Review by: Drew Creal
The current state of the music industry is much like a rock-pile, and for any group to standout and survive in the crowded sea of bands, they have to do something entirely unique, innovative, or even retroactive to get to the top.
Sydney, Australia’s Drop Tank has chosen to take the latter approach and apply their own style of music to what would otherwise be a band that recently exited a time machine from the 70’s. Their music is riddled with speedy, thrashy riffs, off-the-cuff solos, cascading drum fills all topped off with the punkish, female vocal stylings reminiscent of Joan Jett or even Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart.
The band’s most recent release is the EP called “Domina”. It’s a sonic step up from their earlier self-titled release. The band was able to record in a studio this time around, as you’ll notice a slight increase in sound quality. The real improvements though, are made in the song structure and how the instruments mold together. The lead singer Zebidy Tank shows off her punk swag with fast, slurry vocal lines in “Saw Nothing” weaving in and out of riffs and solos, even letting out a fiery, shrill screech once and again.
Guitar tone is pure as ever on “Domina” with the unholy combination of a Gibson SG and a Marshall JCM. One would hope for a few more tracks or even a full length on this release, but “Domina” still manages to capture how the band has evolved over the course of a few years. Currently, Zebidy Tank are working with some exciting new producers on some new tracks, that are said to be mind blowing. They are generating a lot of interest internationally with their music and are embarking on a world tour, that is not to be missed.
As Lead singer and songwriter, Zebidy says: The high energy songs, are “born out of instrumental jams in the mad, dilapidated world of the crumbling building we inhabit. We try to just let songs happen organically without trying to second guess how they’re ‘supposed to sound”. “I think this keeps them sounding more connected to the initial frantic energy that spawns them when we get in the rehearsal room”.
Check out an interview with Zebidy Tank here:
Q: Where is Drop Tank from and how did you guys put the band together and get started?
A: Drop Tank is originally from Marrickville, the industrial district in Sydney Australia. I would go to local live music venues to see who was playing and go and talk to the ones who had that special “X Factor” quality about them. You can usually tell if you will get along creatively with someone just by looking at them. We’ve had a few line-up changes but I find that to be a positive. Working with different people forces you to be a better musician.
Q: I hear a lot of classic remnants when I listen to your music, there’s a high speed classic rock/thrash metal/punk vibe to your sound. Who are some of the band’s influences?
A: 70’s Rock, 80’s Metal and 90’s Punk. All the classics of course, ACDC, Motorhead, Pantera, Slayer, The Melvins, and I’m a huge (Mike) Patton fan.
Q: There are some fantastic improvements made on your new EP “Vice”
from the band’s self titled EP. How did you guys record your music, by
yourselves or at a studio?
A: The difference is that Vice was recorded at a Studio and our self-titled was recorded at home in our warehouse with an engineer. There is a certain vibe that is different from each EP. You can almost feel the vibe of the industrial warehouse we had in the first EP. It is something unique and is it very dear to us, and something you can’t capture in a studio, The studio EP however
sounds better, the difference is in the professional setting. Despite the first EP sounding more lo-fi it still got radio play which is pretty cool…
Q: What’s your favorite type of show to play? Everyone has that one venue
they walk into and feel at home.
A: Packed clubs are better than festivals because the sound is better. Perhaps the Annandale because its where I used to hang out anyway.
Q: What is the most memorable show or opportunity you guys have had over the last two years?
A: Big venues with lots of people is always fantastic, however one of the most memorable was at a private friends birthday party where we were asked to play the set again. Shows that have had an exchange of energy between us and the audience are always the best.
Q: Are you writing new songs? Any new plans to record this year?
A: I am in talks with a number of producers at the moment and am working on some new singles, hopefully to be released soon!
Q: Your vocalist is a female, any problems with gritty biker guys hitting on you at shows?
A: haha as long as they buy CDs no problem.
Q: Can you give me a quick gear run through, like, what kind of guitars and amps are you guys using?
A: Gibson SG Standard you can’t go wrong. You also can’t go wrong with a Marshall stack. Also going to be adding a Jackson to the family for speed.
Check out Zebidy Tank’s music at:
