9Voltpenpal

9Voltpenpal is an electro-industrial band from Portland, Oregon that formed around 2008. The group centers on vocalist and songwriter Noah Hamilton, with keyboardist Kyle Vandewalle and drummer Justin Vandervelden rounding out the core lineup. Their music draws from the darker corners of electronic and industrial music, with song titles like "A deception a day keeps the painful self-loathing away" and "I don't even bother to celebrate the holidays anymore" suggesting the territory they work in.

Their debut album shared its name with that first song, "A Deception a Day Keeps the Painful Self-Loathing Away," and they followed it with records like "The Armistice" and "Venoms." Hamilton has described the songwriting as a form of personal therapy, often dealing directly with mental health and internal struggle. This directness has drawn both listeners who connect with that rawness and some criticism about how those themes are presented.

Their live shows are known for being intense and emotionally charged. While they've maintained a relatively stable lineup and a consistent focus in their work, they haven't chased a polished or commercial sound. The music stays rooted in that initial blend of electronic textures and lyrical introspection, as heard on tracks like "Dorothy Mantooth Is a Saint" and "Action And Reaction Are Equal And Opposite."