PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE

DISCONNECT are a Prog-Metal band out of New Jersey who offer us lots of proggy moments on this 2014 release. They are a duo but we get some guest backing vocals on the first track. I think TILES was the band I thought of most with the music here but this is different. The sound quality could be better especially on the opener. Overall though there's lots to digest and enjoy although at almost 69 minutes there's some not so great moments as my rating suggests.

"Unbroken" is guitar led and quite heavy at times. Synths lead 1 1/2 minutes in during this instrumental section. The guitar is back then vocals. A calm 3 1/2 minutes in with bluesy guitar then back to the previous sound after 4 1/2 minutes. Nice guitar solo 6 minutes in.

"I Am The Memory" opens with keyboards then outbursts of sound as the guitar solos in between. It's okay. Vocals and a steady sound 2 minutes in. Sounds like processed vocals after 4 minutes. Synths and drums lead starting before 7 minutes. A change after 8 minutes as we get distant sounding strummed guitar and vocals. It kicks back in at 10 minutes then vocals return a minute later. Piano and a determined rhythm with vocals after 12 minutes. Lots of synths follow until the guitar kicks in after 14 minutes.

"Trennen" has a nice heavy sound to it. This is an instrumental and synths start to lead before 2 minutes. Some ripping guitar a minute later then some brief piano in this uptempo section. Its quite heavy after 5 1/2 minutes. "Relevance" is one where I'm not into the start of it at all, either the vocal or song style. It turns heavier a minute in though with different sounding vocals. I like the guitar before 5 1/2 minutes as the vocals have stopped but not for long. There's a sinister vibe before 6 1/2 minutes then synths followed by processed vocals and a cool sound. More great guitar after 7 minutes, it's heavy again late.

"The Pedestrian Hobbyist" opens with acoustic guitar and synths as another guitar joins in. Sampled spoken words arrive before a minute. It turns heavy and uptempo 4 1/2 minutes in with plenty of guitar. Synths to the fore then more guitar but it's more pleasant this time.

"Planned Obsolescence" starts with a heavy atmosphere where the synths are swirling about. I like the TOOL-like sound 1 1/2 minutes in as the vocals arrive. Unfortunately it changes after 2 minutes and I'm not liking this section. I do like the guitar and sound 5 1/2 minutes in. A calm with reserved vocals before 7 minutes. Slow soaring guitar 8 minutes in as the vocals step aside. Vocals and a dark sound end it.

"Reprieve" kicks in after 2 minutes with vocals. Not really into this. It's kind of dramatic sounding both vocally and instrumentally. Suddenly after 3 minutes it turns pleasant with vocals. Back to the dramatic sounds as the guitar leads then synths. I like this. A calm 6 1/2 minutes in as we eventually get quiet beats and atmosphere that builds. The guitar comes in at 8 minutes lighting it up. It turns heavy after 9 minutes.

Lots to like here and there clearly was a serious amount of work that went into this. This is good as in 3 stars good.