I discovered Diskord by accident when they were part of Imperial Triumphant‘s first European tour. Needless to say, those two together have been the closest I’ve been to feeling under the influence of acid. I became a fan immediately and got myself a copy of Degenerations. As you’d expect, it was a degenerate experience that made me reconsider what metal was. Then there’s ATVM, which makes you feel just as high but takes a more technical route to success. Can you imagine the level of depravity that these two together can unleash? You don’t have to because Bipolarities is here!
If I didn’t tell you these two are different bands, you’d probably think Bipolarities is just one band drinking more jet fuel than usual. The two halves of the album clearly have their own identities, but they also feel remarkably cohesive. If anything, Bipolarities feels like a schizophrenic crisis that gradually finds some sort of resolution into temporary sanity that we all know won’t last. Diskord‘s absolute deconstruction of what a track is mixes really well with the violent impro-jazz ATVM goes for here. This isn’t only technically complex but also conceptually challenging in the junkiest way possible.
Everything interesting in Bipolarities comes from its structure, or maybe the lack of it if we’re being precise. No idea on this album lasts more than a few seconds. Forget about groove, choruses, or hooks; this is post-modern music to a level that would make any French philosopher puke their guts out in joy. Yes, there are moments of breathing in the shape of the most ironic jazz sections you’ll experience in a while, but that’s just Bipolarities mocking your attempt to understand what up or down is. Even the names of the tracks go from nonsensical (“Onward! To Nowhere”) to depressing (“Cancer” and “Morphine”).
If you’re looking for a fun time and catchy riffs, then Bipolarities isn’t for you. It’s not your typical dissonant death metal album either. Diskord/ATVM are extremely hard to label, and I’m sure many of you won’t enjoy this at all because it does feel like a series of disjointed musical ideas thrown together in a blender. It’s also not as heavy and disgusting as Replicant, Ulcerate, or Maere, so it sits in a strange place within extreme disturbing acts. On a more personal note, those ATVM track titles do hit a nerve for me as someone who has lost family and friends to freaking cancer (If you’re a loyal reader, and you’re fighting this bastard, let us know; you’ll get a retro-review and shout-out on the house).
Despite this, if you want to challenge yourself and listen to something that challenges your notion of what an album or even a song is, I believe Diskord/ATVM have crafted something heinous and fascinating. It’s really meant for people who are bored with the mundane brutality that we sometimes find in extreme metal. If nihilism was quirky and had a morbid sense of humor, it’d probably sound like Bipolarities. Love or hate it, but that’s something that deserves respect. Now, where are my bath salts?
Label: Transcending Obscurity
Release date: 12 July, 2024
Website: https://diskordband.bandcamp.com/album/bipolarities
Country: Norway/UK
Score: A ridiculous amount of mushrooms, or maybe 3.5/5.0? It might go up in time!
Metal Eclipse Reviews 