The de-facto founders of the gypsy punk movement- Kultur Shock- have put out a new 7" on Jello Biafra's record label Alternative Tentacles.
Seattle’s Kultur Shock, have been mixing Balkan folk melodies and bizarre meters with face melting metal and blood pumping punk rock in a pagan cauldron of lyrical, obnoxious, and politically irreverent music stew since 1996.
The band united punk-rock aesthetics alongside a strong ethnic presence, becoming one of the apologists of progressive-punk. Also, making a massive contribution to the popularization of the cultural tradition of Balkans all over the world.
This new release contains ‘King‘ and ‘Country Mohammed‘ which have been part of the band’s live sets since their release on the 2009 ‘Integration‘ album. So how did it end up being released by Alternative Tentacles?
“A year ago, after about 2 hours of discussing world politics and what do we do to save the planet, Biafra asked me, “Hey, by the way, remind me why did we never released any of Kultur Shock for Alternative Tentacles?” – explains Gino Yevdjevich, the founding member and the vocalist of Kutlur Shock:
“Neither him or I had an answer, so that was the beginning of our collaboration!”
Yevdjevich describes the stylistic tradition of Kultur Shock as a cross-cultural plexus between different cultural traditions and styles united together: “Metal is how we express our rage against the machine. Punk rock is how we express our political views. And when I am sad, emotional and exposed to all of those beautiful primitive feeling only live being can feel, that is what we call ‘Sevdah’.
Providing the translation of the term, Gino explains that the closest meaning it has in English is the blues explanation – “when a good man feels bad”.
Starting with their debut ‘Live In Amerika’, Kultur Shock has set the tone for the further evolution of punk-rock with an ethnic component.
Following up their debut, the band signed to Koolarrow Records (for three albums – FUCC the INS(2001), Kultura-Diktatura (2003), and We Came To Take Your Jobs Away (2006) all of which were produced by Faith No More’s Billy Gould ).
Since 2007, Kultur Shock has been working fully independently through Kultur Shock Records. The band released Live in Europe (2007), Integration (2009), Ministry Of Kultur (2011), Tales Of Grandpa Guru, vol. 1 EP (2012), IX (2014), Live At Home ( 2016), and DREAM ( 2019).
‘King and Country Mohammed’ 7″ is available to buy from the Alternative Tentacles site HERE.
The band are also on tour throughout April. See dates below.
Follow Kultur Shock on Their Socials
Need more Punk In Your Life?
Album review: MC16 reckon ‘We’re Gonna Need A Milkman’
When everything is going wrong, forget the police or politicians, what society really needs according to MC16, is the reassuring presence of the milkman. ‘We’re
Album review: The Hard-Ons and Jerry A release long-promised self-titled joint LP
Australian punk royalty (if that’s not too much of a contradiction) Hard-Ons have known Jerry A. Lang, the American lead singer of Portland legends Poison
Outbreak Festival @ All Points East, London Victoria Park, 23rd August 2026
Following its London debut last year, Outbreak Festival has returned; this time with its most diverse bill to date, and a hell of a lot
Album review: State Power – ‘Hyperstition’
As state of the world addresses go, this debut album from Dutch hardcore crew State Power is up there with the best of them. Much
EP review: Thorns – ‘Ready To Strike’
Well, after witnessing their ripper of a gig at London’s Black Heart last month, how could we not check out this new EP from youthful
Interview: The Damned head down under; we caught up with Rat Scabies & Paul Gray before next month’s shows!
Ahead of The Damned’s final, final tour of Australia I managed to catch up with drummer Rat Scabies on 31st July to talk creativity, pushing
I’m Molly Tie- I Love punk! I play drums (badly), write a lot about punk (not as badly) and I’m particularly interested in issues relating to women in the music scene.
Did you know that we are 100% DIY? We run our own game. No one dictates to us, and no one drives what we can or cannot put on our pages – and this is how we plan to continue!
