DISKORD — Degenerations (review)

DISKORD — Degenerations album cover Album · 2021 · Technical Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
UMUR
"Degenerations" is the 3rd full-length studio album by Norwegian death metal act Diskord. The album was released through Transcending Obscurity Records in August 2021. It´s the successor to "Dystopics" from 2012 although the two full-length albums are bridged by the "Oscillations" EP from 2014. There´s been one lineup change as guitarist Håvard Østli has been replaced by Dmitry Soukhinin. It´s safe to say that Diskord aren´t the most profific act in terms of output (three full-length releases in 22 years since forming in 1999 really aren´t that much), but I´ll take quality over quantity any day and the preceding releases have shown that Diskord are a guarantee for that.

Stylistically the basis of the band´s music is the same as it´s been since day one. Old school death metal influenced by early (death metal) Darkthrone and Cadaver combined with the fusion influenced technical playing of an act like Atheist. Diskord have increased their use of elements from other genres over the years though, and "Degenerations" is their most diverse effort up until now. I hear post-metal elements, noise/dissonance, and avant garde metal elements too. The use of clean guitars on closing track "Beyond the Grime" is also a first as far as I remember. The vocals are another feature, which have become more varied on "Degenerations". They are still predominantly growling, but there are different types of shouting raw vocals on the album too.

One of the great assets of Diskord´s sound is their powerful organic playing style. The trio format is fully explored here and the rawness and equal focus on every instrument work incredibly well. "Degenerations" also features an organic, raw, and powerful sounding production job, which suits the material perfectly. Every impressive detail is audible in the mix, but it´s not presented in a polished sterile fashion. This is a living, organic beast of an album and Diskord have done it again, and have released another high quality album. Personally I appreciate them most when they lean more towards the death metal/fusion influenced technical death metal part of their sound, and less when they lean towards the avant garde/noise part of their sound, but I generally think they strike a good balance here. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.
Share this review

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Deviance Deathcore
ASHES INTO BLOOD
Buy this album from MMA partners
Equilibrium Atmospheric Sludge Metal
BESRA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Tension Between Rot And Genesis Sludge Metal
ANTHESIS
Buy this album from MMA partners
Recycle Brain Crust Punk
C.P.G
Buy this album from MMA partners
Cartography Of The Mind Deathcore
TETHERED
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us