Pictures say a thousand words. Paintings, photographs, drawings, even digital art can have some kind of story to tell, represent an abundance of feelings. Music is an even greater medium for sending messages, thoughts, and inspiration through. And, just as with still art, music has a gigantic array of variants to choose from for an individual’s emotional state. Take this picture, the cover of The Inalienable Dreamless. A beautiful blue sky eloping with airy, white clouds articulate a sense of simple warmth and tranquility; projects a state of mind that makes one calm and whole. It seems as though if you had the opportunity to stare at this eloquent, delicate scene your entire life, you would.
And then we have the music.
Ugly, brutal, uncompromising, unsettling, and - though definitely not least - very, very angry are just some of the components for Discordance Axis’ final opus. Yet, with all the dark psyche flying about, the listener will undoubtedly feel the same way about the music this album beholds as they might have with the picture: this is elegance, this is what I will treasure forever, this…this is ecstasy. The disharmony, the slow crushing-ness, the apocalyptic insanity…. If you were ever angry, even for once, in your miniscule, monotone and dead life, you will relate to this album. From the ethereal screaming of Jon Chang, to the jagged, discordant chugs of madness by Steve Procopio, and the blast beating suffocation courtesy of Dave Witte, you will find some part, if not the whole record, that represents your depression, anger, insanity, and even your love. You will relish it, indulge in it, become addicted. And you will truly see what it means to be thoroughly disgusted with yourself for not taking every chance, every moment, good or bad, for yourself and your life.
Because this is an album everyone wants to make. Even if you hate this music, hate metal, punk, grindcore, or everything and anything extreme, you will appreciate what this album has to offer. In one way, every song has a mind of it’s own. They each have their own identities, own ways of thinking. They can all operate and function alone and quite separately with incredible ingenuity, the results of which come from the difference every track has in riffs, patterns, rhythms and even styles. But the real support system of this album is how much more well the songs work as one connected, complete album. They all exert together to tie in the album every which way and make it an experience, which is what any album destined for greatness has to do. In another way, the album seems longer than it is, because the songs do infact make the album an experience. And as with any extraordinary experience, you want it to last forever. You simply will never get enough of how much The Inalienable Dreamless has to offer, as it doesn’t go on for infinity. But for all it’s worth, it certainly tries to bring you it all in one, and does. It gives you all it has, and you couldn’t ask for more.
Immaculate pictures can represent a million words. Flawless music can transpire through and stick with you till your inevitable end. The Inalienable Dreamless does both. This is a true beauty of distorted angst, fear, loneliness, hate, destruction and grace all molded into one brutal album. Taking extremes to extremes, Discordance Axis are already legends in their scene, even though they are through and done with. Like a martyr, Discordance Axis set a benchmark for everyone in their musical beliefs and standards in this genre, of which very, very few will be able to feat, even come close. Simply put, your mind will be blown.
There is no current just a stagnance,
These lungs would rather burst than spare me breath.
Spit out the air and sink to the bottom.
Drowned…
