Initial Shock

Pholde is the ambient sound project by Alan Bloor. Born and raised in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Bloor began experimenting with sounds in the mid-‘80’s in Detroit with various poets and sound experimenters. In 1994, he began a harsh noise project called Knurl [the debut album became the namesake of this festival!] and in 2002 began Pholde, which is a more ambient sound project. Alan currently resides in Quebec. Pholde plays Day 1 of Initial Shock IV, Friday July 3, 2026 Tickets on sale now! @knurlalanbloor @pantarheisound pholde.bandcamp.com

Xodkaar is a project based on circular conversations between man and machine wherein percussive sounds are toyed with using a telescopic actuator. Shima is an Iranian noise enthusiast and Toronto based artist and organizer whos work often revolves around impermanence and community based values. Xodkaar plays the Day 3 matinee of Initial Shock IV, Sunday July 5, 2026. Tickets are on sale now! @timeisafascist xodkaar.bandcamp.com

Murmur (Toronto) and Jazzhand (Finland) make travelogue noise. Their music is based on field recordings from exciting and boring places which are then cut, mangled and repurposed into rough, narrative sound collages. Murmur & Jazzhand play Initial Shock Day 1, July 3, 2026 Tickets are on sale!

Violent Shogun, from Bordeaux, France, has been creating ambient noise since 2017, drawing influences from hissy tape murk, electronic waveforms and the concrete chaos made by mishandled amplified objects. These experimentations based on damaged drones, disintegrating tape loops, creaking metal or disrupted electronic feedback have since been captured on various tapes or CDs released by labels like Satatuhatta (Finland), Angst (Italy), Absurd Exposition (Canada), Buried In Slag And Debris (Canada), Molt Fluid (UK) and more. Violent Shogun plays Initial Shock IV Day 2, July 4, 2026 Tickets are on sale! @hauntinthedark yesdivulgation.bandcamp.com

💥Lucas ‘Granpa’ Abela, Alex Motta/Aleida Perez, DEATH KNEEL 25 Juin • 16h30/17h • La Sotterenea 🎟️20/27$ Avec @initialshockmtl 🎫 Billets en vente maintenant ~ lien dans notre bio Merci à nos partenaires et commanditaires: Conseil des arts du Canada Conseil des arts de Montréal Ville de Montréal CALQ Patrimoine Canadien

Next up! Initial Shock Gig 18 Jacob Audrey Taves (AB) Cut-up sound and noise collage on tour! AKA Holzkopf Reaching Needles (ON) Ottawa’s finest/harshest/kindest Paxillus Succubus Ambient industrial noise Malpertuis Melancholic electronics from the Axiom dungeon AK Channeling the spirit of 80s industrial noise June 2 2026 P’Tit Ours 7PM $15 PWYC

Next Tuesday! Magnetic Coroner returns to Montreal, capping off a string of shows with Primitive Isolation Tactics. Local support from Orchid Lodge, Sounding and the legendary Taskmaster! Initial Shock Gig 17

Initial Shock IV tickets on sale now! International noise will be on display in Montreal for three days in July. July 3 – Casa del Popolo – 7PM – $25 KAZUMOTO ENDO (JP) PHOLDE KNIFEDOUTOFEXISTENCE (UK) HIGH GROVE MURMUR (ON) & JAZZHAND (FI) D.F.H. (AB) July 4 – Casa del Popolo – 7PM – $25 KILLER BUG (JP) VIOLENT SHOGUN (FR) A FAIL ASSOCIATION (US) BLACK COROLLA (US) NIMMIE AMEE (ON) MIOX July 5 – P’Tit Ours – 3PM – $15 MOSS HARVEST (NS) HYPERTROPHY (US) XODKAAR (ON) CRUCIFIEDWHITESAVIOUR (ON) DANG. (NS) RHODA (NS) CATHOLIC STARE (MB) Ticket link in bio. Limited weekend passes are available for a reduced rate of $55. Prices are in Canadian dollars, of course. Please note that due to the venue change from previous years these shows do run the risk of selling out. We hope to be able to accommodate everyone, but advanced ticket purchasing is advised. More information including artist bios and noise market vendors forthcoming. If you would like to set up a table at the market event, please email [email protected] Poster artwork and design by @laporcelaine Initial Shock is presented by @screamandwrithe , with thanks to gracious sponsors from the noise world and beyond: @more_noise_please @noisereceptorjournal @pensionepopolo @pizzabouquet @no._.rent @untitledzine @whitecentipedenoise See you in July!

