Ones To Watch: Kasms

Lurching in with a deft sense of precision and trampling along leaving a display of carnage in its wake like a devastating b-movie arachnobeast.

All beady eye stares and Hitchcock-like screams, the pitter-patter of its galloping steps culminate in ground-juddering dash of crunching snare explosions and gurgling bass notes, as a bansheelike wail declares, “The heavens are open, but you just missed your chance / Never ever ever going to make it to heaven, so drink your vomit and die”. Then, as the pace quickens, hectic thorny guitar riffs tangle around the melodies, shredding the jagged rhythms whilst the drums crash above, bringing together a sense of claustrophobic annihilation.

A mere example of this apocalyptic punk is highlighted on ‘Krih’; a relentless demonstration of theatrics and venom that London four-piece Kasms create. It’s their combination of spontaneity, short sharp prickly songs and an air of deranged sexuality that are fast drawing people towards them and their debut album ‘Spayed’, released on Trouble Records.

Making up the band is Rachel Mary Callaghan (vocals), Gemma Fleet (bass/ vocals), Rory Atwell (guitar/drums) and Scott R Walker (guitar/drums) and, on the lead up to the album release, they explain the veterinary procedure behind its title. Raven-haired bassist Gemma says: “I was watching the film Batman Returns and there’s a line where the Penguin goes to Catwoman,” and adopting a Batman villain accent continues, “I oughtta get you spayed”, and I kinda thought that was the ultimate cuss for a woman.” “The track names were okay,” adds Scott, “but the band and album name was a nightmare… I wanted to call it ‘Now That’s What I Call Music’!”

From the twelve songs within, only two poke their head above the three minute mark, and it’s this that has allowed them to transfer their energy on to record. Their live performances have the tendency to descend into unpredictable audience molesting or worrying theatrics. Recent shows at The Camden Crawl saw erratic siren Rachel launch herself into audiences. Elsewhere she climbs speakers, crawls across bars and gyrates and wriggles suggestively on the ground as Rory, Gemma and Scott continue to create an almighty racket.

Such performances have brought them the unlikely or likely attention of the adult film industry, which may give them the chance to be the rock stars of the porn world. “Basically the idea is that we’ll play live in this film; I’ve got the script but haven’t read it yet,” reveals Scott. “The director is coming down to our next show and if we do get it, we’ll get a load of money!”

“Kasms might make some money this year,” Rory laughs, “but probably not!”

Words by Lee Puddefoot