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DISCONNECT

Crossover Prog • United States


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Disconnect picture
Disconnect biography
Formed December 2009 in New Jersey, USA

Founded by longtime musical collaborators Erich O'Dell (guitars, bass, keyboards, vocals) and Brian Eschrich (drums, percussion). The duo had played together in various projects off and on for nearly 20 years before deciding it was time to write and record the type of progressive rock nearest to their sensibilities. Listeners will notice their sound is heavily influenced by KING CRIMSON, PORCUPINE TREE, KEVIN GILBERT, SPOCK'S BEARD, THE MARS VOLTA, OCEANSIZE and PETER GABRIEL. Although in the Crossover Prog category, their music also contains elements of space rock and heavy prog. The band's name is duplicitous - it references the geographical disconnect between the duo (O'Dell records in his studio in Maryland while Eschrich records in his New Jersey studio) as well as the band's belief that modern life makes it difficult to disconnect from the overwhelming pervasiveness of technology.

Immediately after their formation, the band began to write and record songs for their debut album, eventually entitled Radio Hostile (May 2010). Radio Hostile (given this name to represent the opposite of radio friendly) is a concept album consisting of 15 tracks, 5 of which were instrumental. The album's theme tells the tale of an artist's attempts to achieve success in his craft, but only by the standards of others. Finally the persona realizes that success is not defined by monetary goals or perceived popularity, but rather by one's own satisfaction.

In all, 23 songs were recorded during the Radio Hostile sessions but only 15 of the songs made the final cut. As the cut songs were completely mixed and mastered already, this led to the quick follow-up EP Fragments (August 2010) - a compilation of all the songs that had been cut from Radio Hostile.

Feeling no need to take a break, Disconnect immediately began to write and record their next album - Obscuros (November 2010). Although recorded in half the time it took to record Radio Hostile, Obscuros is Disconnect's most technical and ambitious record to date. The band considers it their strongest progressive work thus far and is working hard to promote it. As an unsigned, independent band they are looking into as many distribution options as possible, as well as planning the logistics of adding additional musicians for any potential touring.

Thanks to SuperHokie for this artist's addition

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DISCONNECT discography


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

3.60 | 26 ratings
Radio Hostile
2010
3.94 | 53 ratings
Obscuros
2010
3.73 | 72 ratings
Indivision
2011
4.02 | 165 ratings
Enough Blame To Go Around
2012
3.64 | 44 ratings
Planned Obsolescence
2014
3.49 | 11 ratings
Darkling
2016
5.00 | 2 ratings
Denouement
2020

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

DISCONNECT Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

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

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

3.14 | 12 ratings
Fragments
2010
5.00 | 2 ratings
Back In NYC
2015

DISCONNECT Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Obscuros by DISCONNECT album cover Studio Album, 2010
3.94 | 53 ratings

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Obscuros
Disconnect Crossover Prog

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

4 stars Well colour me surprised I actually found a DISCONNECT album that I like! I honestly wasn't expecting this after checking out several of their other recordings and just not feeling it at all. I mean there would be the odd good song but this has at least five tracks that are excellent to say the least. Now there's two songs that I would discard from this disc if I could that being "K.G." and the other "Aggregate Waste" but that's not enough negativity to go 3 stars here. Okay a low 4 stars it is. It's a 65 plus minute disc from this duo out of New Jersey. Lots of heaviness on this one and the vocals which have been an issue in the past most of the time really only falter on the two tracks that I mentioned earlier.

So much good music on here including the opener "The Visitor" where they contrast the calm parts with the heaviness really well. "Circadian Rhythms" is great right from the hop. It turns more powerful just before 2 minutes and vocals arrive. Just a really cool sounding tune. The title track reminds me at times of KING CRIMSON during their "Discipline" era. I like the way they change things up on that long track "What Else Is Left To Say?" at over 14 minutes. Time to try some things here and they do. Spacey moments, powerful ones, distortion and more. Love the guitar style after 4 1/2 minutes and after 9 minutes and after 13 minutes. "Outlander" opens sounding familiar and it ends that way too with the powerful and experimental sounds. Some grungy guitar here when it kicks in. Spacey too at times along with distortion. Spoken words late. The closer again contrasts the heaviness and mellow parts really well.

As Uwe points out, in 2010 this band released two studio albums and an EP. The inspiration was flowing but mostly it poured into "Obscuros".

