Bloody amazing synthesizer dominated darkwave sound with ethereal soaring vocals

Switchblade Symphony was conceived in 1989 to fulfill a need to convey the dark visual imagery associated with dreams, aloneness, and alienation. Susan Wallace and Tina Root have embraced the timeless romance and grandeur of the classical and theatrical styles of music, and combined them with the texture and aesthetic of Gothic, the power and dynamics of heavy beat industrial, and the lush richness of electronic synthesizers to create a unique and vivid tapestry layered with intricate and beautiful images

Switchblade Symphony was spawned through the friendship of Susan Wallace and Tina Root, with their shared desire to create through music. They began their initial practice sessions in the late 8O's as explorations of the various Musical elements. The results were an experiment in sound and voice, in an attempt to "find their musical niches". "When I first started making music, I just wanted a way to get out my aggression. And at that early point, I didn't have any control of what came out," Susan explains. With Tina on main vocals and Susan mastering the synthesizers and sequencing the pair began creating a sound that surprised everyone around them. Their first release, appropriately entitle Fable, seemed filled with magic and superstition. The songs carried the listener through a myriad of fairytale worlds, creating an image of haunted dollhouses and dancing puppets, and all the while traveling through Landscapes of swirling smoke. Songs such as "Gutter Glitter" and "Chain" are eerie, and captivatingly adorned with their trademark hypnotic bass and spooky music-box melodies. It is also in this volume where the underground dance classics "Mine Eyes" and "Bad Trash" can be found. "Mine Eyes" had originally been released on two industrial dance compilations called California Cybercrash Compilation (Cop) and From The Machine (IndEx). Elegy is Switchblade Symphony's second studio recording, and as Fable, it was released on their own label, Thornbush Records. The early material including Fable was created entirely between Susan and Tina. Their exclusive use of synthesizers and programmed drums had matured tremendously since their start, and they felt that they were ready to add a live drummer. Elegy also completed the band line-up with the introduction of Robin Jacobs on guitar. As we learn, Robin's inclusion was somewhat unexpected."Originally we had wanted a bass player,", th ey explain. "We were very stubborn against having a guitar player because we felt that it would take away from the music and just muddy everything up. So when he came to the audition as a bass player, he had us listen to some parts that he had tried on the guitar. We were amazed with what he played. Everything that came out seemed to blend perfectly with what we were doing." It is apparent, in Elegy, that the introduction of a drummer and guitarist has carried their sound to its highest plateau yet. It brings with their age, a new sophistication of darker, harder-hitting dance music. The first track, "Clown", opens onto a flood of sound, and of one Swtitchblade Symphony's finest songs yet. The new songs have been based on a darker realism, somwhat shying away from the sweeter, fairytale-ish topics of earlier recordings. With the combination of driving guitars, seismic drumming, and cool electronic sounds, the perfect audio scene is created for Tina's vocals to blend in for an incredible offering. As an elegy would have been a lament for something past, the band seems to get somewhat ahead of themselves in their last song. In "Ride", they seem to have contemplated their own mortality and pose the question of things would be lost. It is a sad song that is a little bit suprsing with its hint of anger. As of yet, the appeal of Switchblade Symphony has shown no bounds. Their music has already been sought after by filmmakers to accompany their work. "Mine Eyes" entered the film genre with its inclusion in the lesbian/erotica film Das Musik Susan has also been commissioned to score an art/horror film called Dark House, and a Fon Davis claymation film (whose work appeared in The Nightmare Before Christmas). Earlier this year Switchblade Symphony was signed to Cleopatra Records, and in June they completed the studio recording of their forthcoming album Serpentine Gallery. The album features many new songs such as "Wrecking Yard", "Cocoon", "Dissolve", and "Wallflower", which the band have already begun performing live. Also included are brand new studio recordings of several tracks which were only avaliable previously in their early demo tapes and a handful of compilations mentioned earlier. This will allow old and new alike to experience a full range of their finest material to date. The band has proven to withstand the critics of alternative and gothic culture, and have managed to lure live audiences as well, with recent sellout performances at San Fransisco Bay Area clubs. They are continuing to create great music, and plan on touring larger areas in the near future.

Switchblade Symphony performance at the Fenix was absolutely amazing. The sound was the best I have ever heard at a concert. It was loud enough that you could feel the music, but not so loud that it distorted the sound. Clown sounded even better live then on cd. the synthesizer seemed to stab out at you. Tina was a jolly happy singer bouncing about, despite the fact that she was feeling poorly the night before at the Portland concert. Tina's voice came out clearly, complimenting Susan & George's playing nicely. Their sets, witch was the same each night, only lasted about 40 min., not nearly long enough for a great band like this. They treated us to songs like Sweet, Dissolve, and Wallflower but sadly my(his/her) Favorite song Gutter Glitter was not played on ether night. (definitely not Velvetdespair's fave)

Their appearance stood out from the other Goth bands playing on the line up those nights. Tina who looks like an explosion in a make up factory was wearing a green dress & lots of silver eye make up. Suzan, who by the way is a babe and a half, wore a rather fething white dress and a pretty pink bow in her hair. George Earth [guitarist] in all black and the drummer looked very out of place more a slacker look in baggy jeans, shaved head & gas station work shirt. Without a doubt this band was the highlight of the evening. Review writen by: Technomancer.

Eric Gebow [drummer] pictured below

Tina Root (pictured below) Lead Vocalist of Switchblade Symphony.