Patience is a virtue which Dizruption guitarist and leader Stitches has in abundance. It’s taken time for him to solidify the band’s current lineup, but after releasing debut single “Dogjaw” in July this year, anticipation has been building for their debut EP. “Dogjaw” itself isn’t one of the three tracks that make up the Prelude to the Slaughter EP, but the songs that are on show here present a raw and untamed aggression that will put these guys in good stead in the nu metal revival.
One thing that immediately strikes you is that Dizruption’s take on the nu metal revival rests securely in the dark and manic sound of first-wave bands such as Korn, Slipknot and Coal Chamber. Aided by raw production reminiscent of Ross Robinson’s efforts, “My Sickness” plays up to the sort of sound you heard on early Korn, or Slipknot’s demo album Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. Meanwhile, the rumbling bass and manic vocals of Scourge on “Murder” really call back to the more loco days of Coal Chamber, with the eccentric changes in pace and sudden stops and starts reflecting the unhinged lyrics and personas that Dizruption want to present to you in their live shows, all condensed into the Prelude to the Slaughter EP. And closing track “Keys” shows their most developed songwriting yet, with dirty riffs in abundance from Stitches and Torment, and Scourge’s at times off-key vocals adding to the disturbed atmosphere.
It’s clear that Dizruption have a lot of potential to break out into the growing nu metal revival scene, with their adherence to the first-wave sound likely to win over many fans. Each song seems to show them growing in confidence and maturity in their songwriting, and the main riff to “Keys” will stay in your head for days. Scourge is not the best vocalist in the world, but his deranged delivery, like many nu metal vocalists before him, suits the sound and adds to it, rather than becoming a distraction. This band wants to sound like they’re on the verge of snapping (if they haven’t already), and that’s exactly what you get with his vocal style. The main problem right now, though, is that they’ve yet to really find a sound that will really set them apart from the rest of the genre. While they take a much heavy and more raw approach than their contemporaries in the nu metal revival, who stick more to the second and third wave’s melodic tendencies, they still seem to stay too close to the sounds of nu metal’s earlier progenitors. It’s important for them to try and evolve their sound, and use more electronics to build the atmosphere as they were somewhat neglected in Prelude to the Slaughter, and could have been used a lot more.
However, in just 3 tracks, Dizruption have shown a great deal of what they’re capable of. Prelude to the Slaughter is exactly what it says on the tin, a prelude to warn us of what’s to come, and when these guys are ready to unleash a more full length effort which further refines their sound, We’ll truly know how far their potential will be able to take them.