Release
date: August
23rd
2019. Label: Self
Released.
Format: DD/Vinyl
Static
Apnea
– Tracklisting
1.Resting
Waters
2.Detach
3.Depths
and Passages 06:25
4.Surrender
5.Summon
6.Diminished
Return
Members
Will
Bassin
Adam
Holbrook
Sean Bulkley
Review
Static
Apnea is the 3rd
album from Hypnotic Doom Riffsters Serial Hawk and I’ve been a fan
of this band ever since I reviewed their 2012 debut release Buried In
The Gray back in the day. The band received critical acclaim for
their 2015 release Searching For The Light and it’s good to have
the guys back today after a 4 year absence.
Static
Apena sees Serial Hawk drift towards a more Sludge/Post-Metal sound
with their familiar and haunting Progressive Doom Metal grooves being
added for extra weight and heaviness throughout this album. Serial
Hawk draw influence from bands such as YOB, Neurosis, Pelican and
Cult of Luna on this album for a more varied style of music.
Opening
song – Resting Waters – has a deep and troubling aquatic vibe to
it especially where the music changes direction with different layers
of heaviness throughout the songs 10 minute plus runtime. The
progressive guitar sounds allows Serial Hawk to play music at their
own pace and on their own terms. A cool mix of Doom, Sludge, Psych
and Post-Metal combining for heavy atmospheric grooves from the
start.
Second
song – Detach – has a more open ended Doom based sound with a
Tool-esque influence especially on the lyrics and vocals. Everything
else is Serial Hawk. It’s good to hear a more emotionally distant
Stoner Metal sound starting
to appear and make waves amongst the standard Doom/Sludge Metal
vibes.
Third
song – Depths and Passages – is perhaps the angriest song on the
album with intense vocals from Will leading the way. The music has a
reflective Post-Rock/Post-Metal feel with a more aggressive direction
once the sound builds up to a more Psychedelic Doom/Sludge rhythm.
The overall sound is truly captivating and reminds you of YOB in
places.
Fourth
song – Surrender – starts quietly with a lovely sounding Ambient
driven Post-Rock score. The song is quite peaceful and remorseful
with the slowly played music. A different style that Serial Hawk play
superbly well.
The
final two songs – Summon and Diminished Return both allow Serial
Hawk to return to their heavier Doom/Sludge/Post-Metal world and
where they explore a more emotionally distant part of the album.
Expect more sonic experimentation on these two songs with elements of
Drone Metal leading the way.
Serial
Hawk feel like they’ve reinvented themselves with this album and it
shows throughout the whole album. As the whole feel and flow of the
album is quite different and more complex compared against the band’s
previous albums.
Static
Apnea could be defining moment for Serial Hawk’s career. As it’s
the type of album that could launch them onto bigger and better
things. This is a wonderful and emotionally driven album that’s
full of rich progressive sounds and ideas that leave you wanting
more.
Overall,
Static Apnea is a classic sounding album in every sense of the word.
Words
by Steve Howe
