Hailing from Southampton, UK, The KVB is the post-punk / darkwave vehicle of Klaus Von Barrel. The multi-talented artist who also fronts Die Jungen and plays guitar for Suicide Party initially started The KVB as a solo recording project back in 2010, but has since assigned synth duties to girlfriend Kat Day and together they have evolved into a full-fledged recording and touring band.
Owing equally to the mournful and world-weary sounds of Joy Division, the wall-crashing blast of shoegaze sonics courtesy of The Jesus & Mary Chain, the bombastic crunch of My Bloody Valentine, and the utterly stark synths and creeping drones of Cabaret Voltaire, Fad Gadget, and John Foxx, the duo blur the lines between genres and deliver a meticulously crafted masterclass in spine-tingling music bathed in blackness.
Always Then, their latest offering via Clan Destine Records showcases a band brimming with self-belief and a genuine desire to top their moody forebears while fearlessly striding into virgin territory. The album’s addictive brew of guitar noise, ghostly vocals, motorik grooves, ominous bass lines, and sinister atmospherics will definitely strike a chord with fans of such darkened sensibilities. Highly recommended.
Digital downloads: The KVB – The Black Sun Amazon MP3 (US) | Amazon MP3 (UK) | iTunes | Bandcamp
Digital downloads: The KVB – Into The Night Amazon MP3 (US) | Amazon MP3 (UK) | iTunes | Bandcamp
Digital downloads: The KVB – The KVB II Bandcamp
Digital downloads: The KVB – Minus One Bandcamp
Digital downloads: The KVB – Subjection/Subordination Bandcamp