AURA Fest is continuing its steady drip of heavy metal and rock with another excellent show at the Sentient Bean featuring Savannah bands Depressor and Steel Circuit, as well as If Only.
Depressor formed in 2017 but initially kept a low profile so that they could write and record their debut EP, “Callous.” When they finally dropped the EP in March the following year, they immediately impressed metal fans with a crushing debut and a string of live shows.
After several other solid EPs, Depressor released their latest EP, “Blind Mother,” this year setting the tone for the direction they are going on their forthcoming album.
“Immediately after we dropped that, we started writing,” said guitarist Ryan Michael Merica. “We just wanted to out do that, push further and see what we could do and make an impact with this album. There was a lot of trial and error between ‘Callous’ and ‘Harm,’ and now ‘Blind Mother.’ ‘Blind Mother’ started to be a shift for what we wanted to do for our sound. With new members we implemented some newer influences that would introduce industrial noises, like Nine Inch Nails, just to expand on our sound and solidify and make our thing more identifiable.”
The haunting metallic noises and distortion that introduce “Blind Mother” create an atmosphere of dread right before the band pummels the listener with crushing metal-core. Merica credits bassist Jesse Rovolis for bringing industrial textures to their music.
“He’s always willing to experiment. He’s like the Swiss Army Knife, he can do a lot. He’s an incredible drummer, plays bass, and he’s written a good bit of 'Blind Mother.'”
Depressor are already working on new material, recording individually on their own home studio set-ups and then getting together to practice and refine the songs. Fans can expect to hear some new songs at Saturday’s show.
“It’s definitely different, but it will still sound like Depressor,” Merica promised.
If Only are a four-piece from Augusta Georgia that blend brutal beat-down with metal-core groove. Steel Circuit appeared on the cover of Do Savannah last October, but because of the pandemic, are only just now playing their first show as a band.
Steel Circuit’s initial singles “The Cyborg & the Sea” and “Blood Moon” excited local metal fans with their In Flames influenced New Wave of Swedish Death Metal melodies, and singer Laurin’s blend of clean and death metal vocals.
In the intervening time since their cover appearance, the band added a new bassist and a second guitarist, solidifying the line-up and improving their sound.
“Everything is settling in,” said Steel Circuit’s drummer Gavin. “Everything was sporadic the last year or so, but now everyone is settling in, we’ve got our full band now, we’re good to go. It feels great. I think we’re all really excited. I’ve seen several shows at the Bean and it’s a really nice, intimate, personal space. Granted, we’re a metal band, so it’s going to be loud, but I feel like our first show, we’re really going to be able to connect with our fans.”
Steel Circuit plan to make up for lost time with a music video and an upcoming album in 2022.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah bands Depressor, Steel Circuit debut latest work live at AURA Fest at the Sentient Bean
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