ION DISSONANCE

"Solace" defined: "A source of comfort or consolation." My ass! In a brutal twist of sarcasm, Montreal's ION DISSONANCE has eschewed all that is commercially accessible and aurally pleasing, opting instead for an involuntary sonic enema. Fans of fellow Canadian psycho-core madmen DESPISED ICON, as well as SWARM OF THE LOTUS, PREMONITIONS OF WAR, and THE RED CHORD are advised to pay close attention.

Extreme hardcore insanity with blatant disregard for melody and traditional song structure is one way of describing "Solace". After releasing debut album "Breathing is Irrelevant" on Willowtip, ION DISSOANCE found its rightful home on Abacus, a label more than welcoming of the band's spastic chords of iron and epileptic rhythms. The only rhyme or reason to any of it is an intent to dismember with as much disdain for human life as possible. Gabriel McCaughry's hardcore barking and periodic dementia screams merely serve as marching orders to the continued onslaught committed by Antoine Lussier (guitar),Sebastien Chaput (guitar),Xavier St-Laurent (bass),and Jean-Francois (drums). A few spoken word parts could hardly be considered a respite. Producer Pierre Rémillard is the logical choice here, one who works behind the scenes to bolster the group's efforts in slaughtering the innocent. In a fitting requiem for the eviscerated dead, the 11-minute "A Prelude of Things Worse to Come" closes the album, substituting reckless speed for sickening audio dysfunction.

And now a conversation between a father and his inquisitive son. Son: "Father, why are ION DISSONANCE shouting so and making such noise? I'm frightened". Father: "Well son, it may be noise, but it's artful, soul-lacerating noise". Son: "So disorienting the sheep-like masses is good then?" Father: "Of course it is, son. And fuck 'em anyway". Son: "Yeah dad, fuck 'em!"