Aspesti – Blank

We all remember how grunge made a big impact on the music scene. Back in those days, the rock scene needed some fresh, innovative, abrasive, heavy music, far away from all those glam rock and hair metal bands that had been omnipresent during the eighties and early nineties. But it also seems like the contemporary scene needs some fresh grunge music too. In the vast sea of the same old, repetitive, predictable, and bland alternative and rock bands, who usually copy each other, the music industry demands some new, talented, creative musicians who know how to bring back those days when guitars rang with fuzz distortion and beats were so heavy it could tear down the walls. Every now and then, the band appears that possesses all those qualities. Aspesti, a Finnish trio based in Espoo, has everything it takes to become the next big thing in the modern grunge and alternative rock scenes. They bring back all those ultra melodic vocal harmonies, paired with heavily distorted guitars and groovy beats in a way not so many bands can do it today. With “Blank,” their latest standalone single released on June 12th via all streaming platforms, these folks bring everything you dearly love about the nineties sound, filtered through the lens of a modern music production. They bring all those aesthetics of grunge, raw, unfiltered, colossal wall of noise paired with rhyhtmic patterns that bring groove, power, and dynamics, but there are also many elements of alternative rock music of the same era lurking in the mix and bringing “Blank” on an entirely new level. The song also carries a rebellious punk rock spirit, a point of view that perfectly goes with their raw grunge aesthetics, so these clever, creative, talented, and skillful musicians have crafted a catchy, memorable, captivating song that will not only appeal to the longtime grunge fans but also to anyone who seeks that powerful, unfiltered sound packed with brilliant ideas and outstanding musicianship.

But to fully understand the brilliance of this band, you need to examine the structure of the song first. “Blank” follows all the rules of the late eighties and early nineties grunge. Just think of the bands like Nirvana, Mudhoney, L7, Willard, etc. The Seattle sound shines from every vocal, sonic, and rhythmic maneuver, yet there are also European alternative rock elements incorporated into the structure. Speaking of structure, it is packed with all those clever arrangements, profoundly detailed segments, brilliant ideas, and marvelous orchestrations, so “Blank” is crafted to perfection. Now, the vocals play a significant role in channeling all the anger and emotion through subtly detached yet profoundly melodic vocal lines. It’s a grunge style of singing where the vocalist follows all the low, mid, and high notes delivered by the remainder of the band, yet it works in his separate universe, serving as a guide for the listeners, emphasizing all the sonic elements, commanding attention, and simply being a frontman that speaks with the crowd through melodic singing and shouting. And it’s a style of singing that suits the music so well, bringing back all those good old days when the singers knew how to translate their feelings into the music. In the meantime, the entire barrage of catchy, memorable, unfiltered, generously distorted guitar riffs fire from all the cylinders. Perfectly paired with the melodic vocal harmonies, the guitars serve as a somewhat counterweight, in the place where all those riffs and chord progressions bring more than necessary aggression, abrasion, grittiness, power, and rage. The comprehensive collection built upon impressive guitar maneuvers decorates each segment, making this song so captivating. Beneath all those lush guitar riffs, you’ll notice how all the warmth, depth, heaviness, and clarity come from equally impressive basslines. Still, the bass is heavily drenched in the crunch distortion, delivering another wall of perfectly distorted sound that makes “Blank” even more raw, abrasive, and gritty. It’s a wise move that always works like in grunge music, and these wise musicians proved once again they thought about everything while writing, composing, arranging, and recording their music. Of course, the excellent rhythmic patterns, consisting of well-accentuated, flawlessly performed, tastefully assembled, dynamic beat, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics, keep the remainder of the band in line while bringing all that power, groove, and detail upfront. Every hit of the snare, kick of the bass drum, and splash over the cymbals has its place and purpose here, making this song even more ear-appealing.

If you’re a true fan of grunge and alternative rock music, then you should immediately check out Aspesti and their new song. “Blank” is one of those catchy, memorable, captivating songs that, once you’ve taken a listen to it, wraps around your listening apparatus, grabs you by the collar, and refuses to let go. These talented musicans have created a modern grunge anthem that simultaneously pays homage to the roots, and it will easily become a staple on your playlist. You should immediately put Aspesti on your music radar!