Certainly, GREYMACHINE is a group whose mere existence is enough to generate interest and the inevitable hype considering its composition of some rather prominent members of the "extreme" music community. Seriously though, how could it not comprising members of Isis, Godflesh, Jesu, and tons more? The real question, at least if we concentrate on the actual content of Disconnected should be more along how this actually sounds. In this case, GREYMACHINE provides a sonic thrashing that contains all of the brutal qualities of the heaviest and most caustic work that the members have shown the ability to create previously; the pummeling nature of the album is astounding.
The first introduction to Disconnected comes by way of the sounds of a bass being beaten into submission, and the swirling sounds, percussion, and buried vocals sweep in layers as "Wolf at the Door" shows to be an apt title because lurking on the other side of the speakers sounds like something dangerous causing the racket. The debut album from GREYMACHINE is a mass of layered instruments and noise that seems to constantly churn in a machinelike manner that has the single intent of visiting some form of sonic punishment on any who dare listen to the record. The album version of "We are All Fucking Liars" is even more brutal than the b-side version (available on the Vultures Descend single and as a bonus track on the Japanese version of the album which is available via Daymare Records), which is almost unthinkable with the mechanical rhythm, cascading guitars, and vicious sounding vocals.
The discordant maelstrom of "Just Breathing" could be a practice in call and response dissonance or competition for aural space; the rhythms and bass sounds create an intensely hypnotic quality for the song before the winding guitar leads join in to really add some mind warping moments. "Sweatshop" is my favorite track that GREYMACHINE give us on Disconnected due to its continuing the hypnotic quality of the record while somehow simultaneously channeling early Swans, Skullflower, and yes, Godflesh; I never tire of listening to the pulsating rhythms or washes of feedback.
After obsessive listening of Disconnected since the day that I received it in the mail, my ears may never quite recover from the squealing and churning that GREYMACHINE provide with their debut album; the promise of the teaser single is not only fully realized but also completely blown away as the group provides ample proof that they are not a one trick pony. Now, I am convinced that this record might just be the heaviest record that is unleashed on the listening public this year; and it can be said that this album is definitely not for the faint of heart. If a devastating listening experience is your cup of tea, do not (I repeat DO NOT) miss this record for anything; Disconnected may be just what you are looking for in order to go deaf, just make sure and turn the volume all the way up on your stereo.
