Dissonant Structures - Forgive But Never Surrender - Album Review - Death Metal from Ambato, Ecuador

Today, we have the pleasure of featuring Dissonant Structures, an up-and-coming death metal band hailing from Ambato, Ecuador. In this review, we will delve into the depths of their promising debut EP, "Forgive But Never Surrender," examining its character, style, story, potential, and more.

Dissonant Structures emerges as a formidable force in the realms of old-school thrash, power, technical, and death metal. Their debut EP, "Forgive But Never Surrender," released in 2019, introduces this brand-new band to the world. Today, we will explore the power within their inaugural offering. I invite you to listen to their music while reading through the rest of this article.

Recording a debut album is a pivotal moment for any artist or band. It is a culmination of their most successful materials, expertly crafted into the best possible songs. In the case of Dissonant Structures, we encounter a band that explores various forms and music styles, which is expected in the modern era. Among the numerous challenges artists face, finding like-minded bandmates ranks among the most crucial. Consequently, many artists opt to create music independently or collaborate with session musicians. Instead of focusing on the album as a whole, I will review each song individually before discussing the album's character.

1. "Never Forget/Forgive Me": This thrash-infused track immediately evokes echoes of Megadeth and Dave Mustaine through its guitar sound and vocals. The song exudes the right energy and atmosphere throughout, maintaining a standard and easy-going structure comparable to renowned thrash metal classics. Such decisions are understandable and acceptable, especially when considering that a band's first official release prioritizes successful recording and production. "Never Forget/Forgive Me" undoubtedly stands as a badass piece of work, offering a compelling atmosphere, energy flow, and melodic prowess that can satisfy metal fans.
2. "Temporal Evolution": This dynamic and technical track stands in stark contrast to the album's opening song. The approach, instrumentation, style, atmosphere, and musical influences differ significantly here. The vocalist showcases old-school heavy metal influences, evoking a powerful mix reminiscent of legendary vocalists such as Ronnie James Dio, Bruce Dickinson, and Rob Halford. The instrumental arrangement impresses with each instrument making a distinct impact, highlighting the band's meticulous attention to detail. The song transcends old-school heavy/death metal, embracing elements of power metal akin to bands like Blind Guardian and Iced Earth. The seamless fusion of diverse styles is particularly commendable. "Temporal Evolution" captivates with its relentless energy, storming from beginning to end.
3. "The Game We All Play": This track embodies the most melodic and old-school structure within the album, artfully blending their defining characteristics. Dissonant Structures showcase their impressive ability to blend old-school metal with technical death metal elements. These musical origins define their unique style. Once again, the vocalist balances '90s heavy metal influences with death metal growls. Notably, "Temporal Evolution" and "The Game We All Play" both exude a significant Iron Maiden influence in their structure, vocal lines, and instrumentation. However, the band strikes an admirable balance, ensuring that the influences never become excessive or tiresome. Everything harmonizes seamlessly.
4. "Transmute/Improve": Concluding the EP, this track emerges as a personal favorite. "Transmute/Improve" encapsulates Dissonant Structures' heaviest, most technical, and death-oriented offering. From the beginning, the song exhibits a strong Meshuggah influence, showcasing the band's experimentation and willingness to venture into uncharted territories. The song immerses the listener in an atmospheric journey, evoking chills with its tense piano melodies. While the verses bear a striking resemblance to Meshuggah, this similarity serves as both a compliment and a criticism. Few can craft compositions reminiscent of Meshuggah, yet Dissonant Structures could have further embraced their own unique sound when making final decisions on this song.

"Forgive But Never Surrender" stands as a powerful EP, boasting a mere four tracks. Each song offers remarkable qualities deserving of attention. Remarkably, the album showcases professional musicianship and technical prowess, giving the impression of an experienced band rather than a debut release from newcomers. Dissonant Structures impresses not only with their professionalism but also with their decision-making, variety, diversity, instrumentation, and the masterful blend they achieve. It is essential to remember that this is only their debut album, and it is undoubtedly a promising one.

Technically, the album meets exceptional standards in every aspect. Despite the distinct character shared among the songs, there remains sufficient diversity and individuality within each track. The producer has done an exemplary job, giving the album a distinctive sonic identity. The variety showcased on this record presents a greater challenge than handling a typical rock album. In my opinion, the production is clean, clear, powerful, atmospheric, impeccably recorded, mixed, and produced. As mentioned earlier, one cannot help but draw comparisons to the likes of Meshuggah. We would not typically anticipate such high standards from a new band.

In conclusion, Dissonant Structures has left a lasting impression. Their debut album, "Forgive But Never Surrender," reveals immense potential in various aspects. It may not be the defining moment of their musical careers, but it undoubtedly serves as a solid step forward on their path to a promising future.

"Temporal Evolution" has earned its place on our TOP METAL SONGS PLAYLIST on Spotify! For more information about the band, follow them on social media and subscribe to their channels to show your support and stay up to date on upcoming releases.

Finally, as the Metalhead Community Team, we congratulate Dissonant Structures on their debut album, "Forgive But Never Surrender," and wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors. Thank you for reading.

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