TENSER - Demo
Full disclosure, I actually recorded this demo in 2023. TENSER was a band with a bit of a false start that shared the same practice space as me.
They formed pre-COVID, as early as 2019, initially as a guitar-bass-drums unit searching for a vocalist. Actually, now that I think about it they asked me to sing as well, but I guess I didn't have time. The pandemic derailed the band's full formation, and although they started practicing again eventually the search for a vocalist took a long time. The vocals were definitely recorded much later, by Alex from RIVALED ENVY. There was at least one show booked, I think meant to line up with a tape release, but something happened and they had to drop. Ultimately they disbanded, and sadly this demo is the only thing left behind.
Being made up of former/contemporary members of bands like SUBSIST and MAXXPOWER, TENSER played powerviolence but down-tuned and high-brow. Toronto's THE ENDLESS BLOCKADE is an obvious influence (a cover is included on the tape) and there are also some of the PV prog bass playing codified by bands like GAS CHAMBER. But the riffs are far from derivative or boring, I enjoy these songs a lot. It's a demo, and we recorded everything but the vocals live, but it still sounds surprisingly good like a complete EP. For example, there is tasteful interstitial harsh-ish noise that helps tie the song together.
If you are into good powerviolence, you'll certainly enjoy this and I hope it will become an important footnote in Canadian PV history rather than just being lost altogether.
Released by Mouth of Madness Tapes, tapes still available and you can listen here: https://mouthofmadnesstapes.bandcamp.com/album/demo-3
Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 16, 2024