UTOPIA PERFECTION

That was my first reaction when I saw the CD cover artwork. It's because the cover did not seem to be prog at all and it looked like child music album because the cover tells a mixture of everything with chicken-like cartoons. So confusing. So is the music when the first time I spun the CD - I was so confused about the music they play because I could not decide directly under what kind of box I should label this kind of music? For sure, it's not a progressive metal vein even though I find the heavy component of the music. But there is basically no guitar riffs at all - how can you say it's a metal music if there seems like no riff? So .. I dunno how to categorize the music of Discordia. One thing for sure, the music is unique and can be considered as original. Is it? Try it yourself!

First of all, before you try this at home, please make sure that you enjoy the disc alone - do not let anyone else with you in your listening room. Why and who am I that rule your life? No, I just want to be honest with you that the music is WEIRD and I don't want your opinion being out-ruled by your spouse or your friend due to the weirdness of the music the disc offers you. Believe me on this, please. Just let your own mind evaluate the stream of weird music this band from Finnish blows you with surprising music! Make sure also that you will turn your amplifier volume LOUD to get great subtleties of the music you are listening to. Are you ready? Let's go man.!

"Foreseen" (4:24) starts wonderfully with a-capella that (in a way) reminds me to Gentle Giant, but actually it's not at all. It's a great a capella, I tell you! At first you might say it's nothing special - but the more you repeat this song, you would agree with me. When the blast of music enters, you will find strange kind of music in upbeat tempo but the melody and arrangements are quite weird and probably you have never heard this kind of music. The music flows in varied styles with tight bass lines (you can hear clearly if you play it loudly). Oh ya .. I almost forget that the singing style is also weird, but I like it. Through the music, organ soars aggressively.

"Mystery Man" (3:47) is probably not quite weird musically as this is basically like an upbeat music with fast tempo in "happy" mood. What so interesting is the organ work at the opening that reminds me to Mathew Fischer of Procol Harum but in totally different vein of music. Again, the singing style is very unique. "Speak Directly" (4:29) is my favorite. It starts with simple guitar fills followed by dynamic and tight bass guitar lines and then drum. The music is quite unique but the more you spin it you will enjoy it really much. I like the energy and drive of the music. In some segment I find a coincident similarity with Steve Hackett's music even though the total music is completely different. It's really an excellent and original music!

"As Above So Below" (4:51) starts mellow with nice violin / cello work followed with low register notes vocal work. It's a cool opening. The vocal follows in great choirs while guitar and violin accompany the music. I remember Swedish band ACT even though it's not the same at all. It's another favorite of mine. Speaking from my heart, this is a very nice and catchy track in a unique composition. I truly admire the band for creating such a nice music like this one. Please discount my statement due to the fact that I love violin being included in prog rock, so you can understand why I love this track. The female vocal line also sings differently than typical music melody. Combined with male vocal of Tero it becomes something close with Gentle Giant, although it's so far away different.

"The Group" (3:58) starts with melodic vocal line followed with upbeat music in unusual arrangement but it's good. "Interlude" (4:40) starts with repetitive drum followed by bass guitar and later by guitar riffs. Organ follows later and the song moves with female vocal in the vein that reminds me to the music of Cirque Du Soleil (uhm .. this band should be featured here in this site because the music of the circus from Canada is truly prog to the bone!). Even though this song is mostly repetitive in nature but it sounds something new and I have never heard this kind of music before. "Slave Planet" comprises two parts with the first one is an upbeat music with unique (you might call it "weird") arrangements and when it continues with part II it starts dark and mellow with tin whistle (or sax?) work followed with excellent choirs in acapella mode.

You might be wondering what "Mighty Power Of Metal" (3:39) as I do. And this is again .. it's a unique and brilliant kind of music and it's different than any kind of metal or rock music you have imagined before, I believe. I can only describe that the music is in a way has some pieces which is "riffs-based" but there are pieces with song orientated focus. The combined work of guitar and keyboard is quite interesting to observe. It sounds that the band is trying to perform this song in humorous way. The album concludes nicely with "Giant Dwarf" (4:00).

Conclusion

Overall, I bet you that if you spin the CD for the first time, you might tend to "reject" this CD and you might ask yourself "What is this?". But .. bear with me my friend .. please give some room for your patience to spin some more 5 or even 10 spins with medium volume first (do not play it loud because the music is weird - I tell you!). Once you get used to it, play it loud and try first with track 3 "Speak Directly". If it still does not blow your mind, forget it, just throw away the CD. But .. that's not the case with me. I love the music of this band, man! I salute the band for this. Thank you to Petri Sallinen who sent me this CD, I really appreciate it. My big apology for not to write the review right away because I need sometime to appreciate your music. This is too difficult for me to digest at first five spins. But after that, JRENG! I do enjoy it very much! It's an excellent addition to any prog music collection.

The music of Discordia is ORIGINAL!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

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