Review Summary: A post-apocalyptic world of breakdowns and chugs.
There is a rare vein of music that comes into fruition deep in the mines of progressive and technical metalcore. Perpetuated by acts like Ion Dissonance and War From a Harlots Mouth, this small niche is emphasized by mathematically infused breakdown patterns, abrupt riff transitions, and an overwhelming sense of chaos. The recipe requires not only immense technical talent, but a generous helping of madness. Live performances of these bands religiously promise an audience of uncoordinated heads struggling to bob along to the syncopations and polyrhythms. Though the inaccessibility of this music lies miles from some of the more avant-garde acts out there, it still mandates an open mind to enjoy. An online comment on Disigma's single 'Throne Sake' stuck with me; something along the lines of, "You know it's crazy when you can't find the downbeat." Those well-acquainted with acts like The Locust and PsyOpus will find Disigma tame by comparison, but don't let that disillusion you; Disigma planted plenty of twists-and-turns on their latest EP.
Disigma's long anticipated, self-titled EP has been finally been unleashed unto the masses. Having been teased by several earlier singles, it feels satisfying to hear the Pennsylvania based duo’s hard work and dedication come into fruition. Spanning close to 18 minutes, the EP is comprised of 5 previously unreleased songs gleaming in their Drop F glory; an admirable feat, though I would not have minded the addition of any prior singles. Consisting of a firmly laid foundation of breakdowns, atmospheric passages, and chaotic intersections of riffs, Disigma pummel the listener from beginning to end. Emphasizing their passion for musical brutality, the duo seamlessly weaves a wide array of discordant grooves together. On 'Crows,' tight and choppy, After the Burial-esque action melts away into an eerie trance of thall. 'Hatchet' sends hands flying across the fretboard before breaking into hastened, hardcore chugs; simple, yet haunting, melodies float in the background, conjuring up an atmosphere reminiscent of Vildhjarta. ‘Event Horizon’ closes the EP with end-of-the-world heaviness, the distant tremolo picking resembling sirens issuing a state of emergency. If chugs were made of water, this EP would be a tsunami; it's absolutely laden with them from start to finish, which might be an immediate turnoff to some. However, every riff is unique and differentiable, with a sense of nuance and finesse. The pace is restricted to the slower side of the spectrum, but several moments break free into blasting frenzies. Like a tiger, these segments are exotic and rare, yet gratifying to witness.
Raw shouts consistently pierce the chaos, adding yet another layer of ferocity. The vocal style is hardcore in nature, discernible without losing its aggressiveness. Punctuating screams and growls aid in the assault, though the range is maintained somewhere in the middle. Two of the EP's tracks feature guest vocals: Patrizio Arpaia of Currents on ‘A Disconnect’ and Shae Portner of Prime Meridian on ‘Event Horizon.’ Though all vocalists involved are exemplary, their sharing of a similar vocal style makes it difficult to distinctively pinpoint who's doing what and where. Regardless, their shouts contribute to the noisy cacophony. The EP's production exposes every aspect of the band while helping keep the gritty sound that makes it so heavy; there's no doubt that your house will be trembling with a good pair of speakers. I must commend the band on the drum programming; subtle ghost notes and well placed hi-hat smacks showcase a close attention to detail in making the drums as life-like as possible. Acting as the main driving force, the china fiercely smashes away while the snare pattern remains impossible to follow; reminding me of that Calculus class I took last year. The instrumentation as a whole is entirely precise and well polished, demonstrating the amount of effort that went into creating every little part.
Disigma's first EP is a very promising start to what will hopefully expand into additional releases. At first listen, one might mindlessly dismiss them as another chug clone; I urge everyone to pay attention to the details, as these two have painted a chaotic landscape of unmatched heaviness. Their neck-snapping grooves encompass the push into new depths for this genre. I look forward to their outside-the-box approach and future material. And yes, earlier, I shamelessly used thall as a noun.
