Discordance Axis

{{short description|American grindcore band}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}

{{More citations needed|date=October 2023}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Discordance Axis

| image =

| caption =

| image_size =

| alias = Sedition (1991)

| origin = East Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S.

| genre = Grindcore

| years_active = 1991–2001

| label = {{flatlist|

  • Devour
  • HG Fact
  • Hydra Head
  • Pulp
  • Slap a Ham
  • Willowtip

}}

| associated_acts = Municipal Waste, Phantomsmasher, Human Remains, Black Army Jacket, Burnt by the Sun, Gridlink, Deny the Cross, No One Knows What the Dead Think

| website = {{URL|studio-grey.com/da/}}

| current_members =

| past_members = Jon Chang
Rob Marton
Dave Witte
Steve Procopio
Rob Proctor

}}

Discordance Axis was an American grindcore band formed in 1991 in East Brunswick, New Jersey. Their songs employed themes of inner struggles, science fiction, comic books, anime, and literature.

History

Discordance Axis was originally formed in 1991 by Jon Chang under the name of Sedition, after recruiting guitarist Rob Marton and drummer Dave Witte.{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Andy |date=2019-10-04 |title=How Discordance Axis Gave Grindcore A Unique New Identity |url=https://www.kerrang.com/how-discordance-axis-gave-grindcore-a-unique-new-identity |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Kerrang! |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Invisible Oranges |title=Screaming Bloody Gore #1: Jon Chang (Gridlink, Discordance Axis, Hayaino Daisuki) |url=https://www.invisibleoranges.com/screaming-bloody-gore-1-jon-chang-gridlink-discordance-axis-hayano-daisuki/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Invisible Oranges - The Metal Blog |language=en-US}} The band didn't have a bassist, however, and would change their name to Discordance Axis in 1992. The band commonly avoided photographs and live performances.{{Cite web |title=Discordance Axis Biography, Songs, & Albums |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/discordance-axis-mn0000158945/biography |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}{{Cite journal |last=Anon. |date=2008 |title=Discordance Axis |url=https://archive.disposableunderground.com/pdfs/Disposable_Underground_39.pdf |journal=Disposable Underground |volume=16 |issue=39 |pages=1, 3 |access-date=September 1, 2024}} Steve Procopio played with the band live on a few occasions and recorded guitar on the Necropolitan EP (1997). In 2000, the band released their third and final album, The Inalienable Dreamless, which was acclaimed.{{Cite web |date=2012-12-29 |title="Compiling Autumn": Discordance Axis book and guitar tabs posted online |url=https://disposableunderground.com/discordance-axis-book-and-guitar-tabs-posted-online/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Disposable Underground |language=en-US}}

In April 2001, Discordance Axis announced that Rob Marton would be leaving the band due to severe ear damage, resulting in their breakup. The band played their final show at CBGB on May 13, 2001, with Procopio filling in on guitar.{{Cite web |date=April 2, 2001 |title=Discordance Axis calling it quits |url=https://lambgoat.com/news/677/discordance-axis-calling-it-quits/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=lambgoat.com |language=en}} Following their disbandment, Chang formed Gridlink in 2004, whilst Witte would become known for his role as a drummer in other bands such as Human Remains, Black Army Jacket, Burnt by the Sun and Municipal Waste. In 2019, Chang and Marton reunited in the band No One Knows What the Dead Think, who released their first and only album in September 2019 through Willowtip Records.{{Cite web |last=Sacher |first=Andrew |title=Discordance Axis Members Reunite to Form No One Knows What The Dead Think (New Song Streaming Now) |url=https://www.invisibleoranges.com/discordance-axis-members-reunite-to-form-no-one-knows-what-the-dead-think-listen/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Invisible Oranges - The Metal Blog |language=en-US}}

Style

{{References|section|date=October 2023}}

In the beginning, the band played straightforward grindcore influenced by acts such as Napalm Death. However, later releases showcased a more original style. Robert Marton guitar lines were both technical and dissonant, and added creative overdubs to augment the melodies. Dave Witte added complex rolls, fills, and jarring rhythmic shifts to the usual barrage of blast beats found in grindcore. Jon Chang alternated between a shrill shriek and a "gastrointestinal" roar, and based most of his metaphorical lyrics on novels and anime. The band had no bassist, and the majority of their full-length recordings were released in DVD cases rather than CD cases, accompanied by unusually large booklets with long liner notes for each song, usually longer than the lyrics.

Members

= Current members =

= Former members =

  • Steve Procopio – guitar (1997–1998, 2001)
  • Rob Proctor – drums (1995)

Discography

= Studio albums =

= EPs =

  • split with Cosmic Hurse (1992), Pulp Records
  • split with Hellchild (1993), HG Fact
  • split with Capitalist Casualties (1994), Pulp Records
  • split with Def Master (1994), HG Fact
  • split with Melt-Banana (1995), HG Fact
  • split with Plutocracy (1995), Slap a Ham Records
  • Necropolitan (1997), HG Fact
  • split with Corrupted and 324 (2001), HG Fact

= Compilations =

  • Original Sound Version 1992–1995 (1998), Devour Records
  • The Inalienable Dreamless Perfect Version Box Set (2000), self-released
  • Our Last Day (2005), Hydra Head Records

= Videos =

  • 7.62mm (1997), self-released
  • Pikadourei (2002), Hydra Head Records

References