D.C.-via-Charlottesville band Cataract Camp played Black Cat last night, and like foreign food you’ve never tried before, some songs were downright tasty, while others just didn’t quite sit well with this reviewer (who admittedly has not heard a band this ear-drum shatteringly loud in quite some time).

Cataract Camp is comprised of Zach Carter on keyboards and lead vocals, Thomas Ogeren on guitar and lead vocals, Drew Butler on bass, and Steve Snider on drums and lead vocals. Having just completed a Midwest and West Coast tour, they seemed rather at ease and professional on the Black Cat stage, despite their youthful appearance.

Much of their music is guitar and bass-driven rock, in which discordance, distortion and fuzz reign. On keys, Carter backed up the bass with thick chords, and complimented the fuzz of the guitars with underlying melodies. Butler carries the band with tight rhythms and excellent vocals on the songs in which he leads. With three members singing, each leading different songs and backing on others, they essentially add three instruments to their ensemble. The band seemed to clearly enjoy the back and forth nature of their songs, exchanging pleased smiles with one another after a particularly well done riff or vocal interplay within some of the songs.