Kal Marks

The Boston, MA trio Kal Marks released their sophomore full length, Life Is Murder, on September 17th through Sophomore Lounge, Midnight Werewolf, and Exploding In Sound Records. Life is Murder marks a change for the band thanks to an exceptional solidified line-up of musicians as well as the band's first album recorded in a professional studio. The results are stunning. An extremely personal record, Carl Shane (vocals/guitars) says the name Life is Murder is "roughly about dealing with depression and the struggle of keeping a band and my life together".

Kal Marks sound is unique, mixing brilliant songwriting with spacious and patient guitars and heavy rhythms. Slow builds lead to chaotic finales. Warm folk rock influences collide with sludgy beauty and post-rock tension. Kal Marks influences encompass a wide range of rock music, from Harvey Milk, KARP, and Modest Mouse, to Neil Young, Brian Eno, and John Fahey. The heavy sounds of Black Sabbath and Shellac, to the explorative music of Nick Drake and Mount Eerie.

Fixtures of Boston's fertile music scene, Kal Marks are one of the city's hardest working bands. Originally a solo project of Carl Shane, Kal Marks began in 2007 with Shane recording to a 4-track in his sisters' bathroom in New Hampshire. Soon after he moved to Boston and by 2009, the line-up had expanded to become a full band, embraced by the rabid basement scene due to consistently entrancing shows. The band self-released their debut Goodbye Horses in March 2011 and followed with the incredible Piss of the Century EP in July 2012. Kal Marks' line-up shifted throughout the years until Mike Geacone (bass) and Nick Egersheim (drums) joined the band in early 2013.