ALBUM REVIEW: Injury Episode – Static Dress
Ever since their debut album, Rouge Carpet Disaster was unleased back in 2022, Leeds quartet, STATIC DRESS have gone from strength to strength, solidifying themselves as one of Britain’s most exciting bands in both the hardcore and metalcore scenes. They are now back with the tricky sophomore effort, Injury Episode. An unrelenting wall of sound that lifts the band up higher than they’ve ever been, to loftier heights with a truly awesome spectacle that shakes you to your very core and leaves your ear drums almost shattered. It’s surely a front runner for AOTY as we hit the mid way point of 2026.
lose the rain opens up with an eerie backdrop of distortion and whispering as it segues into questioning. Launching us into the album proper with style. The bruising guitars creates a tsunami of sound as it pulls that rough around the edge, early 00s sound kicking and screaming into the post-hardcore stylings of 2026. There’s a sense of desperation as the swirling riffs and thunderous drums create some magic as frontman Olli Appleyard expertly weaves between clean and harsh vocals. You’re already two songs in and already adding this one into your favourite STATIC DRESS tunes. Pharmacy Film keeps up the same intensity but switches up its sound a little, instead of a bruising riff, we are greeted with a punchy guitar riff that creates a beautiful bounce and driving force to boot that takes us through the rest of the song. One of the main qualities of Injury Episode is that it doesn’t pull from the same place repeatedly. Third track Adapter already slows down but doesn’t lose any urgency as it brings in a sort of TAKING BACK SUNDAY sound which is always welcome.
STATIC DRESS leave little time for breaks however, one of the heaviest tracks on the record brings back the pace with Nostalgia Kills, a song that brings in Spencer Chamberlain of UNDEROATH to create something truly special. The burning riffs sear your ears as Appleyard gives a tour de force of a vocal performance, showing he is truly a master of his craft, combining perfectly with Chamberlain’s. …hospice follows on and brings in a MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE influence to the table, it’s more anthemic than a fast paced metalcore track as it tugs at the heart strings with its emo sound, as it casts your mind back to a bygone era of hanging around Urbis (if you’re from Manchester, you’ll know) with your fellow emo’s and moshers lamenting life. lip critic returns us to the fast paced nature, feeling like a punch to the face as it has you two stepping in the kitchen as you’re washing dishes before segueing into the equally heavy Male-bomb as it laments the state of the world, tackling the awful manosphere type men we have making too much noise at the moment. dull blade disguise once again harkens back to the early 00s vibe but does fall a little flat, it’s by no means a bad song, but with the album being fifteen songs in length, you can’t help but feel the fat could have been trimmed a little.
Embracing a more modern hardcore style, we are treated to Classic.Death.Pose which is 100% a classic emo song title. This song is as rough around the edges as it gets, it’s punishing and violent and will definitely cause utter carnage live. Adult Diamond has you not believing your ears as you hear an acoustic guitar on a metalcore record. It’s a nice break from the mayhem and carnage and sees the band in a reflective mood as it combines well with a grungey little riff and suits the softer vocals of Appleyard perfectly. Another album highlight appears with human props. A song taking aim at those who get everything easy in life when there’s others that are used for the amusement of those in power, it’s a great punchy track and has you wanting to scream along in frustration. After a brief intermission, we reach our finale, Treading. Ending the album how it started, in bruising nature. It’s a great book end and is a true testament to the glorious quality of Injury Episode. The desperation, intensity and mayhem all come back in delightful force which creates a perfect ending to a near perfect offering from STATIC DRESS, it’s great stuff.
Sophomores are normally classed as “the tricky second album” that gains appreciation over the years instead of its initial release. Worry not, there is nothing tricky about Injury Episode. A tour de force from start to finish which shows that STATIC DRESS aren’t messing about, they mean business and will happily remain doing so for years to come. Bring on the live shows, these new songs are well and truly going to kick our arses, and we’re into that.
Rating: 9/10
injury episode is out now via Sumerian Records.
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