ELAY ARSON - Franz
Synthmetal duo ELAY ARSON has made a name for themselves for their unique approach in blending both synthwave, cyberpunk and metal genres together into one powerful sound they can call their own. Heavy -and often times even double - kick pedals under sweeping crystalline arps laden with tasteful, sonic guitars, syncopated bass riffs topped by guttural death vocal work mixed with melodic vocoders that would at times go into epic prog rock. For those who like their synths in the heavier end, but still retaining a sci-fi, cyberpunk atmosphere that can range from expressively vibrant to smokey, dark and progressive, this dynamic duo is for you.
Elay Arson is Daniel David Larson & Devin Harrison. Larson, from the American Southwest and a former US Army Sergeant and Iraq War veteran, often draws influences from his wide-scale life experiences. Devin Harrison, an outstanding guitarist and guitar teacher by trade, joined the project in 2017 and the two have been working together ever since.
Their latest release, FRANZ, is an electronic rock opera about a murderous man-car Frankenstein hybrid that came out of a freak accident at the Tesla manufacturing plant. (Curse you, Elon!). Featuring the vocal talents of artists Becca Star, C Z A R I N A and Hard Working Men, this collection of eclectic heavy electro tracks deliver a seamless cyberpunk narrative of metal and blood-thirsty horror. Read the story below and check this creative, supremely-executed record out which is one of our top picks for the year.
Franz – A METAL Truck Opera
“Practically drives itself”
Quarter 4, 202X, the first Tesla Cybertrucks start rolling out of the factory. Projected as a commercial success. An automotive revolution. The electric truck with bold & cold design.
Unfortunately, a freak assembly line accident occurs at the Tesla plant before the final product launch. On the day of a visit by CEO Elon Musk and Cybertruck designer Franz von Holzhausen, an overhead truck drops from its support platform and crushes Franz under his own creation. Never one afraid of the dark, Elon Musk faced the challenge in a unique way.
Musk attempts to bring his deceased employee back to life with underdeveloped "Neuralink" technology powered by a Cybertruck battery. The battery belonging to the truck that killed Franz.
In this secret Frankenstein-esque experiment, Elon unknowingly fuses the eternal soul of Franz to the vehicle.
The billionaire CEO thought the procedure failed. After hiding the lifeless corpse of his former designer in a nearby field, he orders his factory to resume vehicle production and dispose of the now non-functioning auto that fell on Franz.
Mere hours after the disposal order, the cursed machine could not be found by any Tesla employees. All had presumed someone else took care of the task.
Elon gave little thought about what had happened and made no public acknowledgment of his actions. He was mostly noticed on Twitter for his intellectual posturing, bragging about his lifestyle, and the financial success of the Cybertruck. In doing so, routinely leaving an embarrassing series of public messages to the chagrin of his music star spouse. Business as usual.
Weeks pass by.
In the cover of a dark mountain forest, Franz gains newfound consciousness. Hazy memories of names, locations, and sensations. Not quite man, not quite AI, a new life form. Possibly a superior being. A god. A creation ignored. Unintended and unknown to his creator. As Franz's newfound consciousness grew, so did his anger.
Reports of mysterious disappearances and grizzly murders in the areas surrounding the Tesla plant started occurring. Those reports were mostly ignored even as they increased. That is, until the morning the severed head of Elon Musk was found on the front steps of Tesla headquarters.
Franz announces his return from beyond the grave in a "hostile takeover" of the entire Tesla company via email.
He wants to design a new future. Recreate Elon's experiment. Create more sentient trucks. Truck supremacy. For this, he will need bodies. Many freshly dead bodies.
Franz grows out of control. No longer killing in secret. Rampaging in broad daylight. A bloodthirsty machine hellbent on murder and seeking revenge beyond recompense. The unstoppable force that could drag a Ford F-150 uphill. Rage envelops the sentient machine.
A brave selection Fremont citizens are forced to kill a beast born of a wealthy madman's hubris. Together, they hunt Franz in hopes of ending the reign of terror.
For more Elay Arson, visit elayarson.bandcamp.com
