Disco Rice – “1.17.19”
I love the name of this band, Disco Rice.
It’s hard to get an original name for a rock band, nowadays, as there have been 8,777,959,632 rock bands so far.
6,666,666 of them have been metal- BTW!
Everyone knows of the California punk band Face To Face, but I don’t believe everyone reading this is aware of a band, with the same name from Boston, who existed in the early eighties. And they had some renown- recording an album for a major label and having a video on MTV.
So, what I’ve learned from this- and I’ve learned scarcely nothing in my long life. Hey, I was doing more important things like drinking, playing Keno and scratching lottery tickets.
But what I have surmised is, if you want to have an original name- use an adjective and noun that wouldn’t be commonly used together. Like some sixties bands did- Strawberry Alarm Clock, Ultimate Spinach, The Scrumptious Scrotums. (Sorry, that last one is an obscure band Andy and I, now play in whose style is soft rock/power violence/ska.)
But it’s probably ripe past the time I actually start writing about Disco Beans, I mean, Disco Rice.
But in lieu of listening to my drivel, let’s listen instead:
“Get up, and get yourself back in the game. Rise up, let nothing stand in your way.” So starts a song that makes me think of the great tune, “Rise Above” by Black Flag. Which is, “Into The Flame,” a tune that has unrelenting energy, power and aggression along with high-pitched, full throttle vocals screaming at you like someone’s face pressed against your window pane. “Fight back, and make them remember your name. Don’t hold back, your scream will carry the day.” The inflammable, igniting rhythm draws us into the fire of the velocity and intensity of this song. Which leaves us, unsurprisingly, burnt and scorched…but strangely, begging for more. As wisely, you should.
“Never said I wanted this. Never said I could deal with this.” So begins my favorite song on this release, “Never Said,” that explodes like a four alarm fire going off inside your head. While the vocals bleat intensely, the rhythms section seems to play as hard and as fast as they can while the guitar spews violently upon your neatly placed oriental rugs and nicely, decorated walls. I never said, before, how awesomely powerful and energetic and great this song is- but I guess, now I have.
After some sustaining, monolithic, hanging in the air, power chords, “With My Tribe,” really kicks in with the drums laying down a steady, driving beat. And it really kicks ass, with the vocals bellowing aggressively, the guitar growling forcefully and the whole song moving like a force of nature through your mind and soul. This song has a bit of Oi in it, especially with the vocals proclaiming “with my tribe.” I think this is one great D-beat, Oi, hardcore tune and I have some fellows to back me up if you disagree.
“Broken Man” breaks out with a hardcore rhythm- blazing, blaring guitars and bass and a vocalist screaming like his guts are being pulled out through his throat. “Broken on the ground in the pouring rain. Huddled in holes, pawns in a larger game. Lined up, like kindling for the flame.” Three musical hits/accents occur in the chorus which is the only reprise during this tune, or from this marauding onslaught of power and emotion. This song is harsh, furiously passionate and real. But then, I guess that would pretty much describe every moment of this awesome release.
Since I wrote the intro I’ve found out from reliable sources, namely the band, that “disco rice” has a real meaning.
When the coroner’s office reports to a residence where someone has been dead for awhile, frequently there’s maggots crawling around the body. And there jargon term for this, because they’re small, white and moving, is “disco rice.”
Which is an unpleasant thought, but for me makes their name even cooler.
This band grew out of the band Tenefly Vipers, a band TNB really liked because they encompassed the three styles we write about- punk, metal and hardcore. But I’ve always appreciated bands that focused in on one style and did it well. (Ramones, AC/DC, Scrumptious Scrotums).
They use the tags of hardcore and D-beat on this recording, I’d say it veers towards power violence, as well.
All I know is that this is the type of cutting edge music I really enjoy now, whether it’s categorized as power violence, D-beat or grindcore.
This music contains powerful, intense aggression. These songs strike you like a knife in the gut.
But instead of mortally wounding you, it makes you feel alive with the pure joy and excitement of hearing music that is so uncompromising, that is so true, that is harsh but is also beautiful.
Something that may fit into your description of art.
This is one of the best recordings I’ve heard this year.
This is my favorite new band of the year.
This fits into my description of art.
(Slimedog)
