Chameleon Technology

Chameleon Technology is a one man anthem creator as well as the master mind of Max Histrionic. “Blank Canvas’, his new EP, is an exciting fusion of aggressive punk, metal and industrial music, set to synced bass and drums, that takes Max Histrionic into a dark, personally and social lyrical theme. It is a true experience.


Your music is awesome, but your one man “Max Histrionic”, is space age magic.....I’m not even sure I grasp the concept...can you please explain how you do what you do? Do you actually play live as three people?

First of all, thank you for your kind words. “Space age” is very flattering! Our performances are comprised of Max Histrionic on guitar and vocals live, while high-quality “live” (read: real) audio of bass and drums are synced with visuals of Histrionic on said instruments. Our goal is to create a multimedia experience that energizes audiences.

What inspired your type of music, and the entire idea?

We listen to a wide range of musical genres, yet fast-tempo micro-anthems tend to permeate through our creative endeavors, at least for now.

Chameleon Technology was named after a pot dealer’s Veiled Chameleon named “Sid”. Histrionic held the bugger and thought it looked like a tiny robotic dinosaur when moving, thus Chameleon Technology.

Count on the concept changing continually. Static expressions repeating ad nauseum do not sit well with us.

Who are your strongest musical influences?

Native Californians like The Locust and Thrice have made an impact. Others include Rudimentary Peni, The Living End and Fugazi.

Your EP visits hard core “Rancid” type, explosive punk to progressive, jazzy punk, (Self Repair), does the EP have a particular theme?

Lyrically, the “Blank Canvas” EP is a concept about an intense romantic fling. First impressions bring the desire to copulate, aggressively, before moving into different phases of lust, then skipping straight into the separation (”Blank Canvas”, the single). We find that idea seems to reflect many modern day dating circumstances.

Musically, we couldn’t have been more surprised by the flow of songs in regards to the lyrics. Everything really came together in fall of 2015 and we decided to pull the trigger as quickly as possible to capture that. It just happened.

Are you going to tour?

Yes! We can’t wait. We’re working on a couple things at home for the band, then focusing on spreading the live show to as many venues as we can.

What is the meaning of music to you personally?

On a cosmic level, it’s pleasurable to be able to harness vibrations in a meaningful way within the spectrum of human perception. Conventionally, it’s our best opportunity to communicate honestly. Writing lyrics, music and being able to curate and perform those emotions is our purpose.

How long have you been celebrating your multiple, musical, instrumental personality?

Since 2009.

If you couldn’t create music, what would you do to be creative?

It’s hard to say because we’ve been involved with just only music on an artistic level. Although we hold other avenues in high regard, it’s likely we’d be more interested in flying a jet or driving race cars than creating outside of music.

What’s next for you musically?

There’s a lot more in development. Never expect anything other than the unpredictable. And it’s all happening soon. - Huffington Post

Chameleon Technology manages to instill many different elements working together in harmony, which makes “Blank Canvas” an entertaining listen each and every time. Songwriter Max Histrionic combines punk rock attitude with a heavy and rhythmic delivery, as heard in bands such as Green Day and Thrice.
The opening track “No Safe Word” perfectly sets the tone for a high-energy EP like this one. Beginning in true punk rock fashion, the song kicks off with a guttural bassline that welcomes in a drum beat that kicks you in the teeth. Following suit, the siren-sounding guitar lick and roaring vocals begin. Lyrically, this is nothing too special, but there are a handful of cleverly written lines such as: “But you don’t want this complexity, you’re confusing ethics with chastity.”
Up next, we have “Serin’s Vending” which is guaranteed to make you want to get up and move. With a catchy hook and pop-punk bounce to it, this is definitely one of the most fun tracks to listen to on the EP. Favorite line from this track: “…He’s defined by that which she says he can’t have.” The short nature of the song makes it worthy of a few solitary repeats.
“Lifestyle Science” is up-beat and nicely displays Histrionic’s vocal range as well as his drumming skills. His use of both harsh and clean vocals in the same verse is well executed, which is not always an easy feat to accomplish. With the line “I’m breathing better now, understanding how it went down. New motivation found, I’ll take the world on”, this is a fun, uplifting chorus that also happens to be a declaration of making a positive change in one’s life.
The listener finally gets to cool down for a second as “Self Repair” comes in with a bounce. We can hear a heavy rockabilly influence very prominently here. This definitely has my favorite chorus on the EP. It is chalk full of harmonies, distorted guitar, a bass riff that swings, and drums fit for dancing to. “Not sure she’s worth this song. Still waiting on her to prove me wrong” is my favorite line here for the simple fact that it is relatable. That seems like a place we’ve all been to at some point.
Blank Canvas needed a proper outro and this self-titled track gives the listener just that. The first time I heard this song, I knew it was going to be my favorite. The best part about it, is the fact that it doesn’t take the turn one would expect it to, during the chorus. Instead of singing or slowing the song down, Histrionic lets loose and hoarsely belts out the lyrics at the top of his lungs. “What would old Eckhart say? You get there realizing it’s already where you are.” This is the second time he seems to visit the topic of looking to one’s past and trying to come to terms with it in order to move forward.
All in all, I enjoyed listening to this EP and would recommend my readers give it a repeated listen. It is laced with positive messages within metaphors, excellent musicianship that grabs your attention, and a whole lot of attitude. It is refreshing to see well-rounded musicians like Chameleon Technology taking the stage and bringing well-crafted work such as this to an audience. I’m looking forward to the next release and you should be, too. You can find a link to stream Blank Canvas below. - Know More Music Blog

