Review: Venus Furs’ Debut Album Shines a Psychedelic Light into the Darkness

Photo: Sean Mundy

Venus Furs, the moniker of Montreal multi-instrumentalist Paul Kasner, is a project that has been gestating for some time. A self-described “perfectionist,” the debut album from Kasner’s Venus Furs is a shimmering blast of guitar rock that sits at the nexus of The Jesus and Mary Chain and The Black Angels, with a strong nod to The Velvet Underground, right down to the project’s name.

The album’s eight tracks are bathed in darkness, from the moody guitars to lyrics that tackle inner demons like paranoia. Kasner’s vocals float above it all like a voice beamed in from another dimension, which adds another layer of complexity to this intricately put together collection of songs.

Moving effortlessly from a  psychedelic barnburner like “Friendly Fire” to the epic 7-minute album closer “Page Before,” that sounds like a lost ’70s arena-rock anthem before it turns into a maelstrom of feedback, Venus Furs often feels like a mixtape of songs you’ve never heard from your favourite bands.

Venus Furs’ self-titled debut is available now via Silk Screaming Records. Listen to the album stream and check out the video for “Paranoia” below.