Upper Michigan's rock trio brings the noise on Learning Curve Records' debut LP "Minnow," LImited to 300 copies on colored wax.
SHIPPING MAY OF 2025
A power trio hailing from the remote lakeshore town of Muskegon, Michigan,
Tonguecutter initiates a spectacular collision of thrash and grunge on its debut full-
length, Minnow. Meaty riffage and sly rhythmic shifts lay a base over which vocalist/
guitarist Chantal Roeske lets loose an irradiant display of angst. The jubilant riffage
of Suicidal Tendencies, the progressive bent of Voivod, and the almighty howling
rage of Hole are all present. But the real greatness lies in Roeske's melodic sensibility,
as a singer and songwriter, with each song taking unexpected twists and blooming with
unforeseen hooks.
The album's opener and first single, "Urgency," opens with grumbling bass,
uppercutting drums, and a bouncing riff that might easily boost the global sale of Pepsi
this year. Roeske then takes charge with a voice that commands like the best wailers of
the grunge era, culminating in a powerhouse six-second scream that sends the song into
a new dimension of odd-time signatures and mesmerizing melodies. Casual listeners
might have no idea that the band has cruised discreetly from 12/8 to 11/4 to 5/8 to 7/8,
but they will certainly feel the power of Chantal's soaring voice in their chests as she
brings the song toward its heart-melting conclusion.
Reflecting on "Urgency," Roseke states, "Last year we had a chemical spill in Muskegon
and it inspired us to write this song about escaping chemical warfare." Her lyric, "Pull
me out of it before we get sick," delivered with maximum conviction and repeated
twice, is especially haunting in the context of the song's story.
"Urgency," along with the other ten songs on Minnow, reveal Roeske to be a rare
musical talent with a fully-formed aesthetic. While it is initially shocking that a debut
album could be this good, Roeske has in fact been honing her craft in relative obscurity
for decades. She gives a glimpse at the long road that led here, as she discusses the mix
of influences that initially fueled her more than 30 years ago: "I started my first band as
a teenager in 1994, with influences like DRI, Anthrax and Babes in Toyland. It was
fast as hell but had a lot of grunge and riot grrrl flavor. Guitar was always really
important for me. I loved bands like Seven Year Bitch and L7. I've been
a Pixies and Breeders fan since the beginning of time too. Kim Deal is the reason I
picked up a guitar."
In Tonguecutter, Roeske is flanked by two strapping collaborators – bassist Addison
Eilers and drummer Cam Polidan – whose muscular playing provides the perfect
foundation on which to build. The three are proud to be part of a thriving Michigan
scene that includes bands such as Cloud Rat, Bronson Arm, and Them Teeth and,
despite occasional chemical spills, they have pride in their hometown, a municipality
containing less than 40,000 people and a surprising wealth of punk lore. "Muskegon is
the jam," declares Roeske. "It’s gritty, real and accessible. It might be small but the
people here are legit and authentic. We have an incredibly beautiful lakeshore on Lake
Michigan. We’ve got quite a punk legacy here with legendary clubs like The Ice Pick
whose owner played drums in GG Allin's band. And Iggy Pop was born here in 1947!"
Minnow was recorded and mixed at Analog Time Machine and mastered by Bronson
Arm's Blake Bickel at Dynamic Sound Service. Also making an appearance on the
album is Something Is Waiting frontman Eddie Gobbo, who lends his
unmistakably sassy, snarling vocals to the track "Antipode."
Tracklist:
1) Urgency
2) Dust Collector
3) Tupperware Party
4) Big Ol' Tree
5) Minnow
6) Do You Play Leads
7) RATAP
8) Bitch Ass Energy
9) Antipode
10) Yarn Horse
11) Bone to Pick
Lineup:
Chantal Roeske - vocals, guitar
Addison Eilers - bass
Cam Polidan - drums
Discography:
Minnow (2025, Learning Curve Records)
Tupperware Party EP (2023, self-released)
