Tribazik

Tribazik is a London-based group whose sound combines alternative rock, metal, experimental thrash, electronic music and psychedelic elements. The trio draws on heavy grooves, electronic beats and cross-genre arrangements, with subject matter that moves away from social constraints and towards ideas beyond the physical world and the universe.

Formation and style

The band develops material from a background on the metal circuit and in the underground rave scene. Jerry Kandiah handles vocals and guitar, while Hedge Seel plays drums and samples. Their approach brings together Acid Techno, rave, thrash metal and alternative rock, with live use of both acoustic and electronic tools.

Hedge uses a Roland TD5-K electronic kit alongside an acoustic kit, while Jerry uses a guitar-to-MIDI setup. Together they trigger real-time sounds from analogue equipment such as the Roland TB303, Monopoly and Novation instruments, as well as a Juno 106. These sounds are transferred to electronic drum pads and combined with guitar, beats, unusual arrangements and changing time signatures.

Development and recordings

After hearing the track “Yang To Yin”, bassist Paul Raven invites the band to support Killing Joke on two European tours. Tribazik release their debut album, All Blood is Red, through Eastworld in March 2009. The album is mixed by Andy Gill of Gang of Four. Jaz Coleman contributes vocals to “Molten” and appears in the song’s accompanying video.

Line-up changes and live performance

Syan joins the group in early 2009. Before joining Tribazik, she plays in Interlock, whose album Crisis//reinvention is released through Anticulture Records in 2004. Her addition brings synth pedals and another guitar-to-MIDI converter, allowing synth sounds to be played live through the guitar as well as via the drum pads. The band describes this as making its sound fuller, darker and more explosive.

Tribazik’s live show includes multimedia elements and projected visuals based on the lyrics, creating an interactive performance format linked to the group’s themes.

Reception

The band is described in reviews as mixing metal, rock, tribal music, acid techno and world influences, with references to heavy riffs, sampled sirens, war-like imagery and industrial elements. Their work is also compared to Captain Beefheart, Soulfly and a thrash band playing at an old-school acid techno rave.