"Dyscordia" is a newcomer in the progressive/melodic metal world from Belgium. The band consists of six members: lead vocalist Piet Overstijns, guitarists Stefan Sergers, Martijn Debonnet, and Guy Commeece, bassist Wouter Nottebaert, and drummer Wouter Debonnet. Stefan, Wouter N., and Martijn Debonnet also contribute to the vocals, giving the band a very distinctive sound.
After releasing their first EP in 2010, Dyscordia is back with their first full album, "Twin Symbiosis," which contains eleven songs. The first things that attracted me to this album are the name and the cover. The name, "Twin Symbiosis," is profound, and its depth is reflected in the album's artwork. The mysterious colors and the image of a man walking with a soul make you want to open the CD and start listening immediately.
The album starts with an intro called "Dreamcatcher Tree," featuring suave notes that transport you to a dreamland and ending with a haunting atmosphere. Directly after, the progressive and melodic metal kicks in with "The Empty Room." After enjoying the awesome riffs, melodies, solos, and emotions of the first four songs, you start feeling the presence of heavy and power metal, especially in tracks like "The Loser's Game," "Twin Symbiosis," which represents the concept of the album, and "Locked Within." The final song, "My Devotion," in my opinion, is the best way to end this album. It concludes with notes that connect back to the intro, likely making you want to replay it again!
This album is very unique and might satisfy fans of progressive, melodic, heavy, and power metal. They use a mix of growl/grunt and clean vocals, along with a noticeable background voice that adds a "horror" touch to the themes. There's a story behind every song, and the lyrics fit well with the music and melodies, creating a connection between the songs. The album combines joy and sorrow, optimism and pessimism, which you can feel from the sound of the drums, the depth of the riffs, the melody of the intros, and the epic solos. It's an atmospheric album full of emotions; it’s like a vast, mysterious river.
This is their first album, and I'm sure that Dyscordia still has much more to offer and a lot of power to unleash.
