Die Monitr Batss

A spin-off from the formidable blues-punk of the Gossip, Olympia, WA's Die Monitr Batss feature that group's guitarist Nathan as its singer/guitarist. Unlike the Gossip, however, the sound of Die Monitr Batss - which also includes saxophonist Nate; guitarist/singer Brace; drummer Chris; and Lana, also a singer - owes more to no wave and art punk influences like Mars and Teenage Jesus & the Jerks. In 2002, the group released a split 7" with the like-minded Chromatix on the GSL imprint, and the following year issued the Spread Your Legs Release the Bats 7" and Youth Controllerzz full-length on Dim Mak.
- Heather Phares

Dim Mak Releases:
DM041: Die Monitr Batss "Spread Your Legs Release the Batss", BUY 7"
DM042: Die Monitr Batss "Youth Controllerzzz", BUY CD
DM062: Die Monitr Batss/AST Split: Buy CD, Buy 7"

Other releases from members fo Die Monitr Batss on Dim Mak:
DM046: Gossip "Undead in NYC" LP/CD

Press

Updated 7/19/05
Filter March 2005
Review: 3 stars
A side project for members of blues-punk outfit The Gossip, Die Monitr Batss muster up all the same jagged guitars and paranoia as labelmates Erase Errata, only with an even more lo-fi approach. Though nothing here smells yet, the art-school bratiness may be stale by the time it hits your CD player.

Updated 5/25/05
XLR8R March 2005
Review: Girls of War
Words: Carla Costa
For a band whose first 7"s predicted a big No Wave mess, Die Monitr Batss has pulled off an impressive LP. Featuring members of Portland's Sleet Mute Night Mute and The Gossip's Brace Paine, Die Monitr Batss' droning chug of bass and reverb is skillfully split with tri-tempo drums, angular stabs of frenzied guitar, and the wail of discordant sax. The only rollover from Paine's work in The Gossip is his skill in turning stripped down riffs into measures of punk composition and that's what holds these track together. Girls of War is a synthesis of Northwest noise and a solid debut.

Updated 03/30/05
Urb March 05
Words: DN
Girls of War Review

A side project for members of blues-punk outfit The Gossip, Die Monitr Batss musters up all the same jagged guitars and paranoia as labelmates Erasa Errata, only with an even more lo-fi approach.

Updated 12/09/04
Splendid Magazine
Words: Jennifer Kelly

"Two Portland, Oregon neu no-wave bands, each with connections to better known outfits, contribute short, spazzy, off-kilter punk songs in the tradition of DNA and Teenaged Jesus. Die Monitr Batss, led by The Gossip's Brace Pain, kicks in the deadpan frenzy of "Physical Distraction", with its razor-wire guitarline and uninfected, bored-even-with-hominess, machine-drilled chants. "Fox Trouble USA" leans in a more political direction, sawed-off riffs and distorted vox charging hard at the right-wing news channel.

A.S.T. drawing members from Sleetmute Nightmute, follows with three more tracks, distinguising only slightly from Die Monitr Batss' material by multiple vocals in unison and a chaotic groove in which everyone is playing different riffs all at once. "Work", with its sudden arhythmic stops and starts, is quite decent in that offhand couldn't-give-a-damn-whether-you-like-it-or-not way. There's also an oddly toned, falling-down-the-stairs appeal to "Songs". Overall, the split is a shot of anarchist energy, but as usual with post-punk DIY splits, it's over quickly, ripping through five songs in eight and a half minutes. Got ADD and a touch of nihilistic scom? This is your split."

Voxer Magazine


Updated 01/06/04
PORTLAND MERCURY

Music:
Relive the power of punk rock, rejuvenated and birthed in the form of shoplifting, (not the act, necessarily, but definitely the band.) And somebody should make a t-shirt: Die Monitr Batss is "saxy."



YOUTH CONTROLLERS REVIEWS

Updated 12/6/03
ARTROCKER
DIE MONITR BATSS -Youth Controllers (Dim Mak)
Die Monitr Batss seem to be on a collision course with the noise, racing through as many ideas as they can muster in the shortest possible space of time.

Updated 09/17/03
ALTERNATIVE PRESS
VOLUME 18 NUMBER 182
NO SCHOOL
Sharper than a punch in the face with a fist fulla keys, here's an incomplete list of North America's finest neo no wave attack squads
DIE MONITR BATSS We have been told that interviews with this bunch disintegrate into a series of lies, smarmy non sequitors and blank stares. Their Dim Mak disc, a compilation of tracks from assorted singles, boasts some primo skree that would sound good between early Sonic Youth and Erase Errata on that mixtape you've been trying to finish. If you can not genuflect at the majesty that is Spread your Legs, Release the Batss, seek help now.

MIC
Positive Greek Review

AGROPOLIS
BEST OF THE MONTH!

ARTROCKER
Nine songs in just under fifteen minutes. Now that is brevity for you. Die Monitr Batss seem to be on a collision course with the noise, racing through as many ideas as they can muster in the shortest possible space of time. They are like the Erase Errata it is surely not okay to dance to; yet dance you will. The saxophone tears through the no wave racket whilst male and female vocals attempt to outdo each other within the musical vortex. This could either give you a splitting headache of gargantuan proportions, or else clear your brain of all else, wiping out those life problems for a brief moment. And in Spread Yr Leggs, Release the Batss they have a bonafied love song on their hands. Although it is love only in the sense of pure sexual release, the consummation of a driving urge. This is catharsis whether you want it to be or not. This is a record for the ladies in the house.


THE STRANGER
4 Stars
Die Monitor Bats, known alternately as seemingly any arrangement of the letters that compose their name (see credit above), are a Portland four piece of absurd composition two guitars, two sets of vocals, drums, saxo ma phone. Does not sound so absurd to me , you say (ever snidely)? Well, I guess you have not heard them, then. Clearly, the lineage from which Die Monitr Batss descend (sparing us all the list of no wave pedigree) lays a groundwork of understanding for such a brand of ungodly racket--but come on, does perspective really make this record any less ridiculous? And when I
say ridiculous, I mean TOTALLY AWESOME. It is a sloppy, masturbatory mess of chunky, dissonant guitars, jarring horn squelches, stutter stops, and atonal screaming and it just makes me so damned giggly. There is almost nothing at all cerebral in my unabashed appreciation of this, their debut EP; Die Monitr Batss seem to have done the previously unthinkable shoving an id soaked sock in the mouth of this impossibly long winded reviewer with the depth of their sheer awesomeness. I mean, come on nine songs in under 15 minutes, plus the greatest chorus of all time ( Spread your legs! And release the Bats!)? How could you, with a clear conscience, resist this?
ZAC PENNINGTON

SPREAD YOUR LEGS RELEASE THE BATS REVIEWS

CRIMINAL CONVERSATION
Another record I was excited about, die monitrr bats finally release their follow-up to last years awesome split 7 inch with chromatics. Die Monitrr Batss sound is probably the closest thing to original no wave today amongst the ever growing number of post punk/no wave influenced bands. Somewhat reminiscent of Teenage Jesus and the Jerks more saxaphone-driven songs, if only Lydia Lunch had received a lobotomy. The saxophone, played by Nate (Also in Sleetmute/Nightmute) is a really great addition to the songs, setting them apart from alot of these Gang of Four cover bands. I guess I'll have to settle for these 4 songs until Die Monitrr Batss full length is released. Go buy this.

-Matt

back to top