Review Summary: Another great US prog work. Not perfect but a great debut.
“Push & Profit” is the debut studio album of Discipline that was released in 1994. The line up on the album is Matthew Parmenter, Jon Preston Bouda, David Krofchock, Matthew Kennedy and Paul Dzendel. The album had also the participation of J. Bondy.
Discipline is an American progressive rock band formed in 1987 by five high school students in Royal Oak, Detroit, Michigan. Matthew Parmenter is the leader of the group. He writes all the songs, sings and plays several instruments.
The first time I saw the band’s name and I read for the first time the band’s biography I was very curious about them. What most caught my attention was the reference to Anglagard, the superb Swedish symphonic progressive rock band, one of the best and most innovative prog bands of the 90’s. It compared Discipline as their US counterpart. In reality, the similarities between both groups seemed to me very obvious. Both are from the beginning of the 90’s, both are from the symphonic progressive sub-genre, both only have made two studio albums and one live album until they broke in the end of the last century, both returned at the same time about 2010, both were two obscure bands only known by a limited group of progressive rock fans, and finally, both have their albums rated in a very high level on the prog sites.
So, soon as I could, I ordered to my usual supplier to buy their albums. Few years ago I received their first two studio works, “Push & Profit” and “Unfolded Like Staircase”. Later I received also their third work “To Shatter All Accord”. I confess that I was deeply surprised by the high quality of all their works when I listened to them for the first time. I expected the music of the band was more surprisingly, strange, aggressive, improvised and complex, probably thinking on Anglagard’s music. However I don’t became disappointed not even a bit with it, because the band’s music is really very good, which was for me a very pleasant surprise, despite be very different from the Anglagard’s sound, indeed.
Before the release of “Push & Profit”, Discipline had already released a few cassette recordings in 1988 before their debut “Push & Profit” was released in 1994. Some of those tracks were later released on one album named “Chaos Out Of Order” in 2013. By this time Matthew Parmenter had already developed a theatrical style for himself, generally wearing white makeup and a variety of costumes. It’s no coincidence that this reminds me of Peter Gabriel. And so it’s not really surprising that Discipline often strike Genesis’ sounds on their debut. Still, there are already a few somber sounds that seem to be partially inspired by King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Gentle Giant and Van Der Graaf Generator.
“Push & Profit” has eight tracks. “Diminished” has a slowly opening. It has excellent Parmenter’s voice accompanied wonderfully by the piano and with some violin interventions. It’s a strong track that reminds me of early Genesis. “The Reasoning Wall” is the most complex, elaborated and the most progressive track on the album. It reminds me of King Crimson and Gentle Giant. “Carmilla” is another excellent piece that should delight fans of King Crimson. It combines moments of calm and emotional vocals, with some musical explosions. It has great guitar work sustained by nice keyboards. “The Nursery Year” reminds me Genesis starting with its title. It’s a soft song with different vocal tones. This is another great track that every prog fan should hear. “Faces Of The Petty” is more a rock song than a prog song. I don’t like very much of it. I think it’s a bit dislocated on the album. “Systems” is a calm ballad with good Parmenter’s vocals, and represents a good musical moment. Again, we have the sound that we love so much, a reminiscence of the old Genesis. “Blueprint” is the only instrumental on the album. It has nice guitar and keyboard works. It reminds me of Pink Floyd. The guitar work has great similitude with Gilmour’s style. It’s one of my favourite tracks on the album. “America” is one of their most beautiful songs and is one of my favourites on the album, too. It reminds the old Pink Floyd’s ballads. It’s another excellent track that finishees this brilliant musical journey through the confused brain of a listener, if he was caught off guard, who probably still can’t understand what he was allowed to just listen.
Conclusion: “Push & Profit” is a great debut studio work of Discipline, despite be an album with an amount of diverse musical influences such as Genesis, Pink Floyd, King Crimson and Gentle Giant. So, this is an excellent album of a band that will deserve your special attention, especially if you are a great fan of the good old 70’s, the classic golden era of the progressive rock music. The name of the band isn’t a coincidence. It might be like the 80’s King Crimson’s incarnation, but the music is definitely different, more romantic, melodic, traditional and not as neurotic as happened with King Crimson. Definitely, “Push & Profit” is an excellent debut work. It’s less dark than “Unfolded Like Staircase” is, but still is a great work that must be listened. So, do yourself a favour. Check it now. You’re losing a great work.
Music was my first love.
John Miles (Rebel)
