Shiv-r is a new force in the field of dark electronic music. The heavy and unsettling atmosphere generated by the band is at times intended for the clubs, and at times drawn to a slow, grinding pace for full dramatic impact.
The key characteristics of the Shiv-r sound are haunting, neoclassical melodies, harsh percussive club sounds, clean male vocals delivered in shouts and whispers, sparse rhythm guitars and an overwhelming dark atmosphere.
The duo consists of Lee Bulig and Pete Crane, with both collaborating on the music and Pete taking up main vocal duties. The 2 members have already built up an impressive discography prior to starting this project.
Lee Bulig is the solo mastermind of projects Stark, which released 2 albums and 1 EPCD on GUP, and Neon Womb, releasing 1 album on Cranial Fracture Recordings.
Pete Crane is responsible for creating all music for The Crystalline Effect, releasing 2 albums and 1 EPCD on different labels, and Plague Sequence, with 1 EP and 1 album released on digital labels.
The 2 members are originally from Australia, however none of the music for Shiv-r was actually written in Australia. Since 2007 Lee Bulig has been living in Bangkok, Thailand, and Pete Crane has been living in London. Pete has used this time in Europe touring regularly and performing with his own projects and as a guest in other bands at internationally reknowned gothic/industrial festivals and clubs. Lee's past releases were infamous for their unsettling darkness and were reviewed to draw directly from the depraved aspects of humanity, and his time in the pollution and uncertainty of Bangkok has fed this.
Despite the geographical distance, the 2 personalities have been collaborating on music in various projects for the better part of the last 10 years, so are in tune enough to write together in sync over long distances.
A maxi-single will be launched in July 2008. Stay tuned at Shiv-r.com for daily updates; read Lee (Kong)'s tales of life in Bangkok and his pechant for Body Modification, while Pete (Virul3nt) posts on life in London, being in Europe, and music-tech reviews.