 Radio Hostile by DISCONNECT album cover Studio Album, 2010
3.60 | 26 ratings

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Radio Hostile
Disconnect Crossover Prog

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

3 stars DISCONNECT released two albums in 2010 including this 66 plus minute album with 15 tracks. They are a duo from the USA with a drummer and multi-instrumentalist who also sings. This is a concept album of sorts about the music industry but really focussing on the radio and the crap they choose play. It's been so long since I've listened to the radio, I would rather be in silence. Anyways the album opens with "You'll Hear My Name Again Someday" with someone changing the radio stations. The opener and closer have a Country vibe with the guitar and vocals. I actually have a top three this time. This is a band I've struggled to appreciate so to have three tunes on here that I like is a good thing.

Up first is the title track and it's only 2 1/2 minutes long but an instrumental with guitar over top. "Torpid Frost" is my favourite. Spacey synths rise and fall for 2 minutes the it kicks in with drums, guitar and bass. Love the melancholic guitar here. Finally "Tone Poem" rounds out my top three and yes all three are instrumentals. The guitar sounds beautiful on this one then it turns spacey 2 minutes in with thunder and pouring rain. Such a cool sound. We get some Funk on "The Most Sincere Form Of Flattery" and also it opens sounding like the guitar on an INXS album. There's quite a bit of variety on this album but I'm not big on a lot of this, especially the vocals that I find are hit and miss.

 Fragments by DISCONNECT album cover Singles/EPs/Fan Club/Promo, 2010
3.14 | 12 ratings

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Fragments
Disconnect Crossover Prog

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

3 stars DISCONNECT are an American duo out of New Jersey and this is their first EP released in 2010 although at over 35 minutes this is a regular length album as far as I'm concerned. Eight tracks are offered up here by this duo. One is a drummer while the other does everything else including vocals, bass, keyboards and guitar. I have several of their albums so this band isn't new to me and I've struggled to appreciate their sound. This record is the best I've heard so far but it's still a 3 star album. Melodic with lots of guitar and vocals as they create these somewhat commercial sounding tunes.

"Run For It" is the shortest and noisiest while also being uptempo. It's the only instrumental on here and it has some aggressive guitar over top. The longest is "Darkness Falls" and I love the bass on this one. A mid paced track with some nice guitar late to end it. "Smile" is pretty good too as we get some vocals with attitude which is a nice change. It brightens on the chorus. "Not so Wrong" has some bluesy guitar as the bass and drums support. Double tracked vocals on the closer. "Forsaken" is another pretty good number with a relaxed sound and mid paced. I like the atmosphere too.

A consistent record which I appreciate but the music doesn't hit the spot for me.

 Planned Obsolescence by DISCONNECT album cover Studio Album, 2014
3.64 | 44 ratings

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Planned Obsolescence
Disconnect Crossover Prog

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

3 stars DISCONNECT are a Prog-Metal band out of New Jersey who offer us lots of proggy moments on this 2014 release. They are a duo but we get some guest backing vocals on the first track. I think TILES was the band I thought of most with the music here but this is different. The sound quality could be better especially on the opener. Overall though there's lots to digest and enjoy although at almost 69 minutes there's some not so great moments as my rating suggests.

"Unbroken" is guitar led and quite heavy at times. Synths lead 1 1/2 minutes in during this instrumental section. The guitar is back then vocals. A calm 3 1/2 minutes in with bluesy guitar then back to the previous sound after 4 1/2 minutes. Nice guitar solo 6 minutes in.

"I Am The Memory" opens with keyboards then outbursts of sound as the guitar solos in between. It's okay. Vocals and a steady sound 2 minutes in. Sounds like processed vocals after 4 minutes. Synths and drums lead starting before 7 minutes. A change after 8 minutes as we get distant sounding strummed guitar and vocals. It kicks back in at 10 minutes then vocals return a minute later. Piano and a determined rhythm with vocals after 12 minutes. Lots of synths follow until the guitar kicks in after 14 minutes.

"Trennen" has a nice heavy sound to it. This is an instrumental and synths start to lead before 2 minutes. Some ripping guitar a minute later then some brief piano in this uptempo section. Its quite heavy after 5 1/2 minutes. "Relevance" is one where I'm not into the start of it at all, either the vocal or song style. It turns heavier a minute in though with different sounding vocals. I like the guitar before 5 1/2 minutes as the vocals have stopped but not for long. There's a sinister vibe before 6 1/2 minutes then synths followed by processed vocals and a cool sound. More great guitar after 7 minutes, it's heavy again late.

"The Pedestrian Hobbyist" opens with acoustic guitar and synths as another guitar joins in. Sampled spoken words arrive before a minute. It turns heavy and uptempo 4 1/2 minutes in with plenty of guitar. Synths to the fore then more guitar but it's more pleasant this time.

