By now, most readers of The Witzard should know we're big fans and supporters of Carl Kavorkian's new Noise-Rap-minded side-project/band, MANIKINETER, around these parts. Far from and Indie/Underground Hip-Hop newbie, Kavorkian has definitely been putting in some serious work these past few years, forging out a new identity for himself! I've always had a mutual affinity and appreciation for both Punk/Hardcore & Hip-Hop music and all of their adjacent sub-genres and quite honestly, MANIKINETER seems to seamlessly blend both genres into something new and original yet, vaguely familiar for die-hard fans. Since 2017, Carl Kavorkian has self-released three phenomenal "Aggro-Rap" EP's, as well as various singles and a split with TEETHCRACK on link2wales. I've heard Kavorkian's recently re-tooled live show set-up is really something else and the one time I attempted to go to a show, my buddy and I mistakenly parked 10 blocks out of the way and totally missed MANIKINETER's set entirely... although, always a gentlemen, Carl graciously offered to pay my cover charge! Overall, it was a great night and we still got to see sets from E. Grizzly's genre-eschewing Felipe Pupo, The Sh*t-Hawks, and King Ani Mal's show-closing set.


On a whim, my buddy, Omarey, and I also, got to meet Quinn McCord AKA Riff Quantum from Darko The Super/U DONT DESERVE THIS BEAUTIFUL ART affiliates STATIC BROTHERS out on the venue's front stoop. Now, MANIKINETER has teamed up with fellow Philly-based Sludge/Doom/Noise-makers GOD ROOT for a split single/EP and oddly enough, the group features Riff's STATIC BROTHERS bandmate DJ DM AKA Joe Hughes on guitar/vocals. Along with Hughes, GOD ROOT additionally features Fred Grabosky on drums/vocals, Ross Bradley on bass/vocals, John Galleo on guitar/electronics, and guitarist Keith Riecke. Just this past weekend, MANIKINETER & GOD ROOT played a Double-Tape Release Show at The Tusk (above Wooly Mammoth) on South Street, Philly with Kahlil Ali, Hallucinogenic Bulb, and Booklegger, who, also, just released their Sic Transit Mundus tape. MANIKINETER & GOD ROOT's split EP/digital album, THE DIRT WILL RECLAIM ALL IT HAS LOST, is currently available on both bands' Bandcamp pages. It's available in a number of various formats and combo-packages and when purchased either digitally or physically, comes complete with 2 additional Bonus Tracks—1 extra from each band!—upon purchase.