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TRIPLE THREAT: ADULT VIDEO IN “BLOOD N GUTS”, “SEXBOT Z5V-69”, AND “STUPID” | iodine rae
⇦back Adult Video puts out three songs, I’m slow to the punch, here we are. Two releases are from the summer and one comes just in time for Halloween, but I feel as if I have to cover all three right here and now, so cover I shall. 
Starting with the most recent release, “BLOOD N GUTS” comes with a deliciously gory music video to boot. It’s got this great VHS motif and edgy art project vibe, in the best way possible. It’s a must watch, unless you’re squeamish, but even then.
On the music side of things… The track is heavy on the guitars, harsh and distorted, which pairs nicely with AV’s voice. The drums keep it steady and moving along, as the track flows at a walking, or maybe sauntering pace that allows you to really get into the feel of it, taking its time. The harmonized vocals of the bridge produce a droning hum, which leads into a moment of silence, and then back into the groove with these reversed cymbals coming in, and a sick bassline (the tone of which I particularly enjoy) that shines in the latter portion of the song. There are quite a few soundbites/sound effects littered throughout as well, which lend themselves to the eccentric approach of the song’s grisly subject matter. The listening experience is a bit of a trip, but a very pleasant trip, to be sure. There’s also a consistent buzz overlaid, giving the track a subtle aged sound despite its recent release. I think Adult Video tends to lean into an older sound in general—that is to say, I wouldn’t by any means describe their sound as polished, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. It isn’t meant to sound refined, and the musicianship is clear in the intentional choice to make it sound sort of grainy and aurally coarse. It’s a good time, check it out!
“SEXBOT Z5V-69” is a borderline infomercial with how it sells its namesake in the lyrics. Maybe a commentary on the commodification of women’s bodies with the rise of artificial intelligence to compound it, maybe a silly little song not meant to be looked into too deeply. Either way, it’s an earworm. And God, these lyrics. “She’s two percent human when I’m inside”—insanely funny and clever; each line comes at you unexpectedly, but so perfectly, and they don’t stutter once; the song is completely confident in its absurdity. The rhythm hitches when it wants to grab your attention, in a way I really can only describe as cunty.
Even in a time where our attention spans are peanut-sized, the five minutes of this track are a breeze. I am admittedly one of those people who tends to check out around the three and a half minute mark, but my brain makes exceptions, and I can happily say this is one of them. This track most prominently features the guitar, with lots of riffs to accompany the words, and there are occasional synth bits underneath that emphasize the sci-fi aspect (it is a bot, after all). The bass is more subdued here, largely mimicking the rhythm, but it acts as another texture all the same, and so we salute it for its service. I seriously can’t get this one out of my head. I’ve probably listened to it twenty times over while writing this, and it’s just as fresh as the first time I heard it. Give it a chance, you (probably) won’t regret it. 
Easily my favorite of the three singles (though it’s up against stiff competition), “STUPID” is the shortest—and oldest—of the three, but it packs a punch. Prominent, fuzzy bass and melody underscore witty lyrics that depict an admittedly relatable delusional level of conviction in one’s self—and the lack of awareness thereof—as well as a myriad of noises that give the song a distinctive, bizarre sound. I’m not sure how to explain them, you just have to listen to it for yourself. The only one I can clock is the cuíca (or it’s something similar?), which is that whooping sound towards the end of the track. I could be totally off-base there and it’s not that at all, but regardless it’s a very particular sound that stuck out to me. I love when instruments are mixed and matched in genres they aren’t usually heard in.
This may be an out there comparison (and excuse my dumb ass for associating the two), but AV’s vocals on the track bear a striking resemblance to Neil Cicierega. It’s just that unabashedly weird and unbridled funkiness that I think the two have in common, and I personally adore it. Also, gotta love the screaming and wailing interlude. I think if you’re looking for an introduction to Adult Video, this might be the one to hook you in. It oozes personality, and it’s just so damn groovy, it’s hard to find something to dislike about it (not that I’m trying!). My introduction to them was “Shitty Little Groove”—another fantastic track that you should definitely also listen to—and their new stuff just totally blows my expectations out of the water. So so good. Definitely give Adult Video a chance if you’re into offbeat, perhaps crude, unorthodox fun. I’m a huge fan! (Published 10-30-25) |
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