Trotsky Icepick World War X / Arnold Is

Trotsky Icepick is back with their first new studio recording since Hot Pop Hello, released on SST Records in 1996. These two new original compositions feature Trotsky’s signature sound—hard-driving guitars mixed with pop sensibilities and wry, intelligent lyrics. Trotsky Icepick rose from the ashes of the Urinals and The Last, two Los Angeles bands formed in the late '70s during the first wave of Los Angeles punk. The band features founding members VITUS MATARE (The Last) on guitar and backing vocals, Kjehl Johansen (Urinals, 100 Flowers) on guitar, and John Frank (The Last) on drums. The current line-up is rounded out by long-time member John Talley-Jones (Urinals, 100 Flowers, RAD WASTE, VENA CAVA) on vocals, and long-time band friend Tom Hofer (Leaving Trains) on backing vocals and bass. The driving sound on the band’s A side provides the perfect platform for Talley-Jones’ lyrical savaging of our current political landscape. Side B provides a momentary respite from the currently elected confederacy of dunces—by weaving together a Dada-esque childhood story of a band member’s gorilla stuffy named “Arnold.”