Review by Saxy S for Static Dress - Rouge Carpet Disaster (2022)

Given the fact that Static Dress wear this influences on their sleeve on this debut album, it should not come as any surprise that I sense a warm feeling of nostalgia here. It has elements of Deftones/Hum, Chevelle, and mid 2000s post-hardcore/metalcore Underoath. I may not have listened to Underoath back in the day, but their sound is relatively timely and can be felt in a lot of post-hardcore music that I hold in high regard today. The album is heavy with breakdowns, quasi emo lyricism, Chevelle style vocal timbre and Deftones stylings of atmospherics and possibly shoegaze on occasions.

At first I may have been a little hesitant to call this album great. And this is primarily due to a wide variety of styles and influences that it could be seen as nearly impossible to balance them out fairly, while still creating a new sound that is not completely dependent on nostalgia farming. But Static Dress pull it off very well; this record takes all these influences together to create an entirely new sound that is not only fresh and exciting, but also exhilarating. If any of the non-metalcore influences of this group peak your interest, then this record might have something new for you. Otherwise, those mid 2000s Underoath fans will have a great time with this.

Best Songs: fleahouse, Push rope, ...Maybe!!?, Marisol, cubicle dialogue