US band PRIMAL STATIC has been around for a good 15 years at this point from what I can understand, although how long it has been in it’s current shape as a duo I do not know. Nor have I managed to track down how much material that have been released under this moniker over the years, other than it is at least for EP’s. Their latest one is called “The Corrupting of the Revolution” and was self released earlier this year.
The heart and soul of this band appears to revolve around blues rock, explored in their own particular manner. Three of the four songs present are different takes and varieties of this, sporting dark toned, gnarly and somewhat rough guitars leading the way in variations of the trusty blues rock, from the firm and dramatic to the lighter tones, more sparse and emotional. Often with a subtle presence of keyboards or electronic sounds adding a different dimension to this kind of material.
The odd one out is the opening track Velvet Crush. Here the blues rock is hidden away beneath an industrial rhythm foundation and a liberal array of futuristic and cosmic electronic sounds. The core foundation of this song is an intriguing one, to the point that when the blues rock elements crystallize a bit more towards the end they did strike me as a not quite appropriate presence.
That being said, there are a few qualities to this EP that will make it something of an acquired taste besides that detail. The drums comes across as static more often than not, giving way to associations towards drum machines. The lead vocals aren’t overly strong, and the mode of delivery doesn’t strike me as universally appealing. Too strained and too lacking in range and tone control for my personal taste, especially on album: Live on stage this is a type of voice that will fit much better. And at last, while the opening cut of this EP explores some rather fascinating territories, the end result is, for me at least, just too chaotic.
As this is a band that has been ongoing for quite some time, I suspect they have managed to establish a fan base, and that fan base will probably be pleased with more new music coming their way. As for everyone else, Primal Static as of 2019 is for me very much a case of an acquired taste. If rough, honest blues rock with something of a lo-fi attitude strikes you as a good thing, and you are intrigued by the notion of how keyboards and electronics are utilized in such a setting, chances are that this is a band that will fascinate you.
My rating: 55/100
