Pylon – Chomp

Even though their time together as a band was short-lived, Pylon made a lasting contribution to the development of the post-punk and art rock scene of the early 80s.

Artists such as REM, Gang of Four, Sonic Youth and many others cite the band as an inspiration. The second album by the band from Athens, GA, released in 1983, is now finally available again, freshly remastered from the original tapes.

Chomp, released in 1983, shifts Pylon’s post-punk blueprint toward taut funk rhythms and art-rock angularity. The guitars snap with precision, the bass throbs with groove, and Vanessa Briscoe Hay’s vocals oscillate between cool detachment and urgent intensity. With tracks like “Beep” and “No Clocks,” the band refines their wiry signature sound into something more assured and expansive.

The album’s lasting appeal lies in its kinetic energy and measured creative leaps. Its interplay of rhythm, melody, and tension feels timeless—less anchored to its era than many contemporaries. Pylon didn’t settle for the predictable; they pressed forward with clarity and conviction, making this record a cult gem that continues to influence indie and post-punk acts decades later.

Reviews

“Recorded in 1982 after Pylon had already taken a U.S. road trip … Chomp sounds more assured and more open.” – Pitchfork

“Chomp remains one of the great, lost recordings of the early eighties … it emerges with a thoroughly unique sound in its hands.” – Blogcritics