Dissolution: "Plague of Violence"

Gushing with distorted might

Everyone knows that first impressions are important, in music as in anything else. There's always someone out there with whom you have to compete for attention. And now here is a band that has this down to an exact science, even if New Zealand - their home country - isn't exactly crawling with metal bands.


Dissolution represents a certain tradition in heavy metal. Straight to the point, there's a vocalist/bassist, a drummer and two guitarists. Classic lineup. Their style emanates violence and strict determination, conjuring up demons of both black, death and thrash metal. Within the first five seconds of the album opener, aptly named "Thrash Hammer", they've got you in a stern grip by the general groin area. With explosions of thrashing riffs and inhuman vocals, the album just keeps picking up speed, each track outbidding the previous in brutality and reckless abandon. 

"Often with lesser known bands you'll find that the reason for their obscurity is usually that they have very few selling points to be excited about."

Their style isn't quite as chaotic and wild as early Kreator, but shares the same raw sound in a concoction reminiscent of Morbid Saint as well. Often with lesser known bands you'll find that the reason for their obscurity is usually that they have very few selling points to be excited about. But Dissolution's horrendous torrents of filth-laden vocals lain by singer and bassist Brett McKersey perfectly emphasises the well-defined thrash riffing and 80s soloing put forth by the duelling guitarists Courtney Marr and Jake Skinner. As if that's not enough, those harsh riffs are impeccably underlined by drummer Mike Tobin's flood of D-beats and blast beats.

"Plague of Violence" is about as straight forward as it gets. It's like a beaten up muscle car crashing forward through the rush hour of mediocrity. The few slow tracks found on the album give you time to breathe and steel yourself for the coming brawl before once more diving right back into the thick of it.

9/10

Released in 2010 independently

Links

Dissolution on FACEBOOK
Dissolution on BANDCAMP

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