Wednesday 22 October 2014

Disastroid - Missiles (Album Review)


Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 13/9/2014
Label: Self Release

‘Missiles’ CD/DD track listing:

1). Lost in Space (03:49)
2). Bird Watcher (04:51)
3). Unsound Mind (05:35)
4). Hellbender (04:20)
5). Mighty Sound (06:39)
6). Obeah (05:07)
7). Missiles (06:06)
8). Machete (00:59)

Bio:

Disastroid is three guys from San Francisco. They play heavy music that's influenced by sludgy bands like Melvins and Harvey Milk, stoner bands like QOTSA and Fu Manchu, and the more raw jittery vibe of bands like Drive Like Jehu, Fugazi, and Jesus Lizard. There's some math rock in there too, but don't get too stressed out about it. 

The Band:

Enver Koneya | Guitar/Vocals
Travis Williams | Bass
Braden McGraw | Drums

Review:

Disastroid (n): A mammoth sized asteroid, chased by flames as it tears it’s way through the atmosphere, causing irreparable damage upon impact.

I received Disastroid’s newest album, 'Missiles' in the mail this week and though I had never heard of the band, their name immediately piqued my curiosity. So I put the record on. And again, and again, and now I’m a few days down the road and when I look around my house I see there’s nothing left standing. My chairs have been reduced to kindling, my ceiling decided to let itself go, I thought I had two cats but I only count one, and there’s a flame about the size of a pilot light burning in my left speaker.

Its not that 'Missiles' is particularly heavy, it’s just that it comes out of nowhere and when it hits, it hits hard. The first song, 'Lost In Space' opens the album with a lazy, gentle melody. In retrospect, that little piece is much more the calm before the storm rather than an introduction and within moments the nervous, jumpy chug of the band takes center stage. For the next 45 minutes Disastroid goes on a ride with choppy rhythms and unconventional melodies, using a stoner stomp and a love for 90s rock as a vehicle to do so.

By the time the third track comes around, 'Unsound Mind' there’s a sense of familiarity that washes over. It is like the feeling you get when driving your dream car for the first time. Yeah, you know how to drive, but once you hit the highway and that Camaro handles better than your girlfriend, you feel at ease despite the break-neck speed you’ve hit. Then Enver belts “try to make me feel the same as you, crazy people call you crazy, too,” and you know you’ll be all right.  

So how did my house end up in shambles? Well, its just that kind of album. 'Hellbender' is an invitation to throw things like chairs and tables around. The chorus in 'Mighty Road' had me on a mission trying to find out just how loud my speakers could go. 'Missiles' has a particular swing that matched the to and fro of my swinging ceiling lamp and damn if I could’t resist hanging off it. The album’s closer has a grungy punk urgency to it, but it clocking in at under a minute made me want more Disastroid, so I started the whole thing over again.

Words by: Victor Van Ommen

You can pick up a copy here



For more information:

https://www.facebook.com/disastroid