Review by: Justin Donnelly - Media Search - 2008

On the live front, you could see that Perth based quintet Dyscord were really starting to make a name for themselves with the number of support slots to both national and international visitors seemingly growing at a rapid rate. But on the recorded front, Dyscord were lacking something that really showed what they were truly capable of live, with their 2006 EP 'Arming Within' anything but a real stunning showcase of the band's talents. It's been a long two years since then, and Dyscord have returned once again with their debut full-length effort 'Dakota'. And quite simply, Dyscord have seriously improved, with the album more than matching their output on the stage. The opening track 'Noble On Paper' immediately marks the return of the five-piece act in a commanding fashion, with the guitarists on the attack from the moment the song starts, while Herbert produces one hell of a demonic growl. From a song writing point of view, the band show a significant growth with the riffs sounding far more diverse and ear shredding, while Herbert's vocals suit the strong death metal/metalcore direction the band are clearly striving for.

The title track 'Dakota' is no less impressive with it's catchy riff work in the opening minute, but it's Herbert's clean vocals that show up throughout the track that really surprise the most. In short, he's finally managed to strengthen his cleaner efforts, which in turn add to the song rather than stand out for all the wrong reasons. Much like the former track, 'The Picador' is given a bit of a break from the all out assault with the inclusion of some cleaner vocals. On the bludgeoning side of things, tracks such as 'The Clothes Maketh The Manslaughter', 'Haemon Unleashed', 'Hot Snakes McGillycuddy' and 'An Ode To Envy' pack plenty of metallic punch. On their debut full-length effort, Dyscord have improved in leaps and bounds, with 'Dakota' crushing 'Arming Within' in the same ways that Dyscord have destroyed stages and eardrums in the past.

Review source: Dyscord - Dakota

Review by: Dion - Adrenaline Webzine - 2008

Firstly, this band is pretty bloody kick-arse! Secondly, I wanted to classify this Aussie outfit as "deathcore", but for some reason, and I totally disagree with it, there's a very smelly stigma attached to that particular metal subgenre, and even any subgenre with the syllable "core" anywhere near it. So I didn't stylise these blokes as deathcore, just so you'd read this review before judging them. You'll thank me for it.

Now that we've established exactly which genre DYSCORD fall into, let me opinionate on this '08 full-length release. This is a well-produced (with the sound engineer nominated for an unfamiliar award), tightly-executed extreme metal CD. How's that? Bands such as SLAYER, JOB FOR A COWBOY, and CANNIBAL CORPSE are audible in this band's sound, even if it is unintentional. Dakota is 10 tracks of aggressive mid-paced, mid-range deathcore thrashiness with an angry bloke mostly yelling (with some gutturals and shrieking) over it all. There are a couple of tricks they pull out of their sleeves that I'm not a fan of; a clean vocal passages in "Dakota" and "The Picador" and some very nu-metal parts where the guitars, bass and kick-drums do the same percussive rhythm, but for the most part it's a damned solid CD that I might even play on my own time… if I ever get any more of that. There's not a whole lot of blasting, or flat-knacker foot-work from the drummer, with the guitars' chord-progressions, which make it a litte less death metal, and a little more deathcore for me, but the overall effect is a very uncomplicated, easy to follow CD.

If you're a fan of any metal that sounds good and is played well, no matter what over-populated, mostly-talentless, sub-genre it's stuffed into, then you'll probably get a kick out of this band's second release; first full-length. You know what? "DYSCORD: Style - Dyscord". Wrap your aural organs 'round it. 7.5/10

Review source: Dyscord - Dakota