to be weird, but the unique mix of low-end synth bass, off-kilter falsettos and Quaalude drum beats make this worth a listen, even if it’s just as a palate cleanser after listening to something too mainstream. [6/10]
Emmanuel Elone: “Paralyzer” was surprisingly disappointing. The song started out with a lot of potential, from the heavy electronic bass and synth to Suuns slightly manic and insane vocals. However, nothing else of note occurs for the next four and a half minutes. Instead of switching things up or reaching some sort of climax, Suuns does just enough to tease the listener into finishing the song only to be let down. “Paralyzer” could have been such a great tune; that’s what makes it such a disappointment. [3/10]
Pryor Stroud: Dissonant, moody, and itching to rip out of its own skin, Suun’s “Paralyzer” injects a series of straight-jacket mutterings into a grimy, pseudo-Lynchian sonic dystopia replete with wailing sirens and twitchy, compulsive percussion. “I just want to touch you / And feel you with my hands,” singer Ben Shemie yearns, “Give everyone a chance / Give everyone a chance.” The lines have a greedy, perverse, nearly exploitative quality to them, like this lover holds the cure to some disease that is decimating the population beneath her skin, and the singer will do anything to get it. But, once the blood is drawn and the sirens are silent, several questions remain: Is this singer intent on saving others? Or just himself? [5/10]
Chad Miller: I don’t love Shemie’s voice for this type of music, but the song itself is pretty good. Suuns still brings out a good amount of horror from the music as well as from the vague lyrics, though it occasionally risks slipping into the realm of background music. [6/10]
Suuns’ new album HOLD/STILL releases April 15th via Secretly Canadian.
SCORE: 5.00
TOUR DATES
03/12 Rouyn-Noranda, QC @ Agora des Arts
03/19 Azores Island, PT @ Tremor Festival
04/07 Sainte-Therese, QC @ Bar le Cha-Cha
04/09 Saint-Casimir, QC @ La Taverne
04/15 Quebec City, QC @ La Meduse
04/16 Carleton-sur-Mer, QC @ La Naufrageur
04/20 Montreal, QC @ La Tulipe
04/21 Ottawa, ON @ St. Alban’s Church
04/22 Toronto, ON @ Adelaide Hall
04/23 Athens, OH @ Ohio University at Casa Nueva
04/24 Bloomington, IN @ The Bishop Bar
04/26 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
04/27 Washington, DC @ DC9
04/28 New York, NY @ The Marlin Room at Webster Hall
04/29 Allston, MA @ Great Scott
05/19 Berlin, DE @ Berghain
05/20 Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg
05/21 Lille, FR @ Grand Mix
05/22 Brussels, BE @ La Nuit De Botanique Festival
05/24 London, UK @ ICA
05/27 Neustreliz, DE @ Immergut Festival
05/28 KleinReifling, AT @ Seewiesen Festival
05/30 Paris, FR @La Villette Sonique
05/31 Tours, FR @ Aucard De Tours Festival
06/01 Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Sound
06/03 Lourmarin, FR @Festival YEAH
06/04 Mulhouse, FR @ Noumatrouff
06/05 Mannheim, DE @ Maifield Derby Festival
06/07 Yverdon les Bains, SW @L’Amalgame
06/08 Rome, IT @ Monk
06/09 Ravenna, IT @ Beaches Brew Festival
06/17 Vancouver BC @ Imperial // Levitation Vancouver
06/25 Calgary AB @ Sled Island Festival