Disillusion - Gloria
Metal Blade

file under different metal

Vera: I have written spontaneously after hearing their debut album ‘Back To Times Of Splendor’: Disillusion is an ultimate challenge, original and walks no trodden paths. Talking about being progressive and prowess, that is what we get here. I never expected that these words would have a prophetic value at the time of their successor ‘Gloria’. The first thought that crossed my mind was, the new Disillusion album is a disillusion. Sounds like an easy conclusion, isn’t it? Yet I have to admit, after more than a few spins, it resulted in anything but a logical sequel on the highly praised debut. That is no problem at itself, but the innovative band from Zwickau makes some strange switches. Because this has nothing in common with ‘Back To Times Of Splendor’ and it just turned out worse.

Disillusion is estranged and confusing. Initially I tried to convince myself that you cannot restrain such an experimental trio from being themselves and I have to appreciate what they do, but after a large amount of songs with strong compressed vocals (digitally altered) and industrial loops this seems like an open solicitation for Wave Gotik Treffen. To be honest, I miss the things I dearly loved in the debut. The band spent a long time in the studio again and they know - I hope they do - what they are doing, but these disco rhythms and trumpets in a track like ‘Gloria’ are just too far out for me. Intricate and grooving riffs are too much interrupted by electronics, samples, even electro beats or distorted passages. By the way, the death metal injections are seriously reduced too. Just take the second track ‘Dread It’. It has a frisky rhythm, dark gothic voice (which pops up later on the album again sometimes) and one may call this well-nigh commercial. What I am really struggling with is the extremely experimental character that leaves nothing from any kind of expectations. The last two songs ‘Too Many Broken Cease Fires’ and ‘Untiefen’ do have a bit of familiar elements and usual vocals. These are probably the oldest written works, after that they lost their way. At the risk of being considered as one of the conservative fans, I do place some question marks concerning ‘Gloria’. Moreover, one notices already by the cover and the changing of the logo that Disillusion does anything but ‘Save The Past’ (that’s how the eighth track is called). May be admirable, but on the other hand, this is just less top-notch class and so a brief warning at the address of the fans of the first hour is necessary. Besides, what am I going to do with the score?

Rating 70/100 (details)

http://www.disillusion.de

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Disillusion - Back To Times Of Splendour (CD)

€ 8.99