The Secret, Disintoxication
Trieste, Italy’s The Secret took a completely different route for the completion of a sophomore follow up to their 2004 debut Luce. Abandoning the polish and gleam of that debut, the band isolated themselves in rural Sweden and dove deep into their own personal experiences over the past couple of years — drug abuse, depression, suicide attempts, to name a few — to produce on hell of a raw and frantic follow up in Disintoxication.
The Secret have a fury on this album that combines the caustic, unfiltered intensity of Coalesce with the frenzied attack of The Dillinger Escape Plan. With a sound that at times is similar to the past couple of albums from Converge, this Italian group has enough of their own flare and fierceness that separates them far enough from that influence to stand on their own and one hell of a listening experience.
Morte
This brief, 25 second intro fades in with a bit of guitar noise before exploding into the next track.
Disintoxication
“Disintoxication” erupts through the speakers with discordant guitar tones and chaotic, crashing drums. Vocalist Marco Coslovich screams with passion and vehemence as the rest of the band tries to drown him out with their brand of Converge-like noise. There’s a pretty resolute and oppressive din to this track with plenty of noise, spastic shifts and maddening riffs — a great way to open the album.
Inferno
After the guitar noise of the title track fades, the band shifts quickly into “Inferno,” a track that would be squealing like a pig with glee on any of Converge’s latest albums. This thing is abrasive and full-on in your face aggressive. Where Converge would shift their momentum into more melodic moments, The Secret push forward stronger and with more anger, choking the air with controlled chaos.
Poisoned Blood Is Never Enough
I love the opening bit of guitar work on this next song, especially as the rest of the band joins in. Just when you thought this Italian group couldn’t get any more aggressive as heard on the last track, they step it up another notch with this all too short song.
In Limbo
Thick drums get “In Limbo” moving along at a brisk pace. There are a few good series of machine gun like riff/drum combos throughout this song. The 1:50 point marks some nice guitar work.
Saul
“Saul” fades in with a bit of static and beefy drum work. The main riff through this one is pretty damned nice and fits the heavy handed drumming well. This is a beast of a track.
Funeral Monolith
Another great opening riff and pummeling drums greet the listener with the onset of this next song. More creative guitar work at about the mid way point of “Funeral Monolith” are punctuated with a deeper vocal delivery from Coslovich. I love how the band progressively slows the pace toward the end of the song.
Umea
The opening string of notes from the guitars on this one set a creepy scene before some light drumming comes in at about the one minute mark. It isn’t until the 1:27 point that the band punches a hole through your skull with crushing riffs and aggressive vocals. This one fades out quietly and gently.
Death to Pigs
I can safely say that the person or persons that this song is intended for should probably not ever visit Trieste, Italy. Man, this track has a razor edge to it complete with thick riffs and bludgeoning drums. “Death to Pigs” ends abruptly and rather anti-climactic, as well.
Kill the Dead
“Kill the Dead” starts off with some decent screams from Csolovich as the rest of the guys beat the hell out of their respective instruments. The final track slows during its second half and ends softly, fading quietly.
~ ~ ~
While there are a few Converge-like similarities between the bands, The Secret have planted their own footprint on your chest with a bit more aggressive and caustic edge to their brand of noisy, hardcore. If you like your guitars static and abrasive then this is the disc for you.
Favorite Tracks:
Disintoxication
Inferno
Poisoned Blood Is Never Enough
Saul
Additional Notes:
N/A