Hailing from Leipzig, Germany's TENSION was founded in 2015 by vocalist Maik H. and guitarist Phil. M. during a night of dozens of heavy metal records and unlimited amounts of beer. The band was then rounded out by ex-members of Toxic Beast and Germany's Prowler. From the beginning, TENSION's influences were firm: the First Wave of Swedish Heavy Metal (or FWOSWHM), including the likes of Gotham City, Heavy Load, Jackwave, Parasite, Jonah Quizz, Depzon, and Stitch among others; the always-eternal NWOBHM, but particularly Satan, Traitors Gate, Wolf, Ritual, and Lime Light; heavy metal from the Eastern Bloc like Aria, Ossian, Formel I, Omen, and Pokolgep; and different kinds of punk music, but most prominently The Misfits and Discharge. In other words, the PERFECT type of band for DYING VICTIMS - and not surprisingly, TENSION released their self-titled debut EP through the label in 2017. Gigs followed with the esteemed likes of Manilla Road, Satan, Pagan Altar, Tokyo Blade, and Alien Force among others. Now, nearly five years since the Tension short-length, TENSION unleash their debut album, Decay. Right from its very first seconds, Decay sparkles with an excitement that's absolutely addicting and endearingly timeless, running through a virtual jukebox of Old but brimming with the effervescence of Now. It's pure heavy metal, through and through, with juiced-up hard rock and moody punk subtly integrated, and the power is always in abundance but never overbearing; TENSION's cool & cruising momentum harkens to a lost era of feel over sheer speed. At the fore are nightsky-ascending lead guitars, whose narrative melodies straddle a fine line between metal classicism and something closer to dark hard rock. And Maik's clear 'n' emotive vocals bespeak bathos and pathos, bravado but tenderness, epic adventures as well as long nights at the bar. The cassette and CD versions of Decay will include nine tracks, with the self-titled EP added to the latter as bonus tracks. The vinyl version of the album will include eight tracks due to length, with the extra track saved for a split EP to be released later in 2022. In the meantime, no better time to experience the "Higher Power" of TENSION's Decay!
