VIDEO OF THE WEEK – GRILLIJONO K.O.

Chosen by DJ Monk

Despite the ongoing lockdown in many parts of the Überverse, we are still receiving a healthy bundle of submissions for our coveted ‘Video Of The Week’ title. Many of them are produced against the background of continuing quarantine conditions in some countries, while others reflect artists being able to return and flex their creative muscles once again.

Our award this week goes to Finnish turborock newcomers Grillijono K.O. and the extremely cheesy, yet entrancing, video for their new single, ‘Mä oon sun koira’. Frontman Lobo-Tommi told us the background to the song:

“Sometimes relationship is like two parties, a dog and an owner. A dog tries to please it’s owner even at the risk of having to stifle his/her own identity. The end result is not always beautiful to look at.”

It was this lyrical theme, as well as the band’s mutual love of old horror and comedy movies that inspired the accompanying clip, as Lobo-Tommi extrapolated:

“The music video was inspired by Monty Python’s Holy Grail, among other things. We packed the beers and acoustic guitars and went to the cottage to¨shoot B-class horror video. The video was made with the idea of “the dumber the better”. We think we did a hell of a job!”

Having already released an EP and a couple of singles which were minor hits in their homeland, Grillijono K.O. are now looking to expand their horizons with their debut album, which is due later this year via Secret Entertainment. In the meantime, sit back, crack open a beer and enjoy this wonderfully stupid video:

A total change in pace for our first two runners-up, the first whom are ÜK thrash legends Onslaught, who are inviting us ‘Bow Down To The Clowns’ on the latest single to be extracted from their ÜR-approved forthcoming new album, ‘Generation Antichrist’, which is being released on 7 August. The video most definitely is not for anyone with a phobia of clowns, and features flashing imagery:

We keep the action in the heavyweight division with our next offering. ‘Soulbound’ is the second single to be lifted from ‘Abyss’, the forthcoming concept album from Canadian power metallers Unleash The Archers – which, if both this and the previously released title track are anything by which to judge, is going to be an utter stonker. The accompanying video for ‘Soulbound’ continues the story from ‘Abyss’ itself and is a very neatly shot combination of powerful live action and cinematic narration:

Our final pair of videos both explore the theme of the recent, and in some cases continuing, lockdowns. The first comes from Boston garage rock veterans Muck And The Mires who, like many of us, yearn for a return to the pre-pandemic world as they plead ‘Take Me Back To Planet Earth’ with this slice of eloquent retro-power pop, which features some neat visual references to recent conditions:

Out final offering comes from ÜR regulars IDLES and their latest acerbic, acidic observation on modern society, in the form of ‘A Hymn’, the third single to be lifted from their forthcoming new album, ‘Ultra Mono’, which is due in September. Frontman Joe Talbot says of the song: “[It] is a hymn that rejoices in the sinister flesh-eating virus of the pedestrian. It sings the tune of normal’s teeth sinking into your neck as you sleep stood up with your eyes open. Amen.” Like their other two most recent offerings, ‘Mr Motivator’ and ‘Grounds’, the accompanying video was shot against the backdrop of lockdown and social distancing, this time featuring the band members driving (or being driven) around the streets of their native Bristol as they engage is such mundane tasks as shopping for essentials, accompanied by some rather interesting subtitles; the result is as hypnotic as the track itself:

IDLES will host a series of three live performances from an iconic studio space (to be named later) on 29 and 30 August, which will be professionally recorded, filmed, and livestreamed. Tickets on sale now, more info and link to purchase HERE.

Well, there you go. That’s your lot for this week. Hope you have enjoyed the new sights and sounds we have brought to you this week. Until next Sunday, keep ‘er lit, keep ‘er between the hedges and #StaySafe…