
Delete/Rewrite/Snap
-- Dyscordia --
07/01/2020
Stijn Daneels

Album genres:
■ | Progressive Metal |
Album artists:
■ | Piet Overstijns | Vocals |
■ | Guy Commeene | Guitars |
■ | Wouter Nottebaert | Bass, Vocals |
■ | Wouter Debonnet | Drums |
■ | Martijn Debonnet | Guitars |
■ | Stefan Segers | Grunts, guitars |
Review written by Stijn "Metal Shredder" Daneels.
[METAL
SHREDDER REPORTING]
One of the
most awesome releases I shredded back in 2016 was the second album from
Dyscordia titled “Words in Ruin,” (my review of that classic: http://belgianmetalshredder.be/reviews/28) It was a blast from beginning to
end and since then I’ve seen Dyscordia perform on a yearly basis. Today
Dyscordia releases their much anticipated 3rd full-length! Enough
talk, my clawed Shredder fingers are itching!
[SHREDDING BASICS]
“Delete/Rewrite”
is the 3rd album from the Kortrijk-based progressive metal band Dyscordia,
formed in 2010 and consisting of 6 veteran musicians who’ve had earlier
experiences in acts like Gwyllion, Double Diamond, Artrach, Anesthesy,
Impedigon and Rhymes of Destruction. The album is released through their
hometown record label Road Mark Productions with distribution handled by Dutch
Music Works. And finally, the album was sent to us by our Dutch comrades at
Hard Life Promotion!
The album
kicks off with its title track, an experimental hybrid of a song that combines meditative
electronic tunes and soft-spoken vocals from Piet with harsh vocals from
guitarist Stefan and highly melodic riffs. And this song in particular serves
as a perfect introduction to Dyscordia’s sound in general. It’s progressive
metal that’s very multifaceted in everything from the riffs and beats to the vocals
and overall atmosphere. And each song following after the opening title tune
puts emphasis on a different side of Dyscordia. And since I’m a frequent
listener to Dyscordia’s material, a lot of these new songs felt fresh yet familiar
to me.
The album’s
second track, “This House,” is more classic metal song similar to the single “Bail
Me Out” from the earlier album, featuring galloping beats supported by operatic,
echoing vocals. Then comes “Rage,” one of the heaviest songs on the release and
wherein Piet’s angelic vocals provide a stark contrast to the raging beats and
Stefan’s background roars. “The Curse of Mediocracy” has a very upbeat feel with
soaring guitars, a duet between Piet’s singing and Stefan’s grunting and epic
keyboards. Because of all those elements this song reminded me of “Chthonic
Star,” one of my all-time favorite tunes in Dyscordia’s discography. Both “Merry
Go Round” and “Castle High” have a hectic vibe (especially when it comes to the
drums) and are comparable to “Harlequin’s Grief” in terms of overall style. Things
go really cinematic in “The Cards Have Turned” where the epic guitar riffs are
combined with operatic piano tunes. Then we go back on the heavy road with the
hard-pounding and bass-heavy “Strangers in the Dark.” And finally there’s the
album’s longest track, “Silent Tears,” which, similar to the fan-favorite “Words
in Ruin” track, is a song that starts off slow and melancholic and gradually
becomes more bombastic and optimistic. A truly powerful finale to the joyride
that was “Delete/Rewrite.”
While
Dyscordia’s sound is versatile to say the least, there always remains a solid
consistency throughout this album and that’s the catchy and high melodic
songwriting. It’s a delicate blender of classic, power, symphonic, death and
progressive metal that frequently switches gears and so provides a very
engaging experience. Overall, Dyscordia’s sound has an awesome larger-than-life
feel that, in my opinion, can certainly be enjoyed by most heavy music lovers
out there!
[SHREDDING VISION]
As always,
Dyscordia’s songs are very metaphoric and psychological in theme, with songs
dealing about imprisonment, philosophy, spirituality, grief and sorrow, hope
and redemption and so much more. The front cover features a young woman who’s
slowly fading away in the midst of a hellish red desert environment. Did Thanos
just snap his fingers? Maybe that’s why she doesn’t feel so good.
[SHARPEST SHREDS & BLUNTEST BLADES]
I’ve got
plenty of favorites on “Delete/Rewrite.” The experimental nature of the title
track, the heaviness of “Rage” and “Strangers in the Dark,” the cinematic
awesomeness of “The Cards have turned” and finally the epic “Silent Tears.”
While I
appreciate the comedic intentions behind the album’s true ending, “Rise and Try,” which
features Piet joyfully singing about trying, failing and trying again until you
succeed in your efforts, the sound of the other band members humming some
random shit as the song’s “main riff” feels weird to say the least. It’s cheesy
and unnecessary, especially compared to the extremely powerful “Silent Tears,”
the album’s serious finale. So needless to say, I won’t be listening to “Rise
and Try” very often, that being said…
[SHREDDER’S SCORECARD]
9 Thanos
snaps out of 10. This has been a lengthy review but I’ve had so much to tell
about this album that I couldn’t resist shredding this gem piece by piece! If
you’ve enjoyed the band’s earlier releases then getting “Delete/Rewrite” should
be an absolute no-brainer! It features all the numerous elements that makes
Dyscordia an awesome progressive metal band and adds some new things to the mix
to make this an even more multi-faceted album. Well recommended! Now let’s “Delete/Rewrite”
this shred!