D-Sagawa – “Is This A Fucking Solution?”
D-Sagawa is one of my favorite live bands we cover.
I’ve only seen them once.
That was about two years ago, August 21, 2016 to be exact.
But they seem to have had a lasting impression on me, when I decide to lead off with that on my review of their live album from last year, that I just became aware of.
They get their name from the music genre D-beat, that harsh hardcore style, linked with the band, Discharge, along with the name of a living murderer/cannibal Issei Sagawa. (I know this sounds like I made that last part up, but actually, it’s true!)
And though, they do use the tag D-beat, I find them quite similar to the bands that call themselves power violence and maybe, even grindcore.
So to me- this is metal based music and extreme hardcore influenced by the spirit of punk. So to me- this is the best, cutting music I experience now. So to me- this is a really, great band.
They’re also a very young band, led by a female vocalist who barks in a death metal/hardcore growl along with three guys on instruments who force, said instruments, to emit the most unholy, unforgiving sounds.
And this is a tape made from last years’ West Coast tour.
No wonder California’s burning away-
“Black Rain” plows ahead like a sledgehammer that’s struck an electrical power line. There’s a pause or two until the drum beat comes in sounding like a billy club that’s intent on bashing your brains in. Echo-ey, abrasive, black metal vocals adorn the proceedings of this awesomely, abrasive, powerful song.
With a bass line that almost resembles a regular rock tune, “War Baptist” proceeds to embark on a journey that contains growling death vocals and feedback shrieking guitars. The venom, propulsion and aggression is evident in every second of this excellent song. There’s a great, guitar solo that skitters, adroitly, across a scorching tightrope until the rope is cut and the vocals exhort “War.”
A chuggin’ hardcore beat leads off “Human Wave Attack” with a high guitar lick sounding like a train screechin’ against the third rail. The vocals erupt in a wave of bile and anger while the guitar and drum beat each other, senselessly. This song is hyperactively energetic, fearlessly uncompromissing and unrelentlessly intense. Also, it’s very good.
After a short bass intro, “Hell Awaits” explodes in an awesome, aggressive assault against any aural areas whilst the bass blasts in with another barrage of boisterous bottom. Another ferocious, fire-breathing tune. If this is a glimpse of hell then I want to see and feel more of it!
With a batch of intestine slicing, cutting bass along with some rollicking, realigning, rolling drum beats, “Death Is Here,” kicks off like it’s not quite time to kick off! But eventually, the vocals fall in a hardcore rush that rocks, kicks ass and exerts as much vile, antagonistic, viciousness as a typical day on facebook will reveal.
“Destroy Me” has a stop and start rhythm and a blaring, wild vocal that reminds me of Big Black, a great abrasive, band from the eighties. This song in it’s violent, passionate intensity not only kills me but obliterates any and all living things within its’ fifty mile radius and is my favorite song on this excellent album. The doom-y pounding lick that ends this song is the best part, not just of the album but for all of life.
I suppose some would find it odd that an old punk rocker from the class of ’77, like old Slimedog here, would be so enamored of power violence, grind and D-beat bands, such as D-Sagawa.
But for me, punk resides more in the bootleg live cd’s of Iggy & The Stooges than some polished punk act from the nineties all the young teeny boppers seem to rave about. (See- I’ve proved how old I am, right there!)
And though I feel D-Sagawa’s music has more roots in metal and hardcore- I feel that when music is too harsh, too noisy, too aggressive, too spiteful, too angry like music like this-
Then I don’t really care if they’re playing accordion polka music, it’s punk with a capital “P” to me.
But who cares what I think?
And I don’t put much faith in what I do think either.
But if you like the music we cover and want some music that will kick you square in the gut, maybe double you over in pain as well as passion.
Well, I invite you to do your suffering right here.
(Slimedog)
