The State release music video for 'The Resistance'

The State have released their first new music of the year with a single called The Resistance on all digital platforms; streaming and download. They will also release a new music video to go with it which is essentially a 5 minute 15 second horror film on Youtube, their website www.thestateuk.com, and their socials.

The song arose around a reaction to the complacency of much of society to people like Donald Trump and Theresa May and the corporations and oligarchs who control and own them. The video was shot in a single day in an abandoned office building as a sort of found footage horror film. Daniel Smith and Hector Campbell, both final year film students, were behind the lens and brought their love of horror films to the creative process.

Guitarist Will Goodey joined vocalist/programmer Andy Guy in the band a year ago during the final stages of recording the second album Ministry of Truth. This new track is the first that Will has been involved with the writing process from the start and is the first of many for a planned third album set to be released in the autumn (date tbc).

The State are a gothic industrial / post-punk band based in the east of England. Taking their cue from bands such as Nine Inch Nails, Rammstein, Marilyn Manson, The Cure and Gary Numan, they aim to ensure that their live performances are as intense and rich as their studio works. They interweave heavy driven guitars with synths and samples to create a rich and varied tapestry. Their goal is to provoke and encourage people to question the political and social reality they find themselves in and perhaps do something about it.

www.thestateuk.com

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Review: The State – 'Ministry Of Truth'

THE STATE
'Ministry Of Truth'
MISANTHROPIC RECORDS

Industrial rock power duo The State return with sophomore outing in the form of 'Ministry Of Truth'. The band are quickly amassing an impressive amount of material that references acts such as Killing Joke, Sulpher, Nine Inch Nails, Gary Numan, and Rammstein and dragging the gritty minimalistic post-punk leanings of industrial rock into the 21st century.

The album opens with the claustrophobic call to arms 'Public Service Announcement' with its slow bludgeoning guitars and martial dance beats. They follow this up with the more up-tempo post-punk flavoured 'Ghost' before diving into the album's second single 'Fairy Tales', which see's a grander arrangement with it's piano intro giving way to gothic-edged electronic rock. 'Inevitability' then slips in with a bit of a 90s NDH feel to it that recalls the heyday of Ooomph! and Eisbrecher, albeit with English vocals.

'Living, Quietly Bleeding' brings back a darker atmosphere with its sinister synths and the return of the slow methodical combination of guitars and drums for another strong example of the band's sound. 'End Game' once again goes a bit more up-tempo with it's guitar and synth combination recalling Cubanate flirting with ebm. 'Ever Of Late' continues the 90s feel with it's upbeat melancholia before giving way to the ebm tinged rock of 'Best Laid Plans'.

In terms of production, 'Ministry Of Truth' is pretty rough and ready. The vocals in particular have a tendency to fade into the mix and there are a few times where the songs feel like they're building to a big kick of energy that never quite materialises. Which is a shame as the songwriting and performances in and of themselves are pretty solid.

On the whole, 'Ministry Of Truth' is a pretty good record with some great tracks, in particular 'Public Sercvice Announcement', 'Fairy Tales', and 'Living, Quietly Bleeding'. There is still some work to try and get the best out of the songs production-wise without losing that satisfyingly gritty post-punk vibe that is ever present. But this album definitely proves that The State have the goods.  

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Review: The State – 'Public Service Announcement'

THE STATE
'Public Service Announcement'
MISANTHROPIC RECORDS

The State continue a fine tradition of gritty minimalistic industrial rock that harks back to the days of of post-punk experimentation technophobic paranoia combining into a heady mix of dark subject matter and compelling yet aggressive sounds. The band's latest single – 'Public Service Announcement' – is a claustrophobic backlash against the rising tide of political instability in the west.

The lone track on this release is a dark yet anthemic album of steady dance-friendly martial beats, snarling punk vocals, gritty guitars and enticing electronics. It harks back to the manic experimentation of Killing Joke and the dark paranoia of Sulpher. It's raw, angry, and menacing industrial rock.

The production reflects the atmosphere nicely. Low-fi, but not low quality. It sounds like a forbidden transmission coming in from a pirate radio station to spread dissenting views. It's nice and gritty where it needs it, but the electronics and guitars are nicely balanced and the beats are always discernible and infectiously groovy throughout.

This is a really nice slice of British industrial rock. Infused with an undeniably catchy post-punk vibe and slabs of menace it is an intelligent and topical offering that highlights a lot of talent deserving of credit. Hopefully we'll see a full-length follow-up from The State sooner rather than later.  

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