VERY
PARANOIA
Very Paranoia is a crude San Francisco unit operated by five veterans of the Psychic Wars. Founded by members of Lecherous Gaze, Annihilation Time, Hot Lunch, and Assemble Head, the band spews raw mechanical violence alternately described as “aggro-hooch metal,” “amphetamine pub rock,” and “scuzz-crud boogie.” Classifications aside, Very Paranoia’s sound is shaped by the cult-artists and underground characters found in multiple sub-genres throughout the twisted history of rock ‘n’ roll. May interest fans of MC5, Pink Fairies, Status Quo, Dr. Feelgood and Flamin’ Groovies. Very Paranoia has shared stages with The Zig Zags, Psychic Hit, Drunk Horse, Feral Ohms, Mondo Drag, J. Mascis & Witch and legendary proto-punkers The Dogs
Cory Linstrum - vocals
Rob Alper - guitar, backing vocals
Chris Grande - bass
Jefferson Marshall - drums
Jamie Sanitate - 2nd guitar
PRESS
THRASHER
Following a 7" a couple years back, the debut LP from Very Paranoia is a keeper. Low-tech scumrock with guttural vocals and some post-punk jangle, the band features folks who have done time in Hot Lunch, the Fells, Annihilation Time and Lecherous Gaze, among others. It's scuzzy rock/punk at it's finest, enjoyed with cheap beer at a cheap bar where that one guy who everyone thinks is on acid is over in the corner dancing by himself and muttering incoherently. You know the dude... -Wez Lundry
UGLY THINGS
Major stylistic collision between hard rock, punk and trashy garage here, but all three emerges from the wreckage unscathed as these alliterative atomizers pound out 12 songs all clocking in at about 2 minutes or less. A Velvet Underground cover ("Foggy Notion") elbows its way into the mix, but rather that providing a stylistic guidepost--it's adapted to the band's sound via the sonic equivalent of a biker gang's initiation ritual. UT contributor Cory m Linstrum handles vocals, so I hope all of the inevitable internet rumors of me getting mega-payola money to write about this come true.
THE WIRE
Containing veterans from such prestigious California punk bands as John Henry West and Annihilation Time, Very Paranoia's debut LP is a prime example that old dogs can still deliver a very vicious bite. With bassist Chris Grande and drummer Jefferson Marshall providing an angular drive, the dozen tracks whizz by like a mixtape of your favorite punk singles, while vocalist Cory Linstrum's commands to get down and come on will get you up and off the sofa in o time. Throw in a fat 'n' fuzzy take on The Velvet Underground's "Foggy Notion", and you've got the ideal disc for your first post-quarantine soiree.
TRUST
Translated from German: After their amazingly good single, there are now 12 more smashers on LP, which could easily have been created during the 70s in the former rock strongholds of Detroit or Ohio. Because such proto-punk rock pearls, influenced by the Stooges and MC5, can usually be found on obscure Killed By Death releases. Very Paranoia transport this zeitgeist with flying colors into the present and are really fun. But what else can be expected from a band whose members once released one big release after the other at Annihilation Time, Lecherous Gaze and Hot Lunch. Just as the music is reduced to the essentials, the cover artwork is kept simple and in the enclosed fanzine, there is a story about Very Paranoia in addition to the lyrics, band photos and cool concert flyers. In short: an all-round successful release that is to be recommended to every American protopunk rock fan.
RUMORE
Translated from Italian:
They dug into punk rock and its harsh post American drifts: a sound as sharp and violent as a knife blade. And they've come up with a raw and innocent collection of songs that say something new about them and garage punk. Very Paranoia from San Francisco are a beautiful collection of hippie / punk dickheads arriving from hardcore, metal and heavy psych experiences such as Annihilation Time, Hot Lunch, Lecherous Gaze, coming out of those worlds to land on the evergreen land of rock 'n' roll more incomprehensible. Hear how Velvet's Foggy Notion riff, in this nervous and pissed-off way. But above all listen to songs like Bricks, High Ledge, Pack It In, Sleep Alone and Blasted, pure American 1976 garage rock punk, as well as the single Something Will Go Wrong.
