Discharge - Disensitise Review
by Matt Hensch
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One would think that people would talk about this album a little more considering that it is the work of one of the most influential hardcore punk bands ever. "Disensitise" is, at the very least, a proper representation of Discharge thirty years after the British band formed, with none of the nonsense of their traditional metal-era either. Instead, Discharge shifts into a shell that shows a lot of similarities to hardcore punk and crossover thrash; nothing truly surprising, but it's an approach done quite well. Of course, anyone expecting the d-beat madness of "Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing" will be sorely disappointed, but "Disensitise" at least provides a proper picture of a group functioning in their own skins once again, and to a comfortable degree as well.The fact that Discharge has been alive and kicking for over thirty years at this point in time is really quite amazing. Right from the ignition, Discharge wastes no time kicking ass and taking names with the crossover staple "Blood of the Innocent," which showcases precisely what Dischargre has in store for the listener. The riffs are thrashy yet noticeably ridden with punk influence, while the bass and percussion plod on in synchronized harmony which reeks of hardcore punk stature. The guitar work leans more towards crossover thrash than anything else; in fact, the band's status throughout this sixteen-song beating is heavily influenced by the thrasher side of hardcore punk, at least based on the guitar work. Rat, the band's new vocalist, also does a fantastic job keeping the spirit of Discharge alive and well through his shouting endeavors and aggravated yelps, which are, at the very least, traditional to the Discharge motive. And yea, he is replacing Kevin Moris, but don't be judgmental; his overall performance is stellar and top-notch. All sixteen songs work diligently (some more than others, I might add) despite these huge differences. In fact, "Disensitise" may very well be the finest Discharge record since "Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing," over three decades into the hardcore punk scheme and through countless ups and downs endured by this legendary group. Hell, Discharge would even stump the ill-informed into believing "Disensitise" is the result of an angry mob of youthful thrashers that have had their fill of God, government and social acceptance; however, this energetic album is actually the work of a well-aged group making their legacy even stronger, channeling their abilities through a healthy medium and keeping their dirty blood tainted with tattoos and the brush of rebellion.
Discharge - Disensitise Rating:8.0
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