THIS ONE'S FOR ENGLAND

Discipline posted something about recording on their Facebook page so I have been hoping to hear about a new studio album. However, this live release was a total surprise. As soon as I heard about it I downloaded it from iTunes. I've been listening to it almost exclusively for the last week.

This is everything I want in a live album. I like live albums to be a clear soundboard recording with just enough ambient crowd noise to enhance the energy of a live performance. I want to hear the musicians comfortable with the songs; a little swagger and confidence. I want to hear the bass buzz and guitar strings growl. I like the lyrics to be even clearer and easier to make out than on the studio recording. In essence, I want the live album to truly illuminate the studio compositions, to enhance them with raw energy and charismatic spark. This album has it all.

The songs are from all three of their studio releases. It's an excellent setlist with a good song order. The musicianship is fantastic. Each band member knows his parts well. The performance is both muscular and emotional. Listening to the collection of songs I could pick out the influences of early Genesis (particularly the drama), early King Crimson, and Van Der Graaf Generator.

I was surprised to hear Parmenter's humor during the Band Intro. Very little of what he said would be humorous on paper, but his delivery had the crowd laughing at everything.

If you are a fan of any or all of Discipline's albums, this album is a must. If you were one of the people giving an excellent rating to their To Shatter All Accord album, this experience will bring you more of the same. I won't go so far as to say that this is the album to start with if you are unfamiliar with the band, but this is a good survey of the band's creative output.

A solid live release from the To Shatter All Accord tour, this album demonstrates that since the recording of previous live releases like Live Days Discipline have lost none of their live chops. Presenting somewhat more forceful and aggressive versions of the material in question, it isn't quite Discipline's answer to Van der Graaf Generator's Vital (VdGG being a group often cited as being an influence on Discipline's sound) - it doesn't quite go that far into prog-punk and the sound quality is markedly better - but it's getting there. Between this, the stunning quality of To Shatter All Accord, and the word on the band's official site that they are working on a new studio album, it's clear that the Discipline reunion is showing no signs of slowing down.

There is no doubt in my mind that one of the most important bands to come out of America in the last 25 years is Discipline, and when they reformed and released 'To Shatter All Accord' it was certainly no surprise to see it rated so highly. In fact, according to ProgArchives it is still the #1 album of that year. So, they were then invited to appear at the mighty RosFest in 2012, and this double CD is the recording of that performance. So, just eight songs on this double digipak release, but that equates to nearly 100 minutes of music. Some of these songs have appeared on live albums before, but given that they haven't released that many albums that really isn't suprising. And to be honest, a live album without a performance of "Canto IV (Limbo)" would be both unthinkable and unforgiveable.

Singer and keyboard player Matthew Parmenter also provides all of the material, but this is much more than just a one-man show and the rest of the guys were all there when 'Push & Profit' was released in 1994. This is a group that have been influenced by the likes of early Genesis and Anekdoten, but have created a path very much of their own making. One would never guess that these guys are from North America, as they have much more in common with the European progressive rock movement. Their approach is sometimes restrained, harmonic and almost lulling, but there are plenty of times when they are jagged and abrasive, Jon's guitar a strident noise against Matthew's organ while Matthew K and Paul provide the backdrop to let the music grow and move. I have been a fan of the band for many years, and the only thing wrong with this album is that it makes me realize just how much I am missing out by not being able to see them in concert. This is an essential purchase, www.strungoutrecords.com

Yes I assumed this was recorded live in England, but no(haha). This is taken from their live performance at RoSfest in 2012. Man I do love this band, and it's unusual for me to feel that each record they have put out is better than the one before. DISCIPLINE play a dark style of music with plenty of mellotron and are often compared to VDGG, so what's not to like? This is a double album with 8 tracks on it including two from the debut "Push & Profit", two from "Unfolded Like Staircase", and four from their latest "To Shatter All Accord" which is the album they were touring on here.

