Seeing Kidofdoom perform is an experience and everyone heading to Oppikoppi 13: The Way Of The Dassie, in Northam from August 9 till 11, will get to know what that experience is like.
You get four youngsters who produce this overwhelming guitar sound with a synthesiser in the mix. While listening you keep expecting to hear some vocals.
Towards the end of the third song, you realise that they're full-on instrumental.
And that's when it hits you that their formula actually works - brilliantly.
And it is not that they can't sing. Guitarist, Richard, who also operates the synthesiser, handles the mic. He is studying jazz at the TUT and is a vocalist for another band, Isochronous.
"It's all about the groove. We can play wherever and people can understand everything because it's just sound," he says.
Ryk, also guitarist, adds: "The songs were written initially with lyrics and we later noticed they're not needed. We haven't come to that point yet where we want to put vocals on."
The band's been together since 2005 and because of what they're capable of, they're gradually moving from being just an up-and-coming Pretoria band to being reputable. They played at the Oppikoppi Easter Festival this year and their debut at the big one in August means a lot to them.
They are part of this year's Levi's Young Guns line-up and are breaking into the Joburg live music scene steadily. They also have toured in Cape Town. They will be performing on home ground at Tings 'n Times on Tuesday.
The members met through playing in other bands. "I think it's good that we started off individually playing in other bands, because we've seen how short-lived some bands tend to be. We see a lot of bands that start up and fall before long, sometimes before a debut album. When we started, we jammed together with no intention of getting together," Ryk said.
They only considered doing gigs when a band member's sister heard them jamming and asked why they weren't doing it live. Their very first gig was at Transkei in Melville, Joburg, two years ago.
"There weren't a lot of people, the stage was really small, but we rocked," says Barend, the bassist.
And these guys really rock. Their music is so dramatic, it would be perfect for a movie score.
"That's exactly what we aspire to do. We'd love for our music to be the score for some big film someday," said Richard and Barend.
Their self-titled album is due in October. "It's full-on instrumental. As soon as you have an album out, people want you. But it's amazing what we have achieved without an album and no radio airplay.
"We're an Internet band. We get about 20 plays a day on the 'Net," says Ryk. "That way you reach a whole lot of people. Myspace.com help out a lot," adds Barend.
"Being an instrumental band, we've had offers from other vocalists wanting to work with us. We wanna do an EP next year where we feature the people we like from other bands. There have been offers from Inge from Lark and we are interested," says Ryk.
The funny thing is that when you hear the name Kidofdoom you'll probably think they are a hardcore metal/dark band. When you hear them play you'll realise they're not dark at all. But one thing is for sure - listening to them would be like giving that experience a mind-blowing soundtrack.
- The Oppikoppi line-up: 340ml; Andries Bezuidenhout; Bed on Bricks; Blunted Stuntman; Boulevard Blues; Chris Chameleon; Closet Snare; Dagga Davis; Dex & Strings & Skins; Dirty Skirts; DJ Afro White; DJ Fred K U (UK); DJ Kenzhero; Dorp; Dr Moody; Fokofpolisiekar; Foto na Dans; HHP; Japan and I; Karen Zoid; Kid Fonque; Kidofdoom; Koos Kombuis en First National Band; Lark; Love Jones; Luna; Max Normal; Menage a Trois; Monkey Sluts; New Academics; Prime Circle; Push and Shove; Rudimentals; Selaelo Selota; Simba Met the Rocats (Moz); Somerfaan; Sweat X; Tasha Baxter; The Parlotones; The Wedding DJs; Tidal Waves; Unit R; Unsound System; Valiant en Olie; Zulu Boy.SOMETHING TO PROVE: Catch Kidofdoom in action at Oppikoppi 13.