ELKS @ Le Poisson Rouge0

I was able to catch Brooklyn locals, ELKS, play a set when they opened up for Valient Thorr, JEFF the Brotherhood and Pentagram at Le Poisson Rouge last week. I truthfully hadn’t heard of them prior to the show, but I ended up really enjoying their set. They manage to blend metal and punk, in a very authentic way, without delving into the painfully overdone realm of metalcore. That is, they stay far truer to the roots of both genres, maintaining that essential grittiness, rather than producing the modernized and excessively refined sound that’s all too prevalent at the moment. ELKS are playing their first headliner at Union Pool in Brooklyn on September 16 and then again toward the end of October (October 21st). They also have a few shows scheduled in various other cities within the next few weeks. I know I plan on checking them out again, and if you get the chance, I’d really recommend you do the same. Keep reading for a few more photos, or head over to my Flickr for the full set.