"Circuitry" is a dark beauty that opens with some nasty guitar as the organ floats in. Vocals follow and Matthew is in fine form here. Such a cool section before 3 minutes as it settles with picked guitar and floating organ but I also dig it when it kicks back into gear with some intense drumming and guitar work. A great way to start the performance. "Before The Storm" from "Unfolded Like Staircase" is a top three for me. This moves me for some reason. The guitar after a minute reminds me of ANEKDOTEN. Nice section too before 3 1/2 minutes with the organ and guitar standing out. Powerful stuff after 6 minutes. So freaking good! Mellotron 7 1/2 minutes in and check out the guitar and organ late. This song blends into "Blueprint" where it continues to be picked guitar and organ leading the way. It turns very FLOYD-like before 2 minutes when the organ gets louder. A cool instrumental. "Dead City" is not about Detroit as Matthew mentions in the intro. This song is brighter and more upbeat, catchy even. Some excellent keyboards in this one along with some ripping guitar before 3 minutes. A big finish ends it. "When She Dreams She Dreams In Color" is another top three for me. It's 5 minutes in before the song kicks into gear but I really enjoy those 5 minutes. A calm follows then it slowly builds. An incredible track! The final track on disc one is the almost five minute "Band Introductions" where we hear how funny Matthew Parmenter is. Such a dry sense of humour and man he made me laugh out loud a few times. Fun stuff.

"Canto IV(Limbo)" is my other top three although "Rogue" is right there too, tough choice. Anyway drums and piano pound away to start before it settles some with guitar and more. It then calms right down with reserved vocals as outbursts of power come and go. Love the organ solo after 6 1/2 minutes and the guitar too that joins in. A driving rhythm before 8 minutes with vocals as themes then start to be repeated. "The Reasoning Wall" opens with piano before it kicks in with a humerous vibe. Love how intricate this all is after 2 minutes. It then turns melancholic a minute later and the guitar proceeds to light it up. Vocals and that lighter and humerous sound return 5 1/2 minutes in. "Rogue" is the closer and the longest tune at almost 24 minutes. I really like the tone of the guitar here to start and it becomes very VDGG-like before 2 minutes. A calm after 4 minutes with guitar and vocals before it kicks back in after 6 minutes. This song has so many shades and colours to it as it plays out. Mellotron 8 1/2 minutes in and guitar a minute later. So good! It turns brighter before 17 minutes. What a ride!

I just can't give this less than 5 stars, i'm so impressed with this band and their sound. A must!

This is freaking awesome!

It is incredible what Discipline has done to me, I already loved them when I discovered their Unfolded Like Staircase, and then in 2011 with the release of To Shatter All Accord, they became one of my favorite US bands, actually that release was my top 2011 prog album. Since then, I've been crossing my fingers hoping to see them on stage once, and seems that life has treated me well because I will be able to experience it really soon when they play at Progotoberfest, which really excites me.

In 2014 they released a two-cd live album which was recorded at the RoS Fest in 2012, an album that in my opinion is flawless, showing the incredible potential the band has on stage, with that evident VdGG feeling, the theatrical spirit of Parmenter and the amazing musicianship of Dzendzel, Kennedy and Bouda. These four musicians managed to transmit the countless stories and emotions their albums share, with that vivid and human touch concerts give, so the audience could get immersed into a sometimes dark, sometimes touchy, sometimes disarming atmosphere Discipline produce.

The song selection was perfect, only eight but making a running time of almost 100 minutes. At that time, they were promoting To Shatter All Accord, so it was pretty obvious they would open with "Circuitry", a wonderful track that shows the power of this band, which in my opinion has to be one of the best US prog bands since the 90s, sadly not so many people concur with me, but who agree, won't let me lie. A jump to the past comes next with "Before the Storm" with its two parts performed, and then with the nice "Blueprint" from their 1994 record Push & Profit.

Matthew Parmenter's voices is simply amazing, no matter if he reminds us of Peter Hammill, he has a very own sound produced by that theatrical and emotional tune he implements. From the 2011 they played then "Blueprint" first and then "When She Dreams, She Dreams In Color", the last song of the first CD, and a personal favorite of mine, I truly love that song and its final hypnotic instrumental part. I am really looking forward to witness this one soon.

You might ask why keeping only 3 tracks for a CD, but well, two out of them are magnificent epics. The first one is their famous "Canto IV", a true masterpiece released in 1997 that stays as one of my Discipline favorite compositions ever, it is wonderful to listen to its changes in mood in a live version. After the final epic the band performed "The Reasoning Wall", which might be my least favorite track, which doesn't mean it is bad or something related, not at all; and then, the concert finishes with the super 24-minute suite "Rogue", which is the one that also closes their 2011 album. Man, hope to be lucky enough to witness Rogue, it is incredible how those 24 minutes pass so fast, taking us into a true progressive rock bliss where the mind flies and is fed by countless colors and textures.

This album is of my recent favorite live releases, without a doubt. I'll tell you later how happy will I be after seeing Discipline on stage, I am sure it will be unforgettable!

Enjoy it!