Static Dress Kills Nostalgia in New Album “Injury Episode”
“ It’s the fear of a promise / A stab wound with no pain / Broadcast all of my worst thoughts / To my enemies”
Static Dress has released their sophomore album Injury Episode, and it is nothing short of emotional, gritty, and memorable. After the success of their 2022 album Rouge Carpet Disaster, fans highly anticipated what they would do next. After 4 years, the album is here, and it was well worth the wait. The UK-based band, formed in 2018, has produced a variety of heavy, emotional hitters. Combining post-hardcore and metalcore revival movements, they have caught the eye of many in the heavy scene. Released May 29 through Sumerian Records, Injury Episode features 15 tracks, with an appearance from Underoath in the mix. The album was entirely produced by Static Dress and Erik Bickerstaffe, the guitarist from Loathe.
The short opening track “lose the rain” contains the lyrics “So close to being free / Why would I stop now?” which is a direct nod to the final track of their last album, seemingly connecting the two. “questioning” is a strong start, with an opening eerie guitar riff backed with a very strong snare. Olli Appleyard starts with a scream that goes right into clean vocals. It’s a mix of groove and noise until it picks up with a background guitar sound that is deep and dark. The song feels like a back-and-forth of melody that blends so well. One moment it’s noise rock with dreamy vocals and the next it's aggressive post-hardcore. Appleyards’ vocals really shine through on this track. “Pharmacy Film” keeps the energy going with a headbanger. Vincent Weights’ guitar is punchy and aggressive in this one. Appleyards’ vocals are so captivating with the range he pulls. “Adapter” slows it down with lighter drums from Sam Ogden and is met with Appleyards’ mesmerizing vocals.
The fifth track, “Nostolgia Kills” features Underoath, who Static Dress has often been compared to. The song is fast and aggressive right off the bat. Lyrically, it touches on repressed memories, grief, and is a protest against the need for instant gratification in today's entertainment. On a podcast episode with Nik Nocturnal, Appleyard talks about how nostalgia often kills music because when a band takes a new direction with their sound, it is usually met with a lot of backlash. The main reasoning being that it ‘doesn’t sound like the old stuff’. He believes that certain albums resonate with people because they have memories tied to them, bringing a sense of nostalgia when they listen. Appleyard encourages fans to make new memories with these releases and embrace change.
“...hospice” is a standout track on this album. It is emotional and raw, touching heavily on the complicated feelings of grief and watching someone slip away.
“So take my dying hand / Find good in the goodbyes / For mourning won’t come easily / Drag the fear from me”
The main guitar riff is just as emotional as the lyrics. It’s a more controlled rock sound than the previous few songs, but backs the emotion in Appleyards’ voice. Lyrically, this album is a cut above the last and filled with chilling emotion. “lip critic” picks things back up with a high-energy punk sound. This album gives a wide variety of styles. “dull blade disguise” features an alternative metal sound, while “Male-bomb” is aggressive post-hardcore. “Classic. Death. Pose.” is a gritty breakdown, showcasing Appleyards’ haunting screams mixed with lower register guitar riffs and heavy drums. The song gets heavier each second and shows how dark they can get. There is a complete 180 with “Adult Diamond”, featuring an acoustic switch. Appleyards’ soft vocals mixed with a dreamy guitar give a shoegaze front, with a build-up to the end.
The lead single, “human props” is fun and upbeat. Appleyard switches effortlessly between clean vocals and screams. Halfway through the song, Oden changes the pace on drums into a more drawn-out sound. There is an acoustic guitar again, as things slow down until an explosion of vocals and a mesmerizing guitar riff at the end. The final track, “Treading” is a melodic conclusion about romanticizing the past and moving on from that. Concluding the major themes of this album, one must move forward to avoid getting stuck.
Injury Episode is an intentional, cohesive, and emotional album. In a world that seemingly strives for instant gratification, Static Dress aims to do the opposite. They make music they want to make and aim to be as authentic as possible, and it shows. Static Dress is set to open at Outbreak Fest in Manchester for Bring Me The Horizon’s celebration of Count Your Blessings, as well as playing their own headline tour this summer.