Three recent reviews on recent albums and an average of two stars: is it me who has become mean in 2007 or was 2007 a somewhat crappy year for extreme metal? I could just mention "Ithyphallic" by Nile to give you the answer, but I'd rather leave you with the benefit of the doubt.

The previous work of this band ("Solace") was the album with which I embarked on Debaser (tear!) in the distant January two years ago: five stars. A few months later I would publish the review of their debut ("Breathing Is Irrelevant"): five stars. Today I review their latest work: three stars.

I'm not old and embittered enough to radically change opinion on a band, on the contrary, I tried in every way to like this album as much as the other pieces of their discography: but you know, the heart wants what it wants. And here I am coldly eyeing what I considered one of the best extreme bands striding the earth.

Ion Dissonance are Canadian, a land quite rich with bands of superlative technical standards (Beneath The Massacre, Cryptopsy, Capharnaum, Gorguts, Martyr, Quo Vadis, Neuraxis, Electro Quarterstaff, just to name a few), and in the span of a few years of career, they've become quite well-known. Their peculiarity was merging Post Hardcore and uncompromising Metal, their technically intricate structures, their mood of rare complexity and frenzy. As I said when first reviewing, categorizing Ion Dissonance's genre is very difficult: too many different elements contribute to form their style, which I would (somewhat hastily) describe as Mathcore. At least until "Solace."

Following in the footsteps of the (more or less) newly emerging local bands, Despised Icon and Plasma Rifle as the first, our band decided to shift (I'd prefer the term "swerve") towards Metalcore. "Minus The Herd" is proof of that: it is very technical, but it's Metalcore.

Beyond the prejudices typical of a True metal fan regarding the aforementioned genre, just the fact that from such a complicated categorization there is now a blunt definition like "Metalcore" is a bad sign. Ion Dissonance have lost a lot of personality; a macabre spurt, like from a severed artery. One remains skeptical listening to the opener "The Surge", gets saddened by the voice, falls into despair upon reading the lyrics. Beyond the effective rhetorical figure, this is more or less what I felt dissecting this CD.

The "Origo Mali" in my opinion is the change of singer: Gabriel Mc Caughry leaves and is replaced by (I hope I'm not mistaken) his brother (I hope he's not his father or his son): not a bad singer, but definitely not comparable to the predecessor.

As much as the new screamer tries in every way to imitate the good Gab, his voice is duller, less heartfelt, much more contrived, infinitely more monotonous. Those who remember the outbursts of songs like "Play Dead... And I'll Play Along" can only agree; the performance is decent, but when compared to the past (absolutely over the top) it turns out to be of little value. And the lyrics? What about the lyrics! From the disturbing and frankly brilliant reflections of the previous albums, it goes to cheap verdicts on the world and society: and then tell me it's not Metalcore. And how about noticing that in the booklet "Crime and Punishment" is quoted in Solace and "The Lord of the Rings" in "Minus The Herd"? But the disasters don't stop here.

Besides the vocal section, even the instrumental one has been beautifully disfigured: partly due to a preference for slower tempos, the drums lose verve and, what's worse, doesn't even give up classic odd times. It's not the technique that's been crippled, but the general spirit of the band: the rhythms might remind one of Meshuggah's, but the context they are placed in robs them of any meaning. The guitars are the ones remaining more faithful to the original sound, although they too are much flatter: the attempt to create Groove using slower tempos, although not failing, makes the album definitely more suited for Headbanging enthusiasts than for refined tastes.

The mood finally, as I've said repeatedly, is lowered to unworthy levels; not awful, but certainly not up to their own, golden past.

Apart from the beautiful central trio ("Shunned Redeemer", "You Shouldn't Be Alive", and "Scorn Haven"), the rest of the album is really negligible: seven almost soulless songs that represent only a great display of skill.

The album is not to be discarded on its own, but it's a bitter disappointment if considered as the successor of the divine gift that came before. If you have to approach this band, do it with this album; it's fine as an appetizer, but the dinner includes far richer dishes.       

Tracklist and Videos

01   The Surge ()

02   Through Evidence ()

04   Shunned Redeemer ()

05   You Shouldn't Be Alive ()

06   Scorn Haven ()

07   Of Me... Nobody Is Safe ()

08   [untitled] ()

09   Void of Conscience ()

10   Tarnished Trepidation ()

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