Diesto is a Sludge/Stoner Metal Band from Portland, Oregon, USA
The members are:
Mark Bassett - Guitar/Vocals
Chris Dunn - Guitar/Vocals
Devon Christian Shirley - Drums
Rusty Powers - Bass
Diesto are a band that I am a huge fan of. And I am very excited to be reviewing their new album – For Water Or Blood. Their 5th album in 10 years. And one I have been waiting for over 3 years for. Their last album – High As The Sun – was acclaimed for its huge barrage of noisy Sludge/Stoner Metal riffs.
So what does – For Water Or Blood – have in store for us? Well the band is angrier than ever before. Which is good for us as Diesto lay down some brutal and frankly amazing riffs that Baroness and Mastodon would be proud to call their own.
First track – Trail To The Sun – is a heavy pounding affair to show Diesto has lost none of their magic. Heavy groove laden Sludge/Stoner Metal riffs will soon have you head banging along with vocalist Chris on fine form. His grizzled vocals only become better with age. You feel this dude has seen it all and has a few stories to tell. Well he does. So you had better listen as this band has been on a hellish journey. It is your job to shut up and listen. Diesto are going to tell you of their latest adventure.
The other thing that made Diesto stand out from the crowd was their ability to include loud violent outbursts of Noise Rock to give their music an air of unpredictability. And the same rule applies here especially on 2nd track – Edge Of The World.
Edge Of The World features Diesto at their bone crunching best. Hard-edged Vocals and riffs fly at you from every direction like a bullet being fired from a gun. The riff has you in its sight. You cannot ignore it. It is already coming for you. Then BOOM – It has you. Wait until the 5th minute and one of the albums finest riffs will violent shake you into submission. Diesto now have your undivided attention for the remainder of the album.
That has always been the power of Diesto. They could be playing a sombre mid-paced riff and the next minute they have turned the atmosphere into a violent thunderstorm of heavy riffs. Not many bands have that talent but Diesto do! – They prove it time and time again.
3rd track – The Road – is a dark mysterious tale that feels like a soundtrack to a barren violent wasteland. Chris is on fine story-telling form here. Shades of Thin Lizzy can be felt on this track especially with the dual guitar riffing going on in the background. Diesto are masters of building up the tension before unleashing one final battle of epic riffs to drown you with and The Road shows you why this band is so highly thought of within the Sludge/Stoner Metal scene.
Diesto have now setup the tone for the remaining 4 songs on the album. Sublime Sludge/Stoner Metal riffs played for one thing. To destroy everything in their path. Even when Diesto are in a quiet reflective mood you know all heck is going to break loose as the band have a lot of anger to get out of their systems.
4th song – Sirens is an 8:14 minute epic, which will appeal to fans of early Mastodon and Baroness. You miss those bands playing mean heavy Sludge Metal riffs. Well Diesto will make you a believer once again in all things loud and heavy. Chris is on fine form once again. A seasoned pro who has seen it all. He will enthral you with tales of a loud and violent world that only Diesto have seen. This is probably the best track on the album. Diesto are playing for their lives here and you can feel every bone-crunching riff to perfection. Plus the drumming gives this track a life of its own.
The album still has plenty of surprises in store for you for the remaining 3 songs. Only 18 minutes are left for Diesto to impress you once again. And they do not waste a single second. Especially on Dirty River.
Dirty River is a brilliant 8-minute epic, which begs to be played on the loudest speakers you own. Ignore that advice. Play this entire album on the loudest speakers you own. Let the whole world hear the power of Diesto. It is about time these guys get the acclaim and attention they truly deserve.
For Blood Or Water proves Diesto are one of the finest Sludge/Stoner Metal Bands currently out there and long may that continue. Even with this being album no 5 I can see no sign of these guys slowing down.
Amazing. End Of.
Thanks To Earsplit PR for sending us a copy to review.
For Blood Or Water will be released on CD/DD/Vinyl on August 27th 2013 via Eolian Empire Records.
Check The Band From Links Below
BandCamp
If you want to hear some of Diesto's earlier albums then you can download the brilliant 3rd album Isle Of Marauder for free from BandCamp now. Brilliant album.
