Four Stroke Baron is definitely not everyone’s cuppa. Hell, we’re fans of the Reno, Nevada outfit and regularly find that sometimes we need to be in the right headspace for their brand of cerebral carnage. Which can be said for lots of styles of music but Four Stroke Baron especially is a particularly special kind of cathartic crazy. Even more so with their newest collection of sonic schizophrenia transpiring across Data Diamond.
We don’t use the term “schizophrenia” lightly either when talking about Data Diamond as this blistering batch of nine tracks was originally conceived as two separate EP’s with one focusing on the electronic (“Data”) and the other, the heavy (“Diamond”). Together it sounds like Four Stroke Baron at the peak of their ultimate unhingedness (Not a word). It’s weird and wonderful and, dare we say, a little more focused with the way the themes flow between each other blurring the lines at times of what’s specifically the “Data” and “Diamond” parts.
“On Mute” and “Monday” are a two-headed starter pack that’s the logical continuation from Classics with that Four Stroke Baron penchant for big, bold noise ever present as “The Witch” enters the fray next with a kind of amalgamation of the Heavy Electro-ness theme prevalent throughout. “Cyborg Pt. 3 (Because I’m God)” is the continuation of a theme last heard on 2018’s Planet Silver Screen (“Cyborg Pt. II: The City”) and is quintessential timeless Four Stroke Baron with Kirk Witt’s guitars and voice doing their thang as Matt Vallarino precisely pummels with “VALLT” acting as a soft reset amidst electronic ecstasy and a side of jazziness.
“Open The World” is like Danny Elfman’s more eclectic recent solo outings set to Tim Burton’s more vibrant features (Think Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and “People In My Image” is a Heavy Metal video game soundtrack straight out of the ’90’s. “1000 Threads” is epic and expansive with a flair for one-time FSB collaborator Devin Townsend’s mid-2000’s offerings sonically capped off by some horn accompaniment that leads into the vibrant title track which closes the record with pianos, a punchy percussive fervor from VOLA’s Adam Janzi and an all around progressive pouncing that only Four Stroke Baron could pull off.
Data Diamond arrives from Prosthetic Records on May 31st. Pre-orders are up now and can be perused and purchased by heading here. For more from Four Stroke Baron, follow the trail of socials when you click here, here, or here.