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DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Tech/Extreme Prog Metal • Austria


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Disharmonic Orchestra biography
DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA are an Avant garde/ experimental death metal/ Grindcore act formed in Klagenfurt, Austria in 1987. The band was formed by guitarist/ vocalist Patrick Klopf, drummer Martin Messner, bassist Herwig Zamernik and guitarist Herald Bezdek. The latter would leave DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA in 1988, leaving the band a three-piece. After recording three demo tapes in 1988 ( "Requiem for the Forest", "The Unequalled Visual" and "Hypophysis Rehearsal") the band was discovered by record label Nuclear Blast who signed them. The first release on Nuclear Blast wat the 1989 split EP with Austrian label mates PUNGENT STENCH. DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA released a second EP in 1989 called "Successive Substitution" and the band were also featured on the Witchhunt Records compilation album releases "Disappeared With Hermaphrodite Choirs" and "Disharmonisation" before releasing their debut full-length studio album through Nuclear Blast records called "Expositionsprophylaxe" (1990).

The band had up until this point been a grindcore act but that would change with the release of their second full-length studio album "Not to be Undimensional Conscious" (1992) which brought progressive/ avant garde and experimental elements into the bandīs death metal sound. The band left Nuclear Blast and their third full-length studio album "Pleasuredome" (1994) was released through Steamhammer. DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA broke up after the "Pleasuredome" album, but reunited around 2001 and released their fourth full-length studio album "Ahead" in 2002 once again on the Nuclear Blast label. Both "Pleasuredome" and "Ahead" have left the really extreme metal elements from the earlier releases behind but maintained an avant garde metal sound. Bassist and founding member Herwig Zamernik left DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA in 2008 and was replaced by Hoimar Wotawa. Allthough there has been no new releases from the band since the 2002 "Ahead" album, the band is still active and play select shows around europe.

DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRAīs inclusion in the Prog Archives database was approved by the Progressive Metal Team.

( Biography written by UMUR)

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DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA discography


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DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

2.70 | 8 ratings
Expositionsprophylaxe
1990
3.16 | 9 ratings
Not to be Undimensional Conscious
1992
3.40 | 5 ratings
Pleasuredome
1994
3.71 | 7 ratings
Ahead
2002

DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

2.14 | 2 ratings
Disharmonic Orchestra Split with Pungent Stench EP
1989
2.18 | 3 ratings
Successive substitution
1989
4.00 | 1 ratings
Mind Seduction
1992

DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Expositionsprophylaxe by DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA album cover Studio Album, 1990
2.70 | 8 ratings

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Expositionsprophylaxe
Disharmonic Orchestra Tech/Extreme Prog Metal

Review by siLLy puPPy
Special Collaborator PSIKE, JRF/Canterbury, P Metal, Eclectic

3 stars One of the early oddities in the world of nascent death metal, the members of Austria's DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA couldn't make up their minds if they wanted to form a death metal band or a grindcore one so in the true spirit of intrepid exploration, the original trio of guitarist / vocalist Patrick Kopf, drummer Martin Messer and guitarist Herald Bezdek did both and thus crafted a bizarre hybrid that featured the technical chops of death metal focused through a grindcore lens. With this lineup the band released a couple demos, two more EPs and then hit the road with Austria's other early death metal noisemakers Pungeant Stench where they got noticed by Nuclear Blast Records. A record deal was scored.

By the time the band got around to its 1990 debut EXPOSITIONSPROPHYLAXE, Bezdek had been replaced by bassist Herwig Zamerik and the band had haunted their homeland with some of the most caustic expressions of grindcore meets death metal rawness that the world had seen up to that point. Also cited as an early example of technical death metal, EXPOSITIONSPROPHYLAXE featured 16 wildly unhinged tracks that was part Morbid Angel and part Napalm Death with guttural growls, guitar squeals and blastbeat frenzies pointing towards the former while pungent short blasts of skanky punk infused riffing kept the core elements in the forefront.

Adventurous theatrical embellishments such as the opening orchestral freakery "Introphylaxe" and the acoustic / synth touches that opened "Accelerated Evolution" showcase a trenchant avant-garde tendency, one that would permeate the band's following releases. Strange bleed-ins of unrelated musical processions and other surprises pop up even on this more streamlined debut that is somewhat of an anomaly in the band's original run from 1987-95. With weirdness at bay at least in the extremities found with the jazzier more Atheist inspired albums that followed, EXPOSITIONSPROPHYLAXE delivers a caustic no nonsense noise-fest that showcases a rhythmic raucousness that also offers a rather amusing propensity for surrealism and silliness as evidenced on track titles such as "Disappeared With Hermaphrodite Choirs" and "The Unequalled Visual Response Mechanism."

