Great Discord, The: Duende

A few years ago, I reviewed an album by the avant-garde metal band Akphaezya. As I recall, I found the music compelling, eclectic, enigmatic, and fascinating. Many of the same things may be said of Duende, the debut album by the Swedish band The Great Discord. To be clear, I do not want to draw much of a comparison between the two bands. Both are very talented, but are also committed to very different musical visions. As I listened to Duende, however, I was occasionally struck by how much both groups demonstrate such an incredible capacity for theatricality, and for drama, and for heavy music. Some projects might seem like bad ideas, but bands like Akphaezya and The Great Discord work precisely because of their courageous approach to the music.

The Great Discord has only been active since 2013. The band came together largely because of Fia Kempe (vocals) and Aksel Holmgren's (drums) shared passion for progressive music. It also helps that they are both talented musicians. I suspect that Kempe will get much of the press as this album catches people's attention. She deserves it; a talented singer with a flair for theater, Kempe's personality and creativity are never far from us. Still, bands like this work best when they are actually playing interesting music and not just providing backing for the vocalist. No need to worry; these guys play with the strength and maturity of a seasoned group.

The Great Discord is a progressive metal band, but no label will ever quite capture the style of the music. Kempe and Holmgren point to bands like Genesis, King Crimson, The Dillinger Escape Plan, and Meshuggah as influences. Fair enough. Fortunately, the band's music is never simply a reworking of all these bands. Instead, it transcends easy comparisons by stretching the progressive possibilities in ways that make it feel as exciting and as entertaining as possible.

At the most basic level, the music here is strong, dynamic, and thoughtful. The band members have obviously put their whole hearts into this project—and it shows. The music is powerful and fascinating, the lyrics thoughtful and rich. Thematically, the album deals with a wide range of topics. "The Aging Man," for example, deals with the problem of facing one's mortality; "Selfaeta," by contrast, is about a hermit cannibal. There's also "A Discordant Call," a song about dissociative identity disorder (it's like "Sweating Bullets," only it's nothing like "Sweating Bullets").

I could go on, but this is an album best experienced by listening to it and not by reading about it. For those wondering what the music is really about, just give the band a try. They have managed to produce a debut album that will capture the attention of anyone who love progressive music. While you listen, consider the way the band's name—The Great Discord—helps explain what's going on here. This is music that treats the range of things, the conflicts and the possibilities, that make up so much of human life.

Track Listing:
1. The Aging Man
2. Deus Ex Homine
3. Eigengrau
4. L'homme Mauvais
5. Selfaeta
6. A Discordant Call
7. Woes
8. Angra Mainyu
9. Illuminate
10. Ephemeral

Added: July 30th 2015
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Band Facebook Page
Hits: 2145
Language: english

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