TO SHATTER ALL ACCORD

Like Anglagard, Discipline is a highly acclaimed yet less than prolific band, and like Anglagard, Discipline is an incredibly talented bunch but a group that has yet to truly impress me. As with the aforementioned band, their compositional erraticism vexes me. However, there is more coherency to this album than there was with Unfolded Like Staircase. The Van der Graaf Generator resemblance is uncanny most of the time, sometimes becoming a "better" version of Peter Hammill's crew than they were.

"Circuitry" Fans of Led Zeppelin may well love this initial riff. The piano passage adds depth alongside some vocals. Lead guitar and saxophone trade off over heavy riffs in this raunchy rock opener. Were Van der Graaf Generator a heavy progressive rock band, this would be what they would sound like.

"When the Walls are Down" Organ, piano, saxophone and bass lead into a quieter section. I am disappointed because it isn't explored naturally- it is but a tacked-on introduction. A heavy riff comes in with piano underneath. I don't like this song much; it's too grating on the ear, both instrumentally and vocally.

"Dead City" Adopting neither progressive rock charm nor pop rock catchiness, this song is weirdly orchestrated and only somewhat appeals to me. Whereas the vocal section is a bit fun, the jarring, cacophonic instrumental part at the end is excruciating.

"When She Dreams She Dreams in Color" This is the greatest piece on the album, even if the slow, sleepy beginning fails to capture my attention for long. The instrumentation is clever, combining jazz and symphonic rock in a subtle way. The song takes a funky edge for a bit before growing louder, becoming a juddering and unpleasant section. A desolate piano takes over then before a single guitar relieves it. This begins the already celebrated coda of this piece. It is full of Mellotron and spirit. The repetitive rhythm accentuates an incredible ending that begins with Mellotron and leads into a wonderful saxophone and some wild violin. It may be Discipline's most moving moment.

"Rogue" Nylon guitar introduces the longest and final piece. The vocalist wails and snarls over a grungy riff. More than any piece on the album, this one most closely resembles Van der Graaf Generator, only centered around electric guitar. Speaking of six strings, there is a great deal of guitar work, both with respect to backing riffs and lead work, helped along by a complementary organ. The bizarre warbling and caterwauling is unappealing to me, making the second half of the lengthy instrumental middle section almost unbearable. Gentle piano and vocals lead the listener through a spacey transition to a concluding guitar solo backed by solid organ chords.