Scorpion Tea

Genesis P-Orridge collaborator/Psychic TV member debuts grim and wry death rock as Scorpion Tea. After taking time to grieve the death of cultural icon and longtime collaborator Genesis Breyer P-Orridge (Throbbing Gristle, Psychic TV), Edley ODowd (Psychic TV, Toilet Boys) journeyed internationally to reconnect with former bandmates to create a fresh take on experimental and death rock. Self-described by drummer ODowd as "a band of monsters playing broken instruments," Scorpion Tea formed through the bonds of friendship, having survived the New York City punk and hardcore scenes together. Meshing cultural influences from Ecuador, Colombia, Eastern Europe, and Puerto Rico with their collective thirst for punk, goth, death rock, and city pop, the group has created a sound described by vocalist Anthony Diaz as "the phonic expression of a den of ravenous creatures." Fern Puma's bass lines, dripping with dapper strength, smartly pair with songwriter and guitarist Christian Cruz's delectable, unnerving riffs and the bold flavor of Edley's thunderous drumming while Anthony's involute lyrical profile elicits an impending storm over a haunted forest. The resulting noise is a harmonious blend with a rich and complex profile that anyone with an ear for the heavy will enjoy. The group's self-titled debut was recorded at Studio 22 in Los Angeles by Tomas Dolas (of Osees). "We spent six days in the brutal end of summer heat, with tons of equipment running, causing the heat outside to match the heat inside," explains Cruz, "It was nothing less than hallucinatory." While the well-rehearsed and prepared quartet brought the power of performance, expressivity and their uncompromising ethics, Dolas and studio partner Joo Joo Ashworth (Air Bol Bol) also brought unique devices into the sessions, including a legendary Eventide H910 Harmonizer, to assist with the album's unique character. "Scorpion Tea were a real pleasure to work with," marks Dolas, "Truly monsters playing broken instruments! They had such a great raw and dystopian energy in the studio. I think all that heat definitely got infused into the tracks!"