Static Dress : "Injury Episode"

This British band has a bigger buzz across the pond than in the States, as this dropped a week or so ago with little fanfare here. They are very familiar with what they do. It gets labelled as post-hardcore, but is closer to nu-metal as the Deftones worship is tempered by the overwrought melodies, not unlike the Used. They are energetic and explosive, but not that original, as this would have been a banger over 20 years ago. Though I guess there is a new generation of kids discovering this sort of thing. There are some interesting choices in the vocal production. The riffs are hard-hitting, and they have more get-up-and-go than Deftones do now. Though they are not solely chasing an era long gone, as they prove they can also bust out the kind of emo-blaads Chino peddles more often than not these days with their song "Adapter".

The more screamed metal core is busted out for "Nostalgia Kills," which also features the singer from Underoath, so I guess they are making him feel at home here. It works for this song, but an entire album of this sort of thing would be tiresome. By the time we get to "Hospice," things begin to sound the same, and you get the feeling you are busting out HTML for your Myspace profile. There is more of the punk side of the Used once raced off into on "lip critic' which might be the most tired style they parade out so far.

"Male Bomb" might be more impressive if I were not already a fan of Glassjaw, making these guys seem likea Temu version of the band. The guitar melody to "Dull Blade Disguise" works better, but their influences threaten to overtake them even at their most creative. There is some impressive bass playing on this song. At almost four and a half minutes, this is the album's longest song, and I am not sure if the extra time is warranted."Classic Death Pose' is more of a temper tantrum made song. There is a cool riff buried amid the chaos here. They do make the most of the s ong's two minutes.

"Adult Diamond' is a more well-written emo-ballad which seems to be their strength rather than trying to fool anyone into thinking they are hardcore adjacent."Human Props" find them splitting the difference between Glassjaw and Deftones. The breakdown is kinda cool, but a song should not live or die by its breakdowns."Treading" is one of the album's best songs as it's catchy than the bulk of them. I will give this album an 8.5, as they are talented at what they are doing; I have just already heard this back in the late 90s. Released on Sumerian Records.

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