"Planned Obsolescence" starts with a heavy atmosphere where the synths are swirling about. I like the TOOL-like sound 1 1/2 minutes in as the vocals arrive. Unfortunately it changes after 2 minutes and I'm not liking this section. I do like the guitar and sound 5 1/2 minutes in. A calm with reserved vocals before 7 minutes. Slow soaring guitar 8 minutes in as the vocals step aside. Vocals and a dark sound end it.

"Reprieve" kicks in after 2 minutes with vocals. Not really into this. It's kind of dramatic sounding both vocally and instrumentally. Suddenly after 3 minutes it turns pleasant with vocals. Back to the dramatic sounds as the guitar leads then synths. I like this. A calm 6 1/2 minutes in as we eventually get quiet beats and atmosphere that builds. The guitar comes in at 8 minutes lighting it up. It turns heavy after 9 minutes.

Lots to like here and there clearly was a serious amount of work that went into this. This is good as in 3 stars good.

 Darkling by DISCONNECT album cover Studio Album, 2016
3.49 | 11 ratings

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Darkling
Disconnect Crossover Prog

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

3 stars This is the latest from the American duo known as DISCONNECT. I enjoyed their previous album called "Planned Obsolescence" which was quite a bit longer than this one and a little more challenging.

Things get started with the ambitious title track at over 22 minutes, talk about opening with a statement! Atmosphere as Spanish sounding guitar notes come flying in and they will come and go. Suddenly after 1 1/2 minutes the tempo picks up with guitar out front as the drums join in as well. Outbursts come and go at 3 minutes before it settles into a synth led section before 4 minutes. Nice bass as the guitar starts to lead. Synths are back then we get vocals for the first time after 5 minutes. Not into the vocals or the soundscape really. I like it a lot better 6 1/2 minutes in as the synths lead and we get some heavy bass lines. Vocals are back a minute later and I'm not into this part. They don't sound right either after 9 minutes. Nice guitar though before 10 minutes and better vocals follow. Another excellent guitar solo follows. I like the spacey interlude then the vocals return at 12 1/2 minutes. A long instrumental section follows with guitar out front. Synths turn after 15 minutes and the vocals return after 18 minutes. I like the bass after 21 minutes along with those spacey sounds.

"Patterns" opens with percussion before strings and some depth take over. Reserved vocals too. It kicks in around a minute but settles back quickly with vocals again. Melancholic guitar and strings just before 2 minutes, sad vocals too. Then the tempo picks up and we get some abrasive guitar before 3 minutes. The focus is on the vocals 4 minutes in then there's a guitar solo as the vocals stop. Synths then lead and I like that bass. A calm with strummed guitar and vocals late.

"Anfractuous" opens with pulsating sounds along with intricate and spacey sounds too. An experimental intro. I like when it kicks in before 1 1/2 minutes with that soaring guitar. It settles back then kicks in again with that guitar before 3 1/2 minutes. It turns bright 4 minutes in with synths. It speeds up late to end it.

"Stratagemmalum" is led by synths and guitar as the drums pound. Vocals as it settles back with strummed guitar and a beat. I'm not really into this. Guitar and keys lead before 2 1/2 minutes as the vocals stop. They're back a minute later with strummed guitar and that earlier theme. Vocals step aside as synths lead after 4 minutes. Guitar is the focus before 6 minutes. It turns spacey and experimental late.

"Reclamation" is different as we get some manipulated spoken words and outbursts of power. Even some organ as it ends before 2 minutes as the vocals become the focus, piano too. A guitar solo follows.

I just can't get into the tunes enough to offer 4 stars but I'm gad to have spent some time with it.

 Darkling by DISCONNECT album cover Studio Album, 2016
3.49 | 11 ratings

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Darkling
Disconnect Crossover Prog

Review by Progrussia

4 stars More tales of suburban dystopia from Disconnect. Sound on Darkling will be familiar to those who listened to their two previous albums - a not particularly heavy, but gloomy rock, which even at its more energetic moments leaves you with a feeling of pessimism. I'll give them this - Erich O'Dell is a versatile guitarist, capable of switching between different classic rock-inspired styles within a song and whipping out flashy solos, and Brian Eschrich is never content with a simple beat (there are just the two of them in this project). I also like the production - the mix is unobtrusive and clear and instruments nicely separated. It won't blow your mind, and at the beginning you probably think these vocals don't work, but it kinda grows on you. Kudos for the work ethic.
 Planned Obsolescence by DISCONNECT album cover Studio Album, 2014
3.64 | 44 ratings

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Planned Obsolescence
Disconnect Crossover Prog

Review by Progrussia

3 stars To picture this Mid-Atlantic American duo, take bits and pieces of your favorite prog bands on the rockier side - mid 70s and 80s King Crimson, mature Rush, Floyd, Kansas - with a poorer vocal. Despite some laid back sections, overall mood is gloomy (though not crossing over to metal, like many do nowadays). It's bad now in a middle-aged male's life and will get worse.

