The Surfactants is not a Japanese band. The Surfactants is my band!
Sorry for the brief non-Japanese self-promotional digression...
The Surfactants was formed in 2005 by Zac Bentz. A long time drummer and house and trance DJ, Bentz eventually found a new found inspiration in the Japanese new-wave spazz rock band Polysics. It wasn't long before he began writing songs in the style of his new found heroes. Eventually he called up a few of his friends, all veterans in the local music scene, and The Surfactants was born.
Fusing the aforementioned new-wave synth pop with their love of classic metal bands like Iron Maiden and Metallica, the band quickly found their own unique voice in a sea of abysmal synth-pop wannabees. Instead of adopting the usual batch of '80s kitch, they instead looked forward to a new style of heavy, dueling guitars, stuttering beats, screaming synths and pounding bass.
The vocal style of Marcus Matthews was also something outside of the usual new-wave style, eschewing the fractured, nerdy approach and instead falling closer into a Depeche Mode or Foo Fighters realm. This unexpected clash of styles sent audiences reeling and critics into fits of adoring apoplexy.
The band has released two untitled mini-albums and an mp3 only album that collects both of the two mini-albums into one solid package. The recent past has seen a change in lead singer with the replacement of Matthews with Greg Cougar Conley, who brings with him a dedication to the same avant-avant-garde style. One can only hope they release a new album in the new future.
Live Clips
Official Site
MySpace
Members:
Eric Anderson - Bass
Zac Bentz - Drums, Programming
Greg Cougar Conley - Vocals
Brett Molitor - Guitar
Ex-Member:
Marcus Matthews - Vocals
Releases:
Untitled 1 - 2006
Untitled 2 - 2007
Diminishing Returns - 2008
Interview
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