EPK – Scatter Storm – Oblivion (EP) (2021)
Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
EP Title: Oblivion
Release Date: July 9, 2021
Label: Blood Blast powered by Nuclear Blast
Distribution: Blood Blast powered by Nuclear Blast
Facebook.com/Scattered-Storm-106688970852378 | Instagram.com/scatt_storm
Scattered Storm hails from El Paso, Texas, USA and is a state supergroup comprised of seasoned musicians Andre Acosta and Ed Razor from Pissing Razors fame with band founders Jay Arriaga (No Life on Earth, Years of Cold), and Kevin Armstrong (Mondoshawan, Section 6). Their music is very dark, futuristic and heavy, but also has a lot of ambience.
Formed in 2019, the band has been polishing itself since and decided on an ultimate direction to go in. From the beginning, there was a very clear understanding of every detail they wanted to incorporate. From the very tuning of the 7 and 8 string guitars and the very specific tonality, they produce the ambience provided by the keyboards to layers and layers of vocals to really convey Acosta’s sound. This is all finished off with the main focus, that catchy riff and rhythm to have the songs stay on people’s minds and headbanging of course. Gotta have headbanging.
A Scattered Storm song begins with Arriaga and Armstrong exchanging riffs, with an emphasis on a technicality, but never losing the groove. After the song is polished, it goes to Acosta who applies the fantastic to the real world through the vocals.
When Scattered Storm hits the stage, the audience can expect a combination of the primal vs the futuristic as described in the lyrics and song title names. In the summer of 2021, they are unleashing their debut EP “Oblivion” via Blood Blast Distribution powered by Nuclear Blast.
Line Up:
Drums, Keyboards and Samples: Jay Arriaga
Guitars: Kevin Armstrong
Live Bass: Eddie “Razor” Garcia
Vocals: Andre Acosta
Endorsements:
Guitars: Kevin Armstrong – Endorsed by Mesa Boogie
Bass: Eddie “Razor” Garcia is endorsed by Sabian, DDrum and Vic Firth
Drums, Keyboards and Samples: Jay Arriaga is endorsed by Aquarian Drumheads and Scorpion Percussion Drumsticks
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The EP as a whole:
The main theme is darkness in various situations like social, personal, and the fantasy world. The EP lyrically touches on many social and fantasy subjects, musically the intent was to not be too technical, only in moments, but definitely heavy and atmospheric. Again, it is not a concept record, but it kind of flows like one from one song to the other. The music creates the sonic journey while the lyrics convey the history of that journey. There are varied themes within each song, but the consistency of the technical aspects of the music makes it glue very well. This being the solid foundation of rhythm, with the ambience of the keyboards. The bass separates a lot and this was done intentionally as to not sound too predictable in the melodies and more tool like. This works well to create separation and keeps the songs interesting.
Track by Track:
1. Aeon Flux was the first song guitarist Kevin Armstrong wrote and sent to drummerJay Arriaga. The song lyrically focuses on a lot of fake friendships and backstabbing. The song musically is very percussive and has a very tribal feel all throughout. Its pulse is steady as the beating heart while there is all this chaos and aggression behind it. Vocalist Andre Acosta took that aggression very well and kept by growling continuously and not singing clean vocals. Again the primal aspects continue up until the end where it is obvious with the tribal chants that the ending breakdown is about to destroy. This was done intentionally to kick ass live.
2. Under The Fire lyrically touches upon a recent shooting that happened in our town. Musically it began with Jay Arriaga using an eight string to create syncopated riffs that melted into a steady groove of legato slides on the guitar. Then transitioning to machine riffs to Mediterranean landscapes in the middle with climaxing vocals making a segway to the ethereal brutal ending.
3. Kingslayer came about guitarist Kevin Armstrong watching Godzilla too much. We felt this song really encompasses the overall sound of the band because it has pretty much everything we wanted to throw in there. Big vocals, big guitars, pummeling bass, but most importantly that heavy ass steady groove, which will get some of these headbanging necks a run for their money. It has movements that change a lot, but keeps pumping until the Stanley Kubrick inspired space like ending. Lyrically, it touches on a couple of religious subjects plus the philosophical, but mostly focusing on letting go of all of that and being free of the mind and spirit.
4. Empty is heavily influenced by drummer Jay Arriaga’s progressive metal influences. Jay lyrically took from the occult and Aleister Crowley by having our vocalist Andre Acosta read from his works mixing it with his own lyrics. Answer and response represent talking to oneself. Then the orchestral arrangement of the keyboards played by Jay emphasizes that chaotic battle. Several movements escalate to the pivotal moment at the end of the song. Lyrically, it focuses on the inner self, depression and relationships with people that struggle with that. Basically, the theme is the darkness of the mind.
5. Necronomicon came about guitarist Kevin Armstrong and drummer Jay Arriaga’s love for HP Lovecraft books. But the main riff Jay wrote it out of despair for losing a loved one. The steady chug of the guitar conveys almost a walk to the underworld. The world of the dead, which explodes into the Chtulu scream. The song continues to pound and chug until the end bringing all this chaos to an end. Andre Acosta vocally pretty much left it all there, like if the song itself tore him apart. Lyrically it develops on the title of the song, wondering about the fantasy and the underworld.
6. Scattered Storm was finalized by drummer Jay Arriaga when rewriting it on pure electronic form. Heavily influenced by soundtracks and video games. Jay also wrote the lyrics based on letting go of loved ones when they perish from this world. Very climatic and ethereal. The song has a very nice concluding piano note at the end which denotes the end overall of the whole album. Short and straight to the point. Both drummer Jay Arriaga and vocalist Andre Acosta sing on this song. Guitars played by Kevin Armstrong and all electronics by Jay Arriaga.
[Download EP Cover | Download EP Lyrics]
EP Title: Oblivion
Release Date: July 9, 2021
Label: Blood Blast powered by Nuclear Blast
Distribution: Blood Blast powered by Nuclear Blast
Track Listing:
1. Aeon Flux (3:40)
2. Under The Fire (4:03)
3. Kingslayer (4:43)
4. Empty (4:23)
5. Necronomicon (3:16)
6. Scattered Storm (3:35)
EP Length: 23:41
EP Credits:
Produced by Jay Arriaga and Kevin Armstrong
Mixed by Jay Arriaga in El Paso TX, USA at Empty Paradise Studios
Mastered by Allan Wallace in Belo Horizonte, Brazil at Eminence Studios
Artwork Marco Pimentel
Music written by Jay Arriaga and Kevin Armstrong
Lyrics by Andre Acosta and Jay Arriaga
Line Up:
Drums, Keyboards and Samples: Jay Arriaga
Guitars: Kevin Armstrong
Live Bass: Eddie “Razor” Garcia
Vocals: Andre Acosta
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