THE OBELISK
“Brain Stain” and the boogie-punk of “You’ll Be Sorry” follow suit in their willful primitivism, roots-punk building on a Blue Cheer-noisy foundation as “Cracked Picture Frame” betrays a classic-heavy backdrop on which a punker disaffection has been overlaid. You can dig it. Fuzzy and catchy.
IT'S PSYCHEDELIC BABY!
Very Paranoia is composed of veterans of the sonic conflicts from the Annihilation Time/Lecherous Gaze/Hot Lunch/Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound divisions, the four of them huddled together in their San Francisco rehearsal room where they quickly hammered out an arsenal of crude missives designed to fire as roaring missiles into the heart of 2019.
REBEL NOISE
Very Paranoia is a rumbling, restless, razor-sharp, and rudimentary rampage filled with gravelly guitar grit to screeching, wiry riffs, lurching and swerving bass lines, and emphatically thumping drumwork and cymbals crash. Linstrum’s vocals are direct and exclaimed with fervor amid the vibrant and kinetic sonics.
MAXIMUM ROCK'N'ROLL
VERY PARANOIA is a bluesy garage rock outfit that is equal parts sharp and on-the-nose. Their fuzzy guitar riffs are sometimes overshadowed by the gnarly, aggressive vocals that spit fury up and down this record. They pull influences from all over the garage rock spectrum, from Safe as Milk-era CAPTAIN BEEFHEART to the GORIES. You get what you expect from this record. If you want headbanging, hectic drums, and blues solos, this is it.
VINYL-KEKS.EU
Translated from German: It's hard to believe, Very Paranoia was only founded in 2018. The band sounds like they are a relic from days long gone. Days in which you still had an idea of the musical work of a band when they scolded themselves Rock’n’Roll. Days in which this term was not yet abused by SWR3 mainstream pop stars, but actually still stood for blood, sweat and tears. However, if you read the very paranoia fanzine, made with love, which is included in the self-titled debut, it quickly becomes clear that the four boys from Frisco are relics from those days. Their friendship has existed for decades for just one reason: the love of music, or better, rock'n'roll. And to the underground. They would have spent thousands of hours hanging out together, partying, and most importantly, listening to music. ‘Sorry to hear rock'n'roll. According to guitarist Rob Alper, the initial spark for founding Very Paranoia was his latest rock'n'roll discovery, Power from Australia. This would have driven him to drum up his band-experienced colleagues for his latest band project. Then it becomes immediately clear what kind of wood the men of Very Paranoia seem to be made of. The yardstick is not set by (financial) success, but by the love of rock'n'roll, its lifestyle and everything that really goes with it. Guys, I like you very much! That is the motivation that makes good records! And that is exactly what needs to be checked now. From what I've said so far, it should be roughly clear what awaits us on Very Paranoia's debut. You are into Dead Moon, the Stooges, (Impatient) Youth, The Replacements, Dumbell, maybe also the New Bomb Turks?Well, I knew it! You can be relied on! You can add a little breath of fresh air to your old camels. Of course, your old camels are still timeless and ingenious at the same time and the fresh breeze is only as fresh as it could have been in 1979 for my sake. Very Paranoia, twelve rock songs in the familiar style, drone towards us in minimalistic and slightly fuzzy sound. Verse, chorus, verse, chorus, solo, chorus, off. A tried and true pattern that works forever. I mean, there are no surprises here and that's a good thing! After all, we want our rock'n'roll as we know it. Recorded live in three days and mixed directly, just a few guitar and vocals overdubs. Splendid. Anything else would have been a breach of style.Together with the also quite minimalist artwork, this results in an absolutely authentic total work of art, which in its charming nostalgia forms a welcome counterpoint (for me) to our modern higher-faster-further-time. Not the sensation, but the down-to-earth attitude. Not the high-end production, but a recording with rough edges. It's very paranoia and that makes it absolutely recommendable for all rock'n'rollers. You can buy the record directly from the responsible label Who Can You Trust? Records, so here.
DISCOGRAPHY
"MAKE ME / OUT OF TOUCH" (SINGLE)
2019
Who Can You Trust? Records (WHO-41)
SELF-TITLED ALBUM
2021
Who Can You Trust? Records (WHO-42)