April 1! Initial Shock presents an evening of strange and hard sounds: Shadow Pattern (ON) + Duncan Harrison (UK) + Rory Salter (UK) Three of a varied kind in collaboration. Expect unexpected oddities in sound. Robert Fuchs (US) Enigmatic noise of broken order. Anne-F Jacques One of the highlights of Initial Shock III! S.D. + Skin The duo behind High Grove dueling up some other kind of grove. Skin Tone In the zone with the saxophone. April 1, 2026 7PM $15 PWYC Casa del Popolo Initial Shock Gig #16 Poster by @jellyness_

Tomorrow, Initial Shock commences at La Sotterenea. On Sunday, come for After Shock at P’tit Ours. Saturday, July 5, $30. Set times:* 2:00 DOORS OPEN 2:45 Eunuch God 3:05 Mother Mary 3:25 Kahraba 3:45 Widdershins 4:05 Grkzgl 4:25 Lyndsie Alguire 4:45 Nauseous Ejector 5:05 Taskmaster 5:30 Anne-F Jacques 6:00 BREAK / VENUE CLOSED 7:30 DOORS OPEN 8:00 Primitive Isolation Tactics 8:20 K.M. Toepfer 8:50 Apologist 9:20 Matriarch 10:00 Death Kneel 10:30 Mass Marriage Sunday, July 6, $10 or PWYC. Set times: 2:00 DOORS OPEN 2:30 Quivering / Nausiate 3:00 Girl Circles 3:30 Generic Fatigue 4:00 Windshear 4:30 Amarior 5:00 S.D. *set times subject to change Poster designs by @peauboy . Advanced tickets still available to secure your spot. See you soon.

GIRL CIRCLES is the martial-industrial project led by Fae Sirois, also known for her work in the industrial dub project, ORCHID LODGE. Fusing somber electronics, violin, and folk experimentation, the project delves into the art of spite, a history of curses, and wxmenly sexual energy. A sound obscured in shadow, embraced by a solitary light. WIDDERSHINS emerges with moss-laden dungeon electronics, suffused with damp breath of ancient echoes, and the distant murmur of forgotten rites. Drifting shadows and dying embers at summer’s close, planting seeds of winter’s woes. WIDDERSHINS draws the listener into mist betwixt the ruins, hinting at something just beyond the veil. Co-organizer of Initial Shock, and Scream & Writhe head honcho, Taylor Geddes’ PRIMITIVE ISOLATION TACTICS burrows into the subconscious via “rusted arteries of industrial noise fracturing off into constricted microchannels of impacted debris and silt.” Advanced tickets available now.

Initial Shock is sponsored by @untitledzine Untitled Zine, produced in Canada by editor @chrisgibson , covers unique voices in contemporary noise, experimental, ambient, drone and avant-garde. Untitled is a pro-printed, forward-thinking Canadian magazine which nurtures, documents and connects multitudes of people involved in the aforementioned artforms, making Untitled a community-driven and collaborative endeavour.  Issue No. 10 will be in circulation soon, featuring interviews with Eva Aguila, Tom Cox (TAC), MK9, Jonas Torstensen (Franciska/Afvikling) and articles and art by W.A. Davison and Junkyard Shaman. Get your next Untitled Zine issue via mailorder subscription or from your favourite noise distro. Thank you to all who have purchased advanced tickets to Initial Shock.