Recently this band came onto my radar after having their latest, September 2017 CD release essentially dropped into my lap by my editor here at Metal Nexus. Upon first listen, I was pleasantly surprised by their throwback, sludgey, stoner sound often reminiscent of Melvins and early Soundgarden. I’ve since given the album several more listens and each time discover more and more interesting nuances to enjoy. What stands out above all else with Disastroid’s ‘Screen’ is vibe. From front to back, this album emanates a heavy and relenting, chilled out, stoner vibe, while at times delving into well-placed moments of intense psychedelia. Like a VW bus hotboxed in a thick cloud of bong smoke, this record will envelope and intoxicate you as you succumb to its dark, dank, euphoric moods.
Hailing from San Francisco, CA, and formed over ten years ago, the Disastroid trio consists of Enver Koneya (vocals/guitar), Travis Williams (bass), and Braden Mcgraw (drums). With a couple of album releases and EPs under their belt, they are already somewhat veterans of the scene.
For ‘Screen,’ the guitar tone is muddy and gritty; basslines and drums are beefy; and the production quality is suitably minimalistic, giving it a nice garage band live performance aesthetic that works well for the material. Vocally, Koneya delivers his smokey, low to mid-range croon that complements the instrumentation nicely while not overshadowing.
Stand out tracks include “New Day,” that starts off as an up-tempo rocker before incorporating doomier, psychedelic elements. “I Didn’t Kill Myself” is a catchy, grunge rock anthem with creative riffage. Album favorite, “Dinosaur” offers Chris Cornell-ish, effected vocal work and extra sludgey, indica-sedated riffs that trudge along at a hypnotically plodding pace. A psychedelic breakdown section and a few creative transitions make this one the star of the record. The dark and brooding, “Coyote” with its chugging riffs, again opts for gradual pacing – which by this point proves to be Disastroid’s sweet spot. “Gunslinger,” a cool, groovy bassline-propelled final track, is by far the most comprehensive song, offering various interesting elements melded together smoothly from prog/math rock to stoner/doom. Saving the best for last, the song also features an awesomely trippy guitar solo toward the final moments.
Overall, ‘Screen’ is a solid thirty-five-minute offering from Disastroid with scarcely a flaw to be found. On this album, the band has struck the perfect frequency with just the right blend of minimalism and simplicity, along with their generally slower pacing. Consequently, the unique atmosphere achieved is a successful but unlikely blend of chill and gloom. Fans of similar music such as Queens of the Stone Age, Soundgarden, Black Sabbath, and Melvins will certainly enjoy giving this a listen.
