The first time you listen to it, you will likely feel — like most others have already attested — something resembling discomfort and distressed, yet it should be stated that it’s in a conductive way. Eventually, its rage will consume you, too, upon repeated listen. PISS’ you made me / skin on linen, is a statement album and heroic one at that, and while some might need to put some space between themselves and the debut album from the Vancouver art punks afterward to reflect on it just as you might any provocative work, the anger it serves to spark does serve a purpose. You realize just how important it is once you embrace all of the above.

At least that’s just my take away from listening to the four-piece of vocalist Taylor Zantingh, guitarist Tyler Paterson, bassist Gavin Moya, and drummer Garreth Roberts. Together, they set fire to the soundboards in confronting themes of sexual violence, misogyny, and gender norms in what might be the most heaviest blunt trauma form that today’s vibes culture across independent music which — yes, even that afflicted in some portions of noise rock and hardcore — tend to steer clear of.

PISS thread the details of true stories they want to tell fascinatingly, and do so in a manner that embellishes their multi-disciplinarian style fusing Paterson’s unbridled intensity with soundbites collected from a range of authors, philosophers, fellow creatives, psychoanalysts, activists, and conversations with children and audience members. Collectively, it retells lived experiences in vivid detail, and the dynamics in their sound are there to meet every moment, be it PISS’ fiery ire channeled through violent noise-punk to neutralize the violence women have been conditioned to expect (“time loop at hot slit”, “there was a door”) or devastating, slow-burning, Xiu Xiu-esque emo that conflagrates trauma rather than leaving it on the cutting room floor (“blocking a scene you can’t remember”.)

“I don’t know if writing about violence is helping me,” Paterson wonders in its opening scene, “i wanted to be a singer”. Later, she urges listeners by album’s end that despite all of which they’ve just heard, that “resistance is possible” on “Rote Zora. ‘Resistance is Possible.’ Emma, no. 6, June 1984, pp. 39-41.” Each of these track’s doubles as a necessary bookend to one of the year’s most demanding albums by wielding brave words stated and screamed as truth bombs, and truth bombs as some of the heaviest-hitting music of the year. There’s a reason you made me / skin on linen exists, and PISS have made certain that its matter can’t be ignored.

Highlights: “i wanted to be a singer”, “time loop at hot slit”, “Rote Zora. ‘Resistance is Possible.’ Emma, no. 6, June 1984, pp. 39-41.”

PISS’ you made me / skin on linen is available now on Sub Pop / Paper Bag Records.

Buy | Stream