Decahedron

On Decahedron's debut full-length, the Lovitt Records darlings set out to prove that the D.C. sound is alive and well in 2004. Characterized by edgy, angular sonics and accompanied by lyrical messages of a distinct political and social slant, Decahedron is very much akin to the D.C. sound that broke onto the national scene in the late 80's with bands such as Fugazi and Jawbox and the DIY-minded Dischord Records imprint. By the mid-nineties most of these bands had reached the end of their terms and began to disband and/or form new projects, but the music and ethics of this movement survived in the form of groups such as the Dismemberment Plan and Decahedron predecessors, Frodus.

Frodus called it quits in 1999, but not before recording their swan song (or songs), And We Washed Our Weapons in the Sea. Their final album was a critical success, but many of their loyal followers mourned their passing. The past few years have seen a couple of discs full of live and rare material released to ensure that the band and it's message were not forgotten as the foundation of Frodus dissolved, reformed, and evolved.

To the fans that waited them out, this album was well worth it. Disconnection Imminent is very much Frodus, almost a sequel, but it's also its own entity. Shelby Cinca's cautionary lyrics still warn of the dangers of society's homogenization and the threat of authority gone unchecked, but the phrases and words are much more direct and attack their targets with lethal precision. Clear Channel, the Bush Administration, the Patriot Act...it's all there, spread upon the table and dissected for all to see.

Musically, Decahedron is slightly more mature than Frodus, but again, no bridges were burned when the band broke up and as such, their sonic roots are very much intact. Disconnection Imminent contains two instrumental tracks along with nine traditional songs. Joe Lally of Fugazi fame recorded bass and vocals on this album, but has since left the project with Jonathan Ford, formerly of Unwed Sailor, stepping up to fill the gap.

For the Frodus die-hards, fear not, this is the long awaited sequel to And We Washed Our Weapons in the Sea. For newcomers, prepare yourselves, for Decahedron is here to show you that the D.C. sound is in fact, alive and well, and more relevant now than ever before.

DELETE FALSE CULTURE.

9.0 / 10 — Morgan