Chameleon Technology is a one man project with vocals, guitar, bass and drums being handled by Max Histrionic, who has been doing his own thing since 2009. It’s a five song EP of punk rock that when performed live, high-quality audio of real bass and drums are synced with live action video of Histrionic performing both instruments and are then projected next to him playing guitar and singing live.

The EP is a great blast of power tracks that assault your ears as soon as you hit play and don’t let up until the last note has ended. Opener “No Safe Word” kicks things off with a destructive explosion of raw energy and decibels ripping your head off. The ripped throat vocals and the pure speed of this basically hardcore song make for a great beginning. “Serin’s Vending” reminds me a bit of old Flipper and has a nice blend of the screamed and smooth vocals, as well as giving your ears more candy to ingest. As the album goes along, it becomes a bit more metal, but not in a bad way at all, kind of like when bands got the blending of the genres right. By the time last song “Blank Canvas” comes on, the chugging guitars and the edgy vocals mix together to create a song that sticks in your ears, and gets your blood pumping. The production is a bit raw, but not messy or sloppy, just giving it the bite that makes it sound all the better.

This reminds me of how bands used to do things, DIY and balls out rocking. Grab this one, crank it up and scream along. - New Noise Magazine

There is something instantly awesome about Costa Mesa, California’s own Chameleon Technology. It might be the obvious punk/metal aggression, the fast-paced, high adrenaline, kick-you-in-the-face attitude — or perhaps that disenchanted 90s teenager that lives in me is excited to hear something that sounds so familiar? Either way, Chameleon Technology is not for the faint of heart, which means I liked it straight away. Releasing — or, rather, unleashing — their new album entitled Blank Canvas means listeners should get ready to have their punk faces melted.
Opening with the high octane track entitled “No Safe Word”, Blank Canvas jumps right into the angst-filled fire. With fists raised high in the air, Chameleon Technology are poised to strike lightning straight into the listener’s hearts. The guitars are impressive, and, along with the crushing drums, this track has some great moments, but it is the bass line that is the true star of this song. Fast and furious, “No Safe Word” is a beautiful middle finger attitude wrapped up in some serious punk rock skill.
I am not sure why so many punk bands, or solo punk artists in this case, lean on one or two awkward and almost humorous-sounding songs, but the track entitled “Serin’s Vending” feels a bit like that punk filler to me. The song is fast enough and angry enough, but, somehow, that strange chord change doesn’t quite fit my ears properly. It’s not a bad song by any means, but not my current Chameleon Technology favorite; it could very well be one of those great sleeper hit tracks, though.
“Lifestyle Science” is everything I love in music. It is simple, powerful, and catchy as hell. The vocals are beautifully done and truly showcase that special thing this band has to offer. Reminding me of a great punk band called The Smalls, Chameleon Technology has offered us something of a true musical gem here. I think I may have listened to this song at least five times in a row, which isn’t that impressive really if you consider the fact that the song comes in under two minutes. One thing is for sure: this act won’t be winning any prog-rock awards with songs almost as brief as a hiccup, or, in their case, a swift punch to the music listening face.
The final track, and single, entitled “Blank Canvas” channels a little bit of that TOOL meets early AFI meets Bad Religion energy. As far as singles go, this is exactly what you want to hear from a musician. You want to hear that raw honesty, that signature style, and that music that moves you into motion, and that is very much what “Blank Canvas” does. - Pop Wrapped