Aussie quintet Future Static are the latest name to emerge from a long line of alternative bands from down under. Blending elements of alt-rock with crushing metalcore and occasional towering pop melodies is a formula Future Static has brilliantly tapped into.
The arrival of their debut album, ‘Liminality’, sees them exemplify this across 12 tracks. Whether that’s on the duel vocals from lead singer Amariah Cook and bassist Kira Neil on ‘Chemical Lobotomy,’ the rapturous pounding of ‘Venenosa,’ Jackson Trudel’s frantic bass peddling on ‘Icarus,’ or the wealth of sharp riffs pulled off from guitarists Ryan Qualizza, and Jack Smith throughout. The two years Future Static spent on creating ‘Liminality’ has paid off.
Serving as their most collaborative effort, it’s no surprise that ‘Liminality’ shifts effortlessly between various shades of alt-rock and metal. One minute you’re caught in the middle of the panic-stricken rage of ‘Iliad’ with its meaty guitars, the next being sucked into by the infectious melodies that ‘The Hourglass’ offers. Whereas ‘Halfway Across The World’ serves as a brief acoustic respite before ‘Plated Gold’ bursts through with an almighty punch (with a little help from Sean Harmanis of Make Them Suffer).
In between all of that, there are other highlights such as recent singles ‘Waves’ and ‘Roach Queen’. While album closer, ‘The Embers,’ ties it all together in a rich, metallic package; stirring guitar solos, soaring melodies, and dense drum work.
Comfortably labelled as “ones to watch,” we thought it’d be a good time to dive into the album that has shaped Future Static‘s direction. Members from the Melbourne-based group have picked out seven influential albums.
Saosin – Saosin
Ryan Qualizza (guitar): The reverberations of Saosin’s self-titled record can be felt throughout most of the tracks on ‘Liminality’. The marriage between a strong emotional composition and a more traditional metal approach to instrumentation has been a feat few have managed to balance so effortlessly. The technical proficiency displayed in tracks like ‘Collapse’ and ‘Follow and Feel’ is meticulously measured in tandem with heart-wrenching vocal performances, and a forensically in-the-pocket rhythm section. In a way, ‘Liminality’ is about exploring dichotomies and thresholds, both musically and thematically, and I guess we have Saosin to thank for sparking the first embers of that idea.
Bring Me the Horizon – There is a Hell Believe Me I’ve Seen It. There is a Heaven Let’s Keep it a Secret
Ryan: Bring Me The Horizon’s third record has been a huge inspiration to us since writing our sophomore EP, ‘Fatalist’, in 2019. A chaotic amalgamation of riffs, synths and ambient layers, this record displays a more progressive side to Bring Me’s unique brand of heavy music as it builds and expands upon its seemingly simple ideas.
In Flames – Come Clarity
Ryan: Melodic and Death are two words that have no business being next to each other in any context, and yet, here we are. One of the most underrated melo-death records out there by the undisputed kings of the genre. Riff city, with a strong focus on potent melodic devices. Playing ‘Take This Life’ on ‘Guitar Hero’ as a kid shaped the musician I am today, for better or worse.
Arcane Roots – Melancholia Hymns
Amariah ‘Ami’ Cook (vocals): This particular album was probably a subconscious inspiration for ‘Liminality’ on a vocal level. If this album’s tracks were 200 bpm, and the guitars had more distortion, you could find some similarities.
Thematically, this album feels a bit more dark but it has a similar uplifting and hopeful tone that balances the sad lyrics and makes for a cathartic aural journey that gives one the ability to dive into their darkness and then come out of it feeling stronger.
August Burns Red – Messengers
Jackson Trudel (drums): I first discovered August Burns Red back in 2005/2006 and quickly attached a lot of my individual musical personality to their music. The 2007 album ‘Messenger’ was the first album I was obsessed with, not just from ABR but overall from any other band. Their drummer (Matt Greiner) had this sense of style and phrasing that added a layer of musicality and flare to the guitars and vocals I hadn’t heard anywhere else before.
I’ve carried this influence with me ever since and a lot of what I write and perform on stage can be directly connected to how important this album was to me during my formative years as a drummer. Some of this influence might be subtle; the rest might be a little obnoxious, but either way, I think you can hear this inspiration come through on this album.
While She Sleeps – Sleeps Society
Jack Smith (guitar): Nothing quite delivers the same amount of energy as a good While She Sleeps riff and this album is packed with them. I’d be straight-up lying if I said that this wasn’t on repeat during the writing stages of what turned out to be ‘Liminality’ and there are some key moments where I wanted to capture some of that same energy in these songs. There are lessons to be learned in their songwriting and guitar parts, as what seems simple at face value, is actually some of the most innovative playing in recent years.
Belle Haven – You, Me and Everything in Between
Kira Neil (bass/vocals): Belle Haven was the first Australian heavy band I fell in love with and this album became the benchmark. The balance of catchy choruses, intense breakdowns and shattering lyrics brings me back constantly and it’s always in the back of my mind.
We’re so grateful to have former Belle Haven guitarist Christopher Vernon as our producer on ‘Liminality’ and that connection has always felt special.
‘Liminality’ by Future Static is out on November 24th on Wild Thing Records.
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