DISGRACE – TRUE ENEMY

Unless you’ve been dwelling under a rock, you are well aware of Southern California’s consistent dominance in heavy metal and hardcore for a considerable length of time now. Twitching Tongues, the melodic heavy metal/hardcore act, are home to five brilliant musicians who seem to have their hands in just about everything being released these days. God’s Hate, NAILS, Forced Order — all of these groups have developed and maintained a loyal fanbase that thirst for upcoming talent to tastefully pay homage to the forefathers, all while inconspicuously incorporating their individual style.

Disgrace, the most malicious and progressive brotherhood to stem from SoCal, has truly satiated and satisfied the extreme music connoisseur’s palette with their LP debut. Following the release of their savagely heavy EP in 2012, Songs of Suffering, the underground heavy metal/hardcore scene erupted in celebration of how this modest fragment of music was capable of seamlessly delivering such massive brutality. Based in LA’s Van Nuys district, The Pit Recording Studio (engineered by Disgrace’s own vocalist Taylor Young) has created yet another masterpiece — True Enemy.

The cover, created by the exceptionally gifted death metal album cover artist Dan Seagrave, absolutely certifies the sheer genius of this album. Seagrave claims to have taken the evident themes of anxiety and distress from Young’s lyrics, and constructed a vile, decaying, yet aesthetically pleasing image from those exposed emotions. If you’re already a fan, you know there is none better than Dan Seagrave to visually represent Disgrace, once again, as the unstoppable force in heavy music.

The devastating opening title-track begins with an eerie pulsation, like the reverberations of the Rapture, immediately followed by riffs from the most dangerous guitar player in hardcore, Kyle Thomas. The track’s eradicating closing thought, “My foe is me / his enemy is you / no escape / and now time begets you” leaves the listener in a cadaverous daze.

The pre-released singles “Uncreation” and “Slave to the Lead God” best exemplify their inspired message of going against the grain of becoming a carbon copy of modern society, while preserving their influence of genuine metal, pushing them to a degree beyond estimation. Thomas’ controlled yet chaotic leads paired with drummer, Mike Cesario’s precise, punishing hand and footwork have blended for a punctiliously annihilating album from start to finish.

A truly notable portion of True Enemy is Disgrace’s flawless cover of one of New York City’s best kept secrets, Dmize, whom the band is collectively influenced by. Young effortlessly contrasts the distinct vocal style of Chiqui Rodriguez, resulting in a more than favorable outcome. Cesario and Thomas’ tremendous presence manipulate the song’s original feel, bringing Disgrace’s signature sound to the forefront. There is no other band in existence that could make Dmize sound any heavier than they were originally — old heads would unequivocally agree that Disgrace honored them with this refined tribute.

“The Forgotten Land” and “Conquered” were previously released and featured on the 7” split with the late, great Harness, and are now absolute standout tracks off their LP. Immensely rejuvenated with bassist Leo Orozco’s deep, meaty bass tones that naturally resonate throughout the entire album, these songs flow perfectly with the new material.

Disgrace’s LP debut is positively hateful and unforgiving, even up to the grave tempo track, “Conclusion”. As the underground following continues to expand for the diligent and devoted members of Disgrace and the other bands they’re associated with, a discography vital to the next generation of heavy metal and hardcore is being curated, with True Enemy being the vanguard. After one listen through, this masterpiece is comparable to burning alive or spontaneous human combustion. Five out of fucking five skulls!

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 by Cassie Carlson, RockRevolt Journalist

DISGRACE The True Enemy Tour:

4/12/2015 Amityville Music Hall – Amityville, NY

4/13/2015 Bogies – Albany, NY

4/14/2015 Sala Rossa – Montreal, QC

4/15/2015 SHIBGB’s – Toronto, ON

4/16/2015 Ocean Garden – Buffalo, NY

4/17/2015 The Voltage Lounge – Philadelphia, PA w/ Nails, Incendiary

4/18/2015 The Palladium – Worcester, MA @ New England Metal & Hardcore Fest [info]