Test Icicles April 20, 2006

Test Icicles sound like everything, all at once, with little left out. Rory Aggwelt, Sam Merrann and Devonte Hynez are three restlessly inventive dudes, with divergent backgrounds in hardcore, metal, hardcore metal, and hip-hop.

They listen to every conceivable kind of music going, and when they're done listening to it, they throw it in the pot. No compromises, no faffing, just a swampy mass of influences frothing and bubbling until it sounds nothing like its composite parts.

The Test Icicles live revue is something of a spectacle. "It's totally some real kickin' shit" Sam yawns, referring to their penchant for climbing speaker stacks, swapping instruments and vocal duties, and rushing the crowd. This year Dev's foot was impaled on a stray shard of glass onstage at the recently-defunct Infinity club. Everyone thought it was part of the act, even as he collapsed. "It's OK. I've just got a new way of walking now," he says. He restricts himself to goading the crowd now, politely requesting they "fuck shit up".

Meanwhile, Sam and Rory are elsewhere, doing the splits, falling to their knees, screaming, or hanging from the ceiling. With this being the last ever tour by the band as a whole, it's deffinately something to look forward to.

Official Website: http://www.manchesteracademy.net/testicicles.html