https://www.high-endrolex.com/18

Static Tension Premiere “Blank Silhouette” Video from Debut Album Ashes to Animation

Posted in Bootleg Theater on February 4th, 2019 by JJ Koczan

static tension

The 10-track debut album from Ohio four-piece Static Tension dogwhistles its metallic underpinnings in a CD design evocative of, among others, Metallica’s Master of Puppets, with a red ring around the disc, an oldschool “Compact Disc Digital Audio” stamp and simple block letters running down the middle, broken in half by the hole in the disc itself. And though the record starts off with the melancholy, relatively-minimal unfolding of “Kindling,” it’s not long before the alluded fire takes hold and shows that metal-style tinge in the double-kick of “Bury My Body.” Coupled with this are harmonies out of the post-Alice in Chains sphere and a sense of melody and progressive crunch in tone and rhythm that derives in part from Tool and likewise from the modern prog metal fostered by earlier Mastodon and their sundry acolytes. The subsequent “No Return” takes a more classic-style approach and sets up the more spacious linear build of “In Spite,” which rounds out an initial four-track salvo that marks the first of three waves in which the album takes place.

From there, Static Tension — vocalist Rob Rom, guitarist Greg Blachman, bassist Brian Spurrier and drummer Tony Sager — draw back to the two-minute interlude “Absence” to introduce the fluidity at the outset of “Got to Give,” which unfurls a static tension ashes to animationdowntrodden heavy rocking sensibility ahead of the nine-minute “Serpentine,” which is duly winding as it makes its way along its melodically-complex course, finding solid footing in doom as much as classic rock with a still-raw presentation in its production that gives an earthy vibe to otherwise unearthly sounds. This is the end of Ashes to Animation‘s second movement, and the third picks up with the Staley/Cantrell-style harmony of “Blank Silhouette” — presumably that’s just Rom, so kudos — and a melancholy atmosphere to correspond with that of “Kindling” and “Absence,” while also being more realized as a complete song. That change in itself speaks to the overarching forward development across the three movements that comprise the record, but even if you’re listening to it front-to-back, the vibe comes through as suitably dynamic.

The penultimate “Where’s the Air?” takes a more aggressive posture but is still melodic at its base as it pushes into some light screaming along with the cleaner layers of singing, and its second half is dedicated to a quieter procession, leaving “Bloody Shadow” as a bookend outro featuring some guest vocals to match ambience with “Kindling” before a few moments’ silence at the end round out. Despite its somewhat depressive thematic, there’s no lack of energy in Static Tension‘s work, and as their first album, Ashes to Animation finds them setting out on a course with multiple avenues of exploration before them. They had two EPs out prior to the album — 2017’s Out of Reach and 2015’s Rebirth — so they’re not exactly coming into their LP with nothing else establishing their stylistic foundation, and they don’t sound that way either, however much one might imagine that foundation leading to continued growth.

You can check out the premiere of the video for “Blank Silhouette” below, which I think captures the spirit of the song with an appropriate human touch.

As always, I hope you enjoy:

Static Tension, “Blank Silhouette” official video premiere

As found on Static Tension’s 2019 album “Ashes To Animation.”

Drawing upon influences stemming from classic rock, grunge, and progressive metal, Static Tension creates a sound unique to their own, self described as “Progressive Grunge”. The band’s influences are vast and diverse, at times resembling classic sounds of Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, while also channeling a grungy, somber atmosphere similar to Alice In Chains and Soundgarden with hints of modern, heavy tones of Mastodon and Gojira.

Static Tension is:
Rob Rom – Vocals
Greg Blachman – Guitar
Brian Spurrier – Bass
Tony Sager – Drums

Static Tension, Ashes to Animation (2019)

Static Tension on Thee Facebooks

Static Tension on Twitter

Static Tension on Instagram

Static Tension website

Static Tension on Bandcamp

Tags: , , , , ,