•
Rating:
We are dealing with the debut of Ion Dissonance, a Canadian band dedicated to a schizophrenic Mathcore with numerous metal influences: unfortunately, I listened to their works in reverse order (that is, first “Solace” from 2005 and then this “Breathing Is Irrelevant” from 2003), so I cannot fully appreciate the evolution of this ensemble.
To be fair, it seems to me that there hasn't been a significant evolution as the debut already presents me with an absolutely mature band, especially from a technical standpoint. The five showcase absolutely exceptional and extraordinary technical skills that clearly emerge from the extremely complex times executed by guitarists and drummers: I believe there's not a single track in the CD played in 4/4, you judge for yourselves. Continuous rhythm changes, which, however, remain on a generally high standard and practically never allow for any slowdown. It can be said that the guitarists are part of the rhythm section because, rather than playing melodies (an entirely absent identifiable melody), they limit themselves to “marking” the time, or rather, complicating it further by deliberately going out of time compared to the drums.
The type of sound proposed is, as mentioned at the beginning, a very violent and delirious Mathcore, in which clear elements of Dillinger Escape Plan influences are merged (especially regarding the scales and guitar riffs) and Converge with more typically metal elements, both rhythmically (Meshuggah) and sound-wise (I refer to the very low tunings and a certain black and dark feel that characterizes the work). It is obvious that the songs, given the immense heterogeneity of the material, are extremely structured and intricate and create a thick network of “dissonant” sounds that make “Breathing Is Irrelevant” almost unapproachable. To spice it all up, there is an absolutely insane vocal range spanning from the most piercing and desperate screeches to a very aggressive and furious growling.
The result is an unsustainable work that evokes all the less controlled and therefore more frightening emotions. The opener "Substantial Guilt Vs The Irony Of Enjoying" is a perfect example of what I mean: fears, fury, and despair mix in a combination as unpleasant as it is chilling and unsettling. It's impossible for so many emotions to leave you cold and impassive: Ion Dissonance manages to shake even the calmest and most serene spirits with a barrage of deadly songs. The production is slightly worse than that of the subsequent work, and the one who suffers is the bassist: although he performs his essential task, the sound of his instrument rarely emerges and occupies a more than secondary role. This is, in my opinion, the most interesting and vivid side of extreme music: the performance expertise is pushed to its extreme consequences while the compositions are perfect and meticulous.
You will not find a flaw in this album, except for the listening difficulty, although I know that some (like myself) will gladly accept the challenge and immediately put their auditory systems to the test. “Breathing Is Irrelevant” is suitable for the most “progressive” in the metal field, but especially for the refined tastes of Mathcore and Post-Hardcore: an excellent work that showcases the qualities of the Canadian quintet and offers extreme audiences something to sink their teeth into.
Loading comments slowly
