Sensory Amusia – Jared Bridgeman and Shaun Maloney

Crushing 7 string guitars and 6 string bass deliver a relentless wave of discordant mayhem and technical groove. Team that up with numerous time signature changes and complex drum syncopations, topped off with guttural and aggressive vocals, Sensory Amusia are a force to be reckoned with.

Metal Obsession’s Anwar Rizk, speaks with Sensory Amusia’s, Jared Bridgeman and Shaun Maloney, about the band’s forthcoming new album, Soundwave, djent and the band’s upcoming Victorian mini tour later this month.

Metal Obsession: What’s the go with Damian Lewis on the band’s Facebook page?

Jared Bridgeman: A friend of ours came to the conclusion a few weeks ago that our guitarist Shaun looks a lot like Damian Lewis and proceeded to call him only by the name Homeland. He photoshopped the face switch and posted it on our wall and I just decided for a laugh to post it in place of our regular cover picture to see if anyone noticed.

MO: Could you give our readers a bit of insight into Sensory Amusia and how you guys become the unit you are today?

JB: Well we’ve existed in our current form for about 5 months now after we parted ways with our second guitarist however we just decided we work best as a 4 piece band.

Shaun Maloney: Joel (bass) and I have been jamming together for a number of years. Our aim has always been to make interesting, heavy music.  I think it’s quite difficult in Perth to meet like-minded musicians and we were lucky to find Jared and Chris to bring our demos and sound together!

MO: Sensory Amusia’s music represents the band as multidimensional, similar to that of Meshuggah or Periphery. Who would you say is the band’s biggest influence?

JB: A single biggest influence would be difficult to pick, all four of us have very different tastes however if I had to say one artist, probably Gojira.

SM:  Meshuggah, They definitely got me into a new world of crazy low-tuned guitars.

MO: In terms of lyrics. Is there a concept or theme within the lyrics?

JB: Our debut album which we’re tracking at the moment is essentially about the complexities of perception. I’m fascinated by how and why people think and perceive the way they do!

MO: There seems to be a lot of band’s influenced by the ‘Djent’ school of music. What sets Sensory Amusia apart from everyone else?

JB: I think what sets us apart is that we’re not a djent band influenced by other djent bands. In fact, I don’t think any of us even listen to any djent! We sound the way we do as a result of our influences and writing styles pooled together. Artists like Cattle Decapitation, Aborted, Decapitated, Gojira, Cephalic Carnage, Sikth etc. In the scheme of our album as a whole, it’s quite evident that we’re a not a djent band the way that you see in Periphery, Tesseract and Vildhjarta etc.

MO:  You guys are currently running off the success of your latest EP, (Self titled EP, ‘Sensory Amusia’). When can we expect a debut album?

JB: We’re tracking at the moment, expect a release early 2013 (Jan/Feb)

MO: Is there anyone in particular you wish to work, or currently working with on Sensory Amusia’s debut album?

JB: We’re working with some really talented local engineers/producers in Perth on our debut album and already it is sounding huge!

MO:. Were you at all surprised at how quickly the band’s recognition has grown in such a short amount of time with only an EP to go by?

SM: Yeah definitely. It’s great when we have people today say “Hey guys, really enjoying your EP” and I think “We wrote that late in 2009 and recorded it in a bedroom”. it just gets me pumped to release our new material!

MO:  You guys were part of the 2012 Soundwave line-up in Perth. That must have been quite an experience?

JB: It was huge, couldn’t have asked for any better. It was great to have a chance to see the festival life from the other side of the fence, watching bands side-stage and chatting to whoever was nearby! Luckily someone down at Triple J unearthed likes our music and saw the work we were doing in Perth and decided we should be a part of Soundwave and we thank them every chance we get.

MO: Were you lucky enough to get any big names to watch your set?

JB: Bam Margera was backstage as CKY were the next band on our stage, most of the big names don’t rock up until later in the day closer to their set times!

MO:  Yesterday morning, Soundwave released the first batch of bands for Soundwave 2013, which include; Metallica, Six Feet Under, Periphery and Stone Sour. What are your thoughts on the current line-up?

JB: It’s still relatively early days, around ~40 bands have been announced and last year there were over 100 playing on the day so as far as metal bands go, surely there will be some more quality metal still to come in the following announcements.

MO: Any advice for local band’s wanting to get on Soundwave in their home town?

JB: Work hard. Write good music, play lots of shows, make videos, tour, everything you can think of. The people at Triple J unearthed will notice if you’re doing things right and working hard!

MO: Sensory Amusia are set to hit Victoria later this month. What can we expect?

JB: Metal. Heavy shows with lots of energy!

MO: Will an album/EP be available to purchase at these shows?

SM: The EP is available for download for free via our facebook. facebook.com/sensoryamusia

JB: We will definitely have shirts available for purchase!

MO: We always hear stories of Australian bands struggling to make it big in this country. However, Sensory Amusia have proved its possible to make it “big”, no matter the situation. What are so many bands doing wrong?

JB: I wouldn’t consider us a big band, not until we have some extensive touring under our belt however; as far as what other bands are doing wrong? A lot of bands are overly invested in image and fads (and breakdowns). If the music isn’t high quality, I don’t particularly care what you look like or how well you can jog on the spot!

SM: Don’t wait for something to happen. Don’t copy trends. Write the best music you can and play as many shows as possible. Get out there!

MO: Do you believe Perth bands have to work twice as hard, since international and most interstate bands ignore the region?

JB: I don’t know if we have to, but we try to! It’s expensive to tour to and from Perth so we definitely understand when international/interstate bands are unable to make it here and we do our best to support them as best as possible when they do come over.

MO: What’s your view of the current state of metal, both home and aboard?

JB: Internationally it has been one of the biggest years in terms of releases in a LONG time. A lot of quality albums have been released and still plenty to come. At home, the new Psycroptic ‘The Inherited Repression’ is an excellent album and also a new album from The Amenta to look forward to!

MO: What are you currently listening to at the moment?

JB and SM: Cattle Decapitation – Monolith of Inhumanity. Amazing album, go and buy it!

MO: Any famous last words?

JB: I don’t think you can top Dimebag Darrell Abbot’s last words of “Van Halen!”

Make sure to catch Sensory Amusia later this month, as part of their mini Victorian tour.

Thursday Aug 23rd  – Eastern Station Hotel, Ballarat
Brooklyn, Sensory Amusia & The Hivemind

Friday Aug 24th :- TBC

Saturday Aug 25th – The Workers Club, Melbourne
Brooklyn, Sensory Amusia, The Seraphim Veil & Asperity Within

Sunday Aug 26th  – The Nash, Geelong
Brooklyn (Vic), Sensory Amusia & Exposures

For more info head to: www.facebook.com/sensoryamusia