Review Summary: Death Metal that is pure and true and honest and good and just and upright.
Although “Disgrace “is the name of this band, such connotations are just the opposite in reflecting their impact on the death metal genre as a whole. Disgrace is not only one of the best death metal albums to come out during the year of 1992 but they are completely an influential deity to death metal junkies and artist’ alike. Their music was well ahead of their time and they set the genre very high on what death metal was capable of doing. While many artist’ of the genre feel that death metal is all about brutality and brute strength, which is true, Disgrace proves that having enjoyable groove and well fitting fancy licks is just as important. Their first LP release of “Grey Misery” is not only here to rip your head off but they want your happy feet to be dancing during the execution.
The production of “Grey Misery” is a cool highlight. Crusty guitar riffs with more than audible bass hits you at every turn. The constant prodding of tech fist and militant licks in “Obscurity in the Azure” lace your mind with enjoyability, excitement, and prospective desires. It’s as if you’re constantly being welcomed to musical build up’s that never fail to deliver, as the song progresses without yielding the aggression it began with. The Finnish guitar attacks of Thee Stranius and Anton Kupias are extremely enjoyable. Their execution of riffs is highly reminiscent of styles from free form jazz guitarist’; not to the degree of “non-structure” but to the degree of innovation and originality, pointing to a high degree of creativity. The grooves are also highly suggestive of groovy jazz and blues riffs but obviously taken to the degree to pass for aggressive death metal. Drummer Miska Koski always keep the fire burning and drives riffs with slamming cymbal blast’ and razor sharp blast best and double bass. His performance on “The Chasm” really holds the songs structure together where the riffs alone could be a bit boring, but in this case Miska fills every void with innovative drum patterns and unexpected switch ups like blast beats to jazz patterns to odd tempos.
It was quite enjoyable and interesting going over the lyrical content of “Disgrace”. While most lyrics such as “I’m starting lifelessness to nothing” and “everybody has disappeared in vanity” give a strong sense of bleakness while other lyrics like “the silhouette of faith, the wall of sourness, a vortex in a blazing pitch” reek of blasphemy. Whatever the case may be the music always gives a supporting emotion to the dynamic lyrical approach the extreme gutturals of deceased vocalist Thee Stranius.
If you want to hear a classic osdm album this is the one to go for. Surprisingly, certain musical death metal websites do little to promote the best the genre has to offer which is why this album has been greatly overlooked. “Grey Misery” shows what the genre is capable of as well as pointing to innovative musical patterns like the incorporation of jazz/death riffs and unconventional outlooks. Do yourself a favor and get this now.
