Disillusion - Gloria
Ok...before you do anything else...completely forget this band's previous album, Back to Times of Splendor. As amazing as it was, if you are expecting that you will be disappointed. However, don't despair. If you can listen to this album for what it is and put the band's past behind them for the next 51 minutes and 7 seconds, you will be greatly rewarded. Gloria is one freakin' kick butt album to say the least! I can literally listen to this 10 times in a row and never get bored with the genius within.
The first question you may have is: "Is this still metal?"
Oh you better believe it is! However, this is not what you would call straight forward metal. Think really weird and even demented at times. Think of a mix between Frantic Bleep and Training for Utopia's metal side and then throw in a good amount of groove and precision, and a butt load of passion and aggression, and Gloria is what comes out. I mean...you seriously cannot do something like this and get away with it unless you are one heck of a talented band. And talented this threesome is. This is metal that is nothing short of unpredictable. You never know what you are going to get from song to song, and yet it flows amazingly well. The vocals range from casual and laid back to nothing short of reaching down your throat with belligerence and ripping your heart out. And the music can really be described in the same way. At times the band is just meandering and exploring new realms, and at other times they are pummeling and bashing your brains in with methodic heaviness. One minute you may be doing some funky dance and the next minute you may be headbanging in a fit of rage. It's a tale of two sides, but it combines as one to create a wonderful and creative masterpiece.
I don't care what anyone else says. This album slays and is definitely right up near the top of the list for best releases of 2006.
Rating: 98/100
Review By: Matt Morrow
Label: Metal Blade Records
Total Songs: 11
Total Time: 51:07
Tracklisting: 1. The Black Sea, 2. Dread It, 3. Don't Go Any Further, 4. Avalanche, 5. Gloria, 6. Aerophobic, 7. The Hole We Are In, 8. Save the Past, 9. Lava, 10. Too Many Broken Cease Fires, 11. Untiefen
Best Songs: Tracks 1, 3, 7, & 10
Band Website: http://www.disillusion.de