TO SHATTER ALL ACCORD

After being much charmed by Parmenter's solo album "Horror Express", "To Shatter All Accord" is actually my first taste of his main band DISCIPLINE. The band has a very classic heavy prog sound, with vocals that sound like a reincarnation of a 21 year old Peter Hammill. Also the prominent organ and the occasional use of saxophone and violins recall the old VDGG sound. But the songs are generally less capricious and more rocking then VDGG, with more rhythm guitars occasionally countered by a gentle touch of GENESIS, mainly provided for by the mellotrons and the melodic guitar leads. Despite the obvious references and vintage sound, DISCIPLINE doesn't come off as a clone, and the wealth of songwriting mastership more then makes up for any misgivings I would normally have for this kind of sound.

The album has a bit of an awkward start, presenting itself in the opening bars as a typical heavy rock/prog band from 1970. But that impression quickly fades as soon as the organ joins in, and when Parmenter adds his tormented tenor voice you know that all will turn out just wright, especially when he makes his line "Are you the apple of my eye?" sound as if he expects you to crawl his eyes out rather then be the apple. The first two songs form a joined effort of increasing intensity and end in a spectacular pathos-filled finale. Did I mention Hammill yet? Track 3 is a lighter and slightly funkier song that lightens up the mood just in time for the two focal points of the album, the 11 minute marvel "When She Dreams She Dreams in Color" and the 'sidelong' epic "Rogue", which must be my favourite 20+ minute prog suite since 1972 something.

Simply a must-have that has been one of my soundtracks for 2011 and much of 2012. It has a bad effect on the wallet though as this obliged me to get everything else from this band and singer. Nothing new but simply beautiful, inspired and very moving.