Hailing from Grand Rapids, Michigan, home to the ominous Amway Corporation, Dissonant is “the type of band that you can tell practice at least four times a week.” (PIT Magazine; Issue 47). Carving out a place for themselves in the Midwest underground metal scene over the past five years with their intense live performances, dedicated work ethic, and relentless touring, Dissonant show no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Releasing three albums in as many years on AllorNothing Records (Darken the Hour in 2003; Suffocating in a Dead Scene in 2004; Weight of Vanity in 2005), Dissonant have developed a unique heavy metal sound that retains its integrity while allowing the band to expand into new areas of musicianship. The group has spent years pushing the limits of their musical abilities to develop their own sound and they are primed and ready to claim their title as the leaders of the next generation of metal.
Despite limited distribution, Dissonant’s first two releases have moved nearly 3000 copies in the past 2 ½ years thanks mostly to touring the US, including stints with Twelve Tribes, Calico System and Mushroomhead; in addition to playing countless shows and sharing the stage with the likes of Strapping Young Lad, Exodus, Between the Buried and Me, and Killswitch Engage. After a successful run on the 2004 “Sofa King Metal Tour” alongside Beyond the Embrace and Byzantine, and a self-financed radio push through Heavy Hitter Inc. in the fall 2004, Dissonant experienced a traumatic morale blow with the loss of drummer and founding member AJ Barrette to Still Remains.
Whereas a lesser band might have called it quits, Dissonant refocused and shortly thereafter began writing what would become The Weight of Vanity. Recorded with Ryan “Bart” Williams (Black Dahlia Murder, Walls of Jericho) at Cloud City in Detroit, and Mastered by Alan Douches (Mastodon, Shadows Fall, Thrice), the songs on the disc are loud, raw, and in-your-face metal melodies, each one with a linear focus on songwriting and aggressive vocal attacks. The latest offering from the band displays a consistent path of self-development and exploration with a sound reminiscent of their influences, yet separate from them all. “In retrospect, writing and recording Vanity helped us rediscover the fire we have within ourselves. It helped us bond with the new players, and unveiled a side of our talents that we were afraid to touch on before,” says guitarist Ben Allen.
Recently completing their first music video ever for the track “One Last Chance” off of The Weight of Vanity, it can be seen at their official website: www.dissonantmusic.com. This spring, they will also be shooting an upcoming live set for a DVD release, are currently writing and recording new songs for an upcoming split release with Cleveland’s Dead Even, and have plans for US and Canadian touring throughout 2006. New revolutions in the heavy metal world are coming, and Dissonant will be at the forefront of the next generation of rock-infused metal.