As one of the pioneering forces of mutant metal DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA found few receptive ears who were only getting used to the world of extreme metal while these pioneering trailblazers were already taking things to the next level and beyond. While the band would find a more receptive audience with its following albums once the metal universe had inculcated a veritable pool of avant-garde excesses, this debut tends to get overlooked in favor of those more outlandish examples of experimental freakery. While not the band's peak effort, EXPOSITIONSPROPHYLAXE delivers satisfying energetic death metal meets grindcore performances that offer a consistent flow of deathened distortion with a touch of atonality with technically infused chops along with the random decor of experimentalism.

Overall i find this to be in an interesting debut although perhaps not to the death metal standards that 1990 had to offer but then again this isn't a purist's death metal album at all but rather an experimental hybridization of two of metal's most extreme art forms of the era. What makes this release unique are the uses of subtle syncopation and other time signature deviations from the more established death metal acts of the time. Just enough small weird quirks to suggest this band was all about tackling the strange and wildly unknown that it would fully embrace on its next two albums before disbanding. Although this could be rightfully tagged as deathcore, that style evolved in a completely different direction than what DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA presented on its debut EXPOSITIONSPROPHYLAXE. From what i've experienced, this one remains fairly unique and for that it holds a special charm.

3.5 rounded down

 Not to be Undimensional Conscious by DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA album cover Studio Album, 1992
3.16 | 9 ratings

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Not to be Undimensional Conscious
Disharmonic Orchestra Tech/Extreme Prog Metal

Review by toroddfuglesteg

3 stars One of the more weird bands in the European grindcore scene ever. They started out alongside their fellow countrymen Pungent Stench and produced a pungent Carcass inspired first album. Then they return with an album like this where they throw everything, kitchen sink included, at the listener. Funk, rap, RIO, grindcore, melodic death metal...... you got it here.

The sound is muddy and the vocals from the bottom of a coal mine. The same for the downtuned guitars, bass and drums. This is very dirty music. But the avant-garde, rap and funky bass adds something extra and very good to this album. It really stands out from the rest of the crowd, this album.

This album is really good and it succeed in what it is trying. I would recommend it to everyone who like their metal bent out of shape. The music here most definate is that.

3 stars

 Not to be Undimensional Conscious by DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA album cover Studio Album, 1992
3.16 | 9 ratings

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Not to be Undimensional Conscious
Disharmonic Orchestra Tech/Extreme Prog Metal

Review by UMUR
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

3 stars "Not to be Undimensional Conscious" is the 2nd full-length studio album by Austrian Avant garde/ Experimental death metal act Disharmonic Orchestra. None of the bandīs earlier death metal/ grindcore releases have exactly made my blood boil, but "Not to be Undimensional Conscious" is usually highly regarded by fans of the more avant garde part of the death metal genre and several people have recommended me to take a proper listen to the album. I remember listening to the album at a friendīs house back in day. I always felt the album was very weird and back then it didnīt suit my tastes one bit. I decided to give "Not to be Undimensional Conscious" one more chance though and Iīm glad I did.

Disharmonic Orchestra was basically a simple death metal/ grindcore act with few experimental moments on their early releases, but with "Not to be Undimensional Conscious" they earned their avant garde/ experimental tag. The foundation in the music is still death metal with growling vocals but with lots of experiments along the way. The first thing I noticed was that the bass is very prominant in the mix. It has a life of its own and doesnīt follow the guitar much. The drums are fusion-influenced and sometimes remind me of the drums on the "Unquestionable Presence (1991)" album by Atheist. So a very interesting change to the rythm section compared to earlier releases by the band. There are also several experiments with polyrythms and odd time signatures that should please fans of the genre. I generally enjoy the sometimes odd experiments on the album but I have to admit that the rap part in "The Return of the Living Beat" somewhat turns me off.

The album was recorded and mixed at the famous Sunlight Studio in Stockholm, Sweden by just as famous producer Tomas Skogsberg (check almost any Swedish death metal release from the early nineties and Tomas Skogsberg was involved as producer). It was produced by Disharmonic Orchestra and Tomas Skogsberg and the result is very enjoyable IMO. The power trio sound works very well here.

