The 10 Best Swiss Bands, According to Native Dark-Jazz-Grind-Doom Experimentalists Convulsif (Exclusive)
Ever since we got our ears on Anatomy of Rage, the fourth studio album by Switzerland experimental brain scramblers Convulsif, we’ve listened over and over again trying to wrap our heads around its brilliance. (We almost covered every part of the human anatomy in that last sentence.) An offshoot of bassist Loïc Grobéty’s far-out Convulsif Bigband, Convulsif continue to – for lack of a better phrase, even though it’s over-used – push the boundaries of dark jazz, grind, doom, drone and noise. We’re already anticipating Convulsif’s next album, when they’re to incorporate remaining music genres smooth jazz, blue-eyed soul and neo-classical.
Convulsif’s music is badass in its own right, as you’ll discover on Anatomy of Rage or the quartet’s Bandcamp page. But much to our delight and humility, the gentlemen – Christian Müller (bass, clarinet and voice); Jamasp Jhabvala (violin); Loïc Grobéty (bass); and Maxime Hänsenberger (drums) – graciously decided to participate in The Bad Penny‘s latest series, in which we ask musicians from non-U.S. countries what they consider to be their own homeland’s top music offerings. Why embark upon this globetrotting adventure? Because fuck Spotify.
So, without further ado, say hello to Convulsif and the bands they hand-selected as Switzerland’s crème de la crème (fun fact: The Swiss use that turn of phrase the same way the French do!).
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The 10 Best Swiss Bands, Per Convulsif
The Swiss music that has influenced us is very often pioneering. With Convulsif, we continue to offer the kind of avant-garde rock music that is our country’s trademark.
1. Voice Crack
We’ll start with the Swiss avant-garde scene and this duo. They come from a free jazz background and have continually evolved their sound and sound systems. They have released many collaborative albums.
2. Alboth!
Alboth! is important name for avant-garde and industrial music. This project is fascinating and wild. Unfortunately, it’s not very well known. Apparently, Steve Albini was a fan of this group (information to be verified).
They are among the pioneers of industrial music. They begun with samplers in the 1980s and are still active today. Their sound is impressive. In particular, they influenced Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails).
4. Monno
Monno (not to be confused with the Japanese band) is a group that has greatly influenced our sound and approach. I was blown away not only by their dynamic live performance but also by their unique instrumentation.
This is a powerful free jazz trio. They bring incredible energy to their hardcore chamber music. They’ve developed a unique approach.
He is an interdisciplinary musician and a pioneer in his field. He practically invented turtablism.
7. Knut
Knut is also a major band in the post-hardcore scene, on par with Isis, Neurosis, and Converge. I worked with the singer, Didier, in the duo Llama/OLO.
8. Celtic Frost
This band is considered the pioneer of black metal and has been a major influence on many bands around the world. Tom G. Warrior worked for H.R. Giger and continues to do so in Zurich.
9. Coroner
This band from the ’90s really left a strong impression on me—especially Tommy Vetterli’s magnificent solos.
10. Krokus
This band is one of the first major Swiss bands to have gained international recognition.
Go to Convulsif’s website and Bandcamp page for more info on when you can pick their new album, Anatomy of Rage, when it drops October 1.
For more authoritative lists of the best bands from non-U.S. countries, as picked by bands that hail from those places, check out:
• The 10 Best Irish Bands, According to Alt-Pop-Addicted Electronic Producer Phenom Vaticanjail (Exclusive)
• The 10 Best Chilean Bands, According to Guitarist for Santiago-Based Noisy Punk-Rock Squad Niño Nuclear (Exclusive)
• The 10 Best Venezuelan Heavy Bands, According to the Country’s Most Badass Garage-Rock Guitarist, Diego Ramirez
• The 10 Best Italian Metal Bands, According to the Country’s New Post-Metal Phenoms Orbita (Exclusive)
• The 10 Best Belgian Metal Bands of All Time, According to Gnarly Native Sons 30,000 Monkies (Exclusive)
• Edge of Sanity Frontman Dan Swanö Reveals 10 Swedish Bands That Made Their Way Into His Musical DNA
• The 10 Best Swedish Heavy Bands Ever, According to Native Sons Prime Creation
• The 10 Best Portuguese Heavy Bands Ever, According to Portugal’s Own Fernando Ribeiro of Moonspell
• Germany’s Top 10 Best Metal Bands Ever, Per the Country’s Native Death-Metal Sons Fleshcrawl
• The 10 Best Finnish Bands Ever, According to Natives the Feral Kids
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