Spartan Records will release ‘Intermission’, the debut album from Assertion on April 9th.
The project marks the official return of drummer William Goldsmith, who ten years ago, walked away from a successful music career that included stints as a founding member of Sunny Day Real Estate, The Fire Theft, and Foo Fighters.
Together with his Assertion bandmates, guitarist/vocalist Justin Tamminga (Blind Guides, Dying Trades) and, bassist Bryan Gorder, Assertion’s debut LP, ‘Intermission’, is real, propulsive, and earnest — a cathartic experience that proudly does not nestle nicely alongside current bands — or really many releases at all from the last couple decades. The album conjures more connections to the heady grit and soaring grind of the 90’s. Driving guitars anchored by a frenetic rhythm section. A haunting vocal delivery concealing a heartfelt sentiment. Track-by-track, the record builds into a dark and heavy crescendo but unpredictably retreats into delicate and fragile moments in masterful ways.
Goldsmith says, “A decade long journey that started out walking away from music has led me right back to it and the very reason I started – but with a whole new appreciation and respect for it. I feel extremely fortunate to be part of a project that isn’t just making music but is a force of nature with an egoless collaboration that is nothing short of unconditional. The gratitude I have for being given the opportunity to release this music is beyond words. Thank you to everyone for your support through all these years.”
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Assertion is best described adjectively. Real. Propulsive. Earnest. The band’s debut record Intermission is complicated to categorize. Equal parts raw and cinematic, it is a cathartic experience that, proudly, does not nestle nicely alongside current bands — or really many releases at all from the last couple decades. Intermission conjures more connections to the heady grit and soaring grind of the 90’s. Driving guitars anchored by a frenetic rhythm section. A haunting vocal delivery concealing a heartfelt sentiment. Track-by-track, the record builds into a dark and heavy crescendo but unpredictably retreats into delicate and fragile moments in masterful ways.
“For me,” says Gorder, “it is about accentuating the absolute unique drumming that William brings to the table.” Tamminga adds, “Wewanted to somehow capture William’s drum set in all its fullness. I wanted to feel it on the record.” With the drums as the centerpiece, the band entered the studio with the intention of leaving with a record that sounded live — as if you were in the same room with the band while they were playing punishingly loud. To accomplish this, it made the most sense to keep all production responsibilities in house. All individually accomplished engineers, the band moved into a studio space above Goldsmith’s garage and the Intermission sessions began. “We wanted other humans to feel this album,” says Tamminga, “so we stayed away from using a click track for most of the songs. I like the ebb and flow of a natural rhythm. I’m not a robot and I don’t want to listen to or record copy and paste music. Music is art and expression. I love the human aspect in music. Even mistakes.”
A first look and taste of the new album can be seen here, in this teaser video clip.
