Formed in 2012, Tunic can trace its musical roots to the caustic, angular stylings of Big Black and The Jesus Lizard and their colleagues from across the AmRep and Touch and Go rosters. As displayed on Quitter’s title track, pummelling drums, distorted bass, discordant guitar, and wild-eyed vocals combine and lurch forward like an Army tank of sound. Yet, Tunic is more transparent than its noise-rock heroes ever were. There is an earnestness that links the Winnipeg outfit to a line of more heartfelt ancestors — post-hardcore gods like Drive Like Jehu and Fugazi. On October 15th Tunic will release their new album Quitter through Artoffact Records.
Eager to find out more about the band’s influences we asked David Schellenberg from the band to talk to us about 3 releases that have influenced them a lot.
Photo by Adam Kelly
The Body – I’ve Seen All I Need To See
This is my favourite record of 2021 so far. It’s devastatingly brutal and floats in a genreless world of blown out punishment. I didn’t realize till hearing this record, but it’s something that my ears have been craving. It combines everything I love about The Body, brilliant songwriting, spooky sampled monologues, screeching vocals and amazing beautiful almost post rock like passages. Plus Seth Manchester’s production takes it to another level with all the digital clipping and distortion truly making this record a piece of art.
Alvvays – Antisocialites
Portishead – Dummy
I thrifted this CD when I was 16 years old and it’s been in heavy rotation ever since. I bought it because of name recognition and knowing that they had been pioneers of their genre. I had never heard anything like it, the samples, the haunting vocals of Beth Gibbons, and the undeniable depressed grooves. I was terrified to listen to any other album by Portishead for about 7 years because I was convinced that lighting couldn’t strike twice, but luckily I was wrong.
