KEVIN SREDNEP
Biography by Ben Spencer.
Members
Who is Kevin Srednep?
Biography
Kevin, videographer, mask maker and musician was born in Heerlen, The Netherlands but now lives in Bollnäs, Sweden, also the birth place of his dark-side known as
Psyclown - a alias heavily influenced by his taste in Gabber, Hardcore and all things Metal. In his alias, Kevin quickly gained a reputation through performing with some of the biggest names in the genre and spawning an underground movement through conjuring up Psyclown Records and channelling plenty of blood splattered videos. His blood-soaked recipe served as a platform for his opposition to anything that divides society with live shows often leaving a trail of gore, fights with the crowd and self-mutilation in his wake.
An encounter with Glenn Benton through Myspace in 2010 led a remix of 'Satan Spawn', The Caco-Daemon', this was his first contact in the Metal world. He continued as a producer when he moved to Sweden, which led to an encounter with Mike Sarkisyan of Spineshank, which culminated into working collaboratively on a
Self Titled demo EP. A new darkness emerged on the other side of the 2013 recording; one that would come to replace the terror of Psyclown and replace it with the brutality of
Srednep.
In 2016, Psyclown Records became obsolete and Srednep reinvented itself as a trio. Kevin decided to crank up the metal after the band's 2013
Silence EP, ditching the electronics with Suffocations Kevin Talley as their drummer. Through this revitalized line-up, Srednep unleashed their debut album
Social Masks upon the masses in 2017.
In 2018, his Trap / Metalrap alias
Kevin Srednep emerged and later on summoned Psyclown ones again as his schizophrenic second personality, who will be taking care of the darker sounds which gives him the chance to explore both the dark side, and more mainstream side of music. He also started mask making again after a long hiatus for musicians and collectors all around the globe.
SREDNEP
Biography by Ben Spencer.
Biography
Since 2013, Srednep have been meticulously crafting a near apocalyptic vision of the future. Highlighting issues around corporate machines and propaganda their music is as much an attack on the modern world as it is a forewarning to our future.
Beginning as a studio outfit, the industrial infused darkness of Srednep became channeled through the creative outputs of Kevin (Srednep) on vocals and Mike Sarkisyan (Spineshank) on Guitar and Bass. In the absence of a drummer, the band conjured up plenty of electronic chaos to make their sound nothing short of formidable.
Shortly after the release of the Silence EP Kevin Talley (Suffocation, etc.) joined the ranks as the band’s drummer who gave the band a more cohesive identity. Residing in the Netherlands, Kevin and his electronic allies from Los Angeles and Texas did a more Metal focused debut album Social Masks. A record to further explore the dissonant landscapes that engulfed previous offerings such as ‘The Sinner’ and ‘Social Masks’.
What’s more, if their creative energies are anywhere near as honed as what was found in their animated portrayal of ‘WW3’, Srednep may well be leading listeners into the final days of mankind.
Emerging from the ruin of times long worn face a sole survivor stretches outward to toward where the sun once beamed in the now post-apocalyptic skies. Like all things that have come to pass, society has grown apart. Walking through the desolate streets, people appear more disconnected from each other, as the multi-national corporations devour the fading pulse of a rotting world.
Srednep, a defiant force within the howling winds of decay harness drums and guitars, forging their next distress call on top of a near fallen tower as they document the survival of this crumbling landscape. In a world where only the strong survive, each track is meticulously crafted as the rust coated antenna transmits into the night to whoever is out there.
The bleak tonal movements emanating from Social Masks explores the fractured state of the human condition; who are involuntarily plugged into the flat screened veil of social media. This illusory tool of communication has become the very means of separation as the black blooded cogs gnaw flesh and part paths.
"Everyone wants to be heard, but no one wants to fucking listen.
We the fucking parasites devouring this planet.
We the anti-cells who create our own prisons." (Kevin Srednep).
While humanity has become a parasite upon the earth and Srednep's meditative glance into our dysfunction is one that both implores the brave to listen and terrifies the faint of heart to turn back towards mind formed prisons.Pushing themselves towards a more metallic terrain, devotees of their former transmissions will recognise their trademark frequencies. If their previous efforts pointed toward the darkening of skies this next offering is very void itself. The light has truly been snuffed out from the world.
PSYCLOWN
Biography by Ben Spencer.
Biography
In a dark lit cell and in solitary confinement Psyclown sits, channelling the dark fringes of electronic soundscapes and with graphic visuals. His sentence was 10 years behind rusty steel bars with nothing but laughter and blood stained walls; the echoes of his incantations bounce along the long winding corridors to nowhere.
Indeed a true artist cannot rush his ritual; he can only carve out a canvas from the shadows from which he reigns. "What is you see in the bleak tapestries he leaves behind?" Psyclown poses to those brave enough not to turn away. "Be it a brainless music video or documentation of something deeper?" These are the questions he etches into the subconsciousness, and his laughter never stops.
From the slasher streaks of 'Insides' to the multi-layered 'Fuck Religion', Dante risks his own descent into madness beneath the surface of Psyclown's own hell. Entering the world once again Psyclown finds a live audience in the form of a shadowy congregation, as he burns his flesh and casts both blood and meat into the masses of such kindred spirits. This new felt affinity became the altar for future sermons as Psyclown Records took root in 2006, from which Speedcore, Gabber, Horrorcore and even Death Metal emerged from the darkness.
The 20 track testament 'Rest In Peace 2005 / 2015' became the tombstone from which Psyclown's message is firmly inscribed and remains unwithered from the passage of time. As the Industrial Death Metal chill of this record; featuring Angernoizer, Buzz Fuzz, Da Mouth Of Madness, Drokz, Henke Westin (The Arsonact), Insan0, Peter Grehn (Morgana Lefay), Red13, Reverend Fang Gory, Steen, Tomas Rosenborg (Doka, The Arsonact) and many more, screams violently like ghosts from the abandoned cemetery where Psyclown and Psyclown Records now rest.
VOCALS
Studio sessions by Kevin Srednep (Listed from new to old).
For more vocal samples, subscribe to him on YouTube.
VIDEOS
Music videos (since 2010) by Kevin Srednep (Listed from new to old).
He's done videos for Psyclown, Kevin Srednep, Sulpher, Srednep, Suffocation, Da Mouth Of Madness, Def P & Beatbusters, Steen and many more. For more samples and screenshots, follow him on Instagram.
SCULPTING
Mask sculptures and sculpt challenges (Listed from new to old).
For more sculptures, follow him on Instagram (Masks).
MASKS
Masks and SFX make-up (since 2003) by Kevin Srednep (Listed from new to old).
He's done masks for Dino Cazares (Asesino, Divine Heresy, Fear Factory), Marty and Michael (YouTube), Psyclown, Sean Zatorsky (Vented, Sinsaenum, Chimaira) and many more musicians, artists and collectors.
For more pictures of masks and SFX, follow him on Instagram (Masks).
