Every so often, a record comes along that defies all need for explanation or “reviewing.” Is there really much to say when it’s plain to hear that an album is just that darn good? This seems to happen far too often where the delightful Dysrhythmia are concerned. This eclectic group tread the ground of jazz, avant-garde curiosity, disordered time signatures and the kind of technical ability lesser mortals can only dream of. Test of Submission comes three years after Psychic Maps and is the sixth full length from the band formed by Kevin Hufnagel (currently playing with death metal titans Gorguts, and new project Vaura) and Jeff Eber. Colin Marston (where to even begin – Behold…The Arctopus, Gorguts, and Krallice as well as producing, mastering and mixing countless bands) joined the ranks in 2004, replacing Clayton Ingerson, and Dysrhythmia continued to astound and amaze with each successive release.
It’s difficult to pin down where Dysrhythmia lie on the musical spectrum as the band exist on a whole other plane of skill. Unfortunately, this writer knows next to nothing about the techniques used by this trio and as such a normal “review” is nigh on impossible. Instead, let’s talk about the general feeling of “hey guys, look at how fucking good we are” that permeates Test of Submission. This may sound a tad arrogant on their part, but it would be ridiculous to knock their confidence, because even to less educated ears, this record is bloody great.
From the wonky nature of “Running Towards the End” or the sublime sway of the title track, Test of Submission does much to ensure Dysrhythmia push forward in their own inimitable style leaving all pretenders to the throne of progressive avant-garde jazz masters reeling in their proverbial wake. “In the Spirit of Catastrophe” is incredibly gorgeous; Marston’s bass feeds the pulse of the track with a dastardly edge which in turn forces the sequences of sound into ever more advanced territory. The guitar approaches the landscape in much the same way as a vocal line, rounding out the notes and working against the furious drum plays that echo with charming dexterity.
This level of supreme musicianship is found throughout the whole of Test of Submission, and you’d be doing yourself a massive disservice by not experiencing this almost psychedelic journey into the insanity within.
Available now from Profound Lore Records.
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