Poughkeepsie, NY's Dissolve originally recorded "Caveman of the Future" way back in 2000, at which time it was supposed to be released by M.I.A. Records. Sadly the label closed its doors and the album was shelved while the band carried on for a year or two, playing shows and trying to find a home for the record, but it never happened. Apparently they never really broke up, though, they just kind of went away—playing a couple of shows in 2004 and 2005, and now playing a couple of shows to celebrate this long overdue release. I assume that means they're not really looking to do new material, but that's cool: It just makes me sick that there's so much unheard music out there just sitting around collecting dust like this, so it's very fucking cool that Trip Machine Laboratories made this happen eight years after the fact!
I actually wasn't into these guys in the 90's when they were fully active, but that's not because I disliked 'em, I just never really encountered their material. I've heard the name many times over the years, and have since heard some of their earlier work on compilations and such, but this is my first true exposure to their work. I'm sure this is all around more developed than the band's prior releases, but there's definitely a nice foundation of the crushing and rhythmically-centered pre-"dirty word" metalcore of the mid- to late-90's, based around thick power chords and shouted, screamed, and half-spoken vocals (some of which sort of remind me of V.O.D. back in the day). But then there are some pretty whacked out types of noisy, discordant guitar textures and leads going on that really twist things up a bit—giving the material a more metal-influenced style, but not one that really comes across as particularly "metal", you know? We're not talkin' tremolo picking and blast beats or tech'd out note flurries. There's a very fuckin' solid rhythm section (though the bass work is admittedly hard to pick out, granted that doesn't really detract from the listen), with lots of jazzy cymbal work and shifts from straightforward patterns to much more colorful fare. So there's certainly some complexity in there, but... despite similarities to select acts from comparable scenes within that general 1990—2000 time frame... the end result here has a weirdly unusual sort of aesthetic hovering over it, and I can't really put my finger on it. And that's not a bad thing! I mean, anyone who's been into this kind of music over the years will hear familiarities in this material, but I think you'll agree that (at least on this album) Dissolve just had something a little more... peculiar going on. Very interesting...
Dissolve "The Ultimate Nullifier"
Dissolve "Weakling"
Comments
used to see these guys when i was in school in Po-Town…always a solid live show…and I’m stoked that this was released. I believe the vocalist and another member from the band also had another project a few years back called Devil May Care (I have a demo somewhere) which is a bit similar to the Dissolve stuff, and was also a really cool listen, but didn’t last as long as I hoped it would.
7.18.2008 | By Hil
Thanks Andrew.
DISSOLVE is actually playing their CD release tonite 7.18.08 in Poughkeepsie. They are also playing what seems to be all of the OVERCAST dates in August.
Yes Paul & Chuck from DISSOLVE also had Devil May Care which was like DISSOLVE on crack mixed w/ anything Mike Patton does.
7.18.2008 | By TRIP MACHINE
Oh man, this just totally made my week. I actually didn’t know about Dissolve until I’d gotten into Devil May Care ... it’s good to hear this finally getting put out. I actually still have the first Devil May Care EP/demo or whatever it was; I can hook you up if you want to check it out. Their stuff all seems impossible to find these days.
7.18.2008 | By zg
Damn, I wish I had heard of these guys when they were still going strong. I totally agree with you on the VOD comparison - as the vocalist has that conversational approach to singing, in which he talks to the mic instead of screaming.
On a completly different note, This Et Al have decided to call it quits. Unfortunatly it doesn’t look like they will be releasing any new material.
7.18.2008 | By paul
Dissolve is one of those unknown greats in the northeast area. I have all of the shit they put out, Demo 93’, the 7”, Dismantle cd, Graverobber E.P. (has older versions of some Caveman of the Future songs) and a 2 song demo that has another song from Caveman plus one other that was only found on the tape.
One of my favorite bands ever.
7.20.2008 | By the sandwich
yeah!!! Dissolve ruled! I had only recently heard Dismantle from Buske, and it kills! Wish I had it in 95. I used to play the songs on the Over The Edge comp religiously.
Wire was an intensely heavy hardcore song. Cant wait to pick this up!
Thanks for the info!
7.21.2008 | By blend77
by the way!! these songs destroy!!!
I will have to go see them with Overcast. another early metal-core favorite..
7.21.2008 | By blend77