This is not your riff-keyboard melody-long bridge kind of prog. Songs are very long, with multiple sections and those odd-time thingies. It doesn't always gel together, but not without anthemic moments. Erich O'Dell uses a lot of different guitar tones, including clean ones, and backing synths, but seriously overuses Discipline-era King Crimson ascetic guitar lines. If you're familiar with Disconnect, this sounds like Twisting the Knife - the longest but least consistent song off their Enough Blame to Go Around album. If not, that album is a better introduction to them. And, uh, guys, really mature of you to get offended at a review. You know what I'm talking about.

 Planned Obsolescence by DISCONNECT album cover Studio Album, 2014
3.64 | 44 ratings

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Planned Obsolescence
Disconnect Crossover Prog

Review by HorribleCatfish

5 stars I thought it would be tough work for Disconnect to top their last album, Enough Blame to Go Around?but apparently they were up to the task with Planned Obsolescence. All of the familiar trademarks are still there, but the keyboards seem to have taken a full time position in the band, and I for one, love it. The album opens with Unbroken?A solid opening track?and when a track as good as this opens an album, and it's the weakest song on the album, it's a testament to just how good the following material is. Following that we have the longest track on the album, I Am The Memory, clocking in at 17+ minutes. There's a great bit of keys in the middle of this song that gives it a bit of a Floydian atmosphere, and a great segue into the 2nd half of the song. Next up is Trennan, instrumental track #1, a great bit of musicianship that leads into my personal favorite, Relevance. A nice laid back opening, leading into one of the greatest odd time hooks I've ever heard. The 2nd instrumental track, The Pedestrian Hobbyist follows. It opens with what sounds like a review of Enough Blame?and from there, just explodes into one of their finest moments ever. I like the nice touch with the pretentious voice for the review. Closing the album is the title track and Reprieve. Planned Obsolescence is the kind of song I really love?a slow build to a great payoff and they couldn't have chosen a better track to end the album on than with Reprieve. Vintage Disconnect, alongside the ever increasing keys. Make sure to come back after the brief silence, as some of O'Dell's best work puts the finish on this great album. Have I mentioned that Disconnect has increased their keyboard contribution? That's not meant to say the album is over-bearing with keys?but they found the perfect balance to go along with their sound. Which speaking of, I think now truly is a Disconnect sound. The inspirations of King Crimson are still there, but much like Porcupine Tree did with their Floyd sound and made it their own?Disconnect has done the same.
 Obscuros by DISCONNECT album cover Studio Album, 2010
3.94 | 53 ratings

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Obscuros
Disconnect Crossover Prog

Review by Progrussia

4 stars Points of reference for Disconnect - an American two-member studio project - would be the rockier sides of the classic prog equation (Rush, King Crimson - of the slower variety, even a little Black Sabbath), as well as more mainstream strains of 70s inspired American rock. Obscruros actually is a fairly diverse album - an anthemic hard rock, an alternatingly spooky riff-catchy chorus song, an ever-evolving Crimsonian instrumental with a rumbling organ later on, a funky number, a heavily distorted and slowed fantasy epic, even a country-bluesy outro solo. Songs are mostly based on repeating main melodic pattern and alternating backing pattern with extended instrumental middles, often featuring various effects on the instruments, which, to tell the truth, are hit-and-miss.
 Indivision by DISCONNECT album cover Studio Album, 2011
3.73 | 72 ratings

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Indivision
Disconnect Crossover Prog

Review by Progrussia

3 stars Disconnect, an American middle-aged but recently prolific (4 albums in three years) studio project's third effort is apparently some sort of suite. But apart for book-ending theme, vague thematic unity (life, society, decay) and a tendency for some songs to end unexpectedly early, as if a movement in a larger suite, you wouldn't tell. You can listen in any order. For Disconnect - a project that is never too happy, - this is actually the least heavy album. There are clean guitars, country-ish tones, some uplifting solos and a piano, violin and accordion sounds (played on keyboards), although others songs are trade-markedly dark and pessimistic. If you are their fan, this different-than-the-rest, yet recognizably Disconnected album should suite you just fine. However, if you are new, this overlong and mostly slow album, without overt progressiveness, would probably bore you.
Thanks to chris s for the artist addition. and to Quinino for the last updates

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