Nine years ago, an anonymous user on the site “4chan” posted a board with a CD bought from a charity shop. The EP named D>E>A>T>H>M>E>T>A>L by “Panchiko”.
The user simply asked for any information on the band. Yet, strangely, no one could find a trace of Panchiko, quickly sending fans and the internet into a four-year-long manhunt for the band.
The four-track EP “D>E>A>T>H>M>E>T>A>L,” by British indie band Panchiko, was originally released in 2000. The EP features a surprisingly futuristic, psychedelic, shoegaze sound. Unfortunately, their music never really took off in the band’s early years. Panchiko disbanded shortly after the EP’s release, leaving their music largely forgotten.
Nearly 20 years later, the EP was rediscovered in 2016 when a 4chan user shared the seemingly random CD online. The cover displayed an anime girl from the obscure manga “Mint na Bokura.” Unfortunately, the CD was heavily rotted, leaving the music grainy, eerie, distorted – yet strangely beautiful.
Strangers on sites such as MySpace and 4chan quickly began speculating that the discovery was a publicity stunt or that the disc had been purposely distorted. They began hunting for the unknown artists, working only with scraps of information and loose hints. After a four-year-long search, a fan was able to locate and message band members Owain Davies and Andy Wright through Facebook in early 2020.
The band members were shocked to discover that their music from 20 years ago had suddenly taken off. Shortly after, Panchiko reunited, releasing fixed and remastered versions of their distorted music as well as unreleased tracks. Even touring the world while continuously pumping out new music such as albums like “Failed at Maths” and “Ginkgo“.
“D>E>A>T>M>E>T>A>L”, contains 11 tracks, four of them being R>O>T’s (distorted and rotted CD versions). This simple yet fascinating album is what started Panchiko’s journey from a disbanded garage band, to amassing a fan base of millions, as if a dream come true.
While Panchiko’s story alone is enough to spark curiosity, the music itself is what makes the band worth checking out. Don’t be deceived by the album’s title, as it is anything but death metal. Instead, the record delivers a futuristic, atmospheric, and psychedelic sound that feels both nostalgic and ahead of its time.
The title track, “D>E>A>T>H>M>E>T>A>L,” stands out as the album’s emotional core. The song somehow leaves the listener feeling both empty and fulfilled, a sensation echoed throughout much of Panchiko’s music. Themes of mental health, self-reflection, and identity run beneath the distorted textures, creating an experience that feels intimate and unsettling in the best way.
For listeners looking for something different – something that feels discovered rather than manufactured – Panchiko is a band worth exploring.
