Totally Ripped

The noise- and experimental-rock scene in Vancouver, British Columbia, seems to produce bands with a flavor distinct from that of their American cousins. Two things that unite them, however, are a palpable grittiness and a fearless use of disparate elements to create an often disturbingly, always startlingly compelling sound. Like...

By Tom Murphy

April 30, 2009

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

The noise- and experimental-rock scene in Vancouver, British Columbia, seems to produce bands with a flavor distinct from that of their American cousins. Two things that unite them, however, are a palpable grittiness and a fearless use of disparate elements to create an often disturbingly, always startlingly compelling sound. Like Whitehouse, Coil and Nurse With Wound, Totally Ripped uses sound to reflect the horrors of the modern world, but the band comes off less like it's exorcising personal demons and more like it's capturing sonic images of a haunted world overgrown with the decaying crust of civilization. Don't anticipate a muscular punk band, but do count on music that challenges the mind and senses.

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning, Westword has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.

Tom Murphy is a writer, visual artist and musician from Aurora, Colorado. He was a prolific music writer for Westword and a documenter of the Denver music scene.

Follow:

Twitter: @simianthinker