So "Not to be Undimensional Conscious" is a massive improvement over earlier releases by Disharmonic Orchestra and while the album isnīt perfect (at least not to my ears) it should certainly be considered a classic experimental/ avant garde death metal album. Essential or not my rating is 3.5 stars. I might upgrade my rating to 4 stars some time in the future though. I sense this album is a grower.

 Expositionsprophylaxe by DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA album cover Studio Album, 1990
2.70 | 8 ratings

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Expositionsprophylaxe
Disharmonic Orchestra Tech/Extreme Prog Metal

Review by UMUR
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

2 stars "Expositionsprophylaxe" is the debut full-length studio album by Austrian death metal/ grindcore act Disharmonic Orchestra. Much like the two preceeding releases by the band, "Expositionsprophylaxe" features a pretty simple and at times noisy take on the genre. The avant garde tag that Disharmonic Orchestra earned with their 2nd full-length studio album "Not to be Undimensional Conscious (1992)", canīt be used to explain how "Expositionsprophylaxe" sounds. There are experimental parts on the album but the basic style is simple death metal/ grindcore. An example of the more experimental nature of the music can be heard in a track like "Disharmonisation". The music is overall a bit too primitive and generic and the weak production doesnīt help much either. The drums are way too high in the mix and have a funny sound while the guitar totally drowns.

I listened to "Expositionsprophylaxe" back in the early nineties. A friend of mine had the album on LP and he got me a cassette copy which I listened to on occasion. It never did much for me though and listening to "Expositionsprophylaxe" again after all these years doesnīt help much on my initial impression. A 2 star rating is warranted.

 Successive substitution by DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA album cover Singles/EPs/Fan Club/Promo, 1989
2.18 | 3 ratings

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Successive substitution
Disharmonic Orchestra Tech/Extreme Prog Metal

Review by UMUR
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

2 stars "Successive substitution" is the 2nd release by Austrian grindcore/death metal act Disharmonic Orchestra. "Successive substitution" is a 3-track 10:25 minutes long EP.

If you know the "Disharmonic Orchestra / Pungent Stench" split EP from earlier that same year, there are really no surprises listening to the music on "Successive substitution". Simple grindcore/death metal with growling vocals, blasting drums, heavy mid-paced death metal parts and some rather imature musicianship are pretty much the order of the day on "Successive substitution". The sound quality isnīt very good, but itīs fortunately not too lo-fi for me to enjoy.

"Successive substitution" is a hardcore fan release IMO and I canīt really recommend it to anyone else. If youīre interested in listening to the very early days of the band I would recommend listening to the split EP with Pungent Stench instead. "Successive substitution" gets a 1.5 - 2 star rating from me.

 Disharmonic Orchestra Split with Pungent Stench EP by DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA album cover Singles/EPs/Fan Club/Promo, 1989
2.14 | 2 ratings

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Disharmonic Orchestra Split with Pungent Stench EP
Disharmonic Orchestra Tech/Extreme Prog Metal

Review by UMUR
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

2 stars "Disharmonic Orchestra / Pungent Stench" is a split EP release featuring the two Austrian grincore/ death metal acts Disharmonic Orchestra and Pungent Stench. Pungent Stench side of the split contains 5 tracks while Disharmonic Orchestraīs side of the split contains 7 tracks. The split was released through Nuclear Blast Records.

The music style that the two bands play on this EP is a far cry from the experimental/ avant garde metal of later releases by Disharmonic Orchestra and the Mentors influenced splatter/ gore deathīnīRoll of later releases by Pungent Stench (songtitles like "Klyster Boogie" and "Splatterday Night Fever" from the later part of Pungent Stench discography says it all now donīt they?). Both bands play simple grindcore/death metal on this split release and while that style isnīt necessarily the most interesting thing in my world (unless itīs something really special) the music does have a certain primitive charm to it that I enjoy. Growling vocals, blasting drums and fast played hardcore influenced guitar and bass riffs is the order of the day. There isnīt much difference between the sound of the two acts but if I have to chose Iīll say that I find Pungent Stench output to be the most interesting part of the split. The sound quality is better on the Pungent Stench material too.

All in all this is a rather rare release if you find it in one of the limited coloured vinyl versions (500 in green vinyl, 250 in yellow vinyl and 250 in Orange vinyl). The quality of the release isnīt that high though and IMO this is mostly a fan item. Itīs not really poor but not that exciting either. A 2 star rating is warranted.

Thanks to UMUR for the artist addition.

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