The Zaxons Get Wired With Analog Angst & Angular Post-Punk on “Adrian Knows”
Vancouver-based post-punk trio The Zaxons return with a new music video for “Adrian Knows,” a standout track from their latest album, Videopticons. Comprised of Julian Growcott (guitar/vocals), Dave Charan (bass/vocals), and Ben Wilson (drums/synthesizer), the band delivers a distinctive blend of angular guitars, driving basslines, primitive electronics, and coolly detached vocals that draws inspiration from the likes of Wire, Magazine, Gary Numan, and Pete Shelley. Their sound captures the nervous energy and experimental spirit of early post-punk while incorporating the darker, mechanical intensity of contemporary acts like Preoccupations, Women, and Protomartyr. “Adrian Knows” perfectly embodies this approach, balancing jagged instrumentation and unconventional electronic textures with infectious melodies and tightly constructed rhythms. It’s an intriguing combination of nostalgia and modern experimentation, where every hook feels slightly unpredictable and every arrangement leaves just enough room for something strange to emerge.
Throughout Videopticons, The Zaxons explore the uneasy optimism of a technological future imagined in the early 1980s, creating a sonic landscape filled with flickering electronics, mechanical grooves, and flashes of offbeat pop brilliance. Rather than simply recreating the past, the trio reimagines its possibilities, delivering music that feels simultaneously vintage, futuristic, and refreshingly distinctive. With the release of the “Adrian Knows” video, The Zaxons offer another glimpse into their wonderfully peculiar world, proving that post-punk can still sound sharp, unpredictable, and irresistibly catchy.
The Zaxons deliver one of the standout moments from their latest album, Videopticons, with “Adrian Knows,” a tightly wound post-punk anthem that blends infectious melodies, driving basslines, angular guitars, and an unmistakable sense of restless energy. Inspired by Adrian Mole, the socially awkward teenage protagonist of Sue Townsend’s 1982 novel The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾, the track explores the frustrations of adolescence, social isolation, and navigating the entitlement and hypocrisy of classmates and teachers. Julian Growcott channels those experiences into a sharp, energetic composition that balances the precision of classic British post-punk with a distinctly contemporary edge. The accompanying music video expands on those themes through a nostalgic look at Vancouver during the 1970s and 1980s, exploring how the city’s streets, architecture, music, books, and art offered a sense of escape and discovery for an introverted young person struggling to find their place in the world.
That balance between melodic accessibility and unconventional experimentation defines all eight tracks on Videopticons, from the buzzing electronics of “Keswick Cutouts” and the darker atmosphere of the title track to the warped melodies of “Mumpsimus” and the haunting, distorted textures of “Television Play.” Drawing praise from publications including Dancing About Architecture, Obscure Sound, and Bored City, the album combines vintage post-punk influences with mechanical rhythms, primitive synthesizers, and unexpected pop hooks. With “Adrian Knows” emerging as a particular highlight, The Zaxons demonstrate their ability to turn outsider experiences and nostalgic influences into something refreshingly unpredictable, strangely captivating, and undeniably catchy.
Make sure you check out “Adrian Knows” on YouTube below and over on your favorite streaming platform!
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Who am I? Just some guy who decided to start writing on the Internet years ago and now operates his own brand and site. Owner/Operator of Modern Neon Media, I make all kinds of niche content to suit my interests at the time. DIY Enthusiast, Brewmaster extraordinaire, and avid freak for geek culture. Follow on my socials for a more “on” version of me.
