Contrast Attitude Discharge Your Noise LP
Although they have been around for more than 25 years, Discharge Your Noise is only CONTRAST ATTITUDE’s second album. Needless to say, I preordered what promised to be an exercise in intensity and ferocity as soon as possible—the limited version of course, out of excitement. It would be far-fetched to claim that these Mie punks have drastically changed their sound (a new drummer, Daigo from DECEIVING SOCIETY or RADIOACTIVE, did join them, though), but I have to confess that I was a little disappointed when I first played the vinyl. Of course, the high-level energy and relentless hardcore aggression, trademarks of the band’s sound, are still there, but the guitar is not as distorted, if perhaps heavier, and I suppose on this LP, CONTRAST ATTITUDE cannot really be described as the crust monster they once were. As a result, probably because I was expecting that typical “wall of noise” bollocking like it was still 2009, I was, well, disenchanted for a bit. Listening to the LP again for this review, I realize that it is, in fact, a solid work that, once I accepted change, I was more than able to enjoy thoroughly and play air guitar to when no one is looking. The music is still as fast and punishing, the vocals as anguished and extreme, the unstoppable D-beat noize has not disappeared, but a lot of the arrangements (and generally the songwriting and the production) point to more traditional Japanese hardcore to my ears. The band even experiments with paces a little with the very punky “Feeling of the Freedom” and the heavier and slower “Disclose Naked Myself.” I feel Discharge Your Noise is in between both styles, and while it won’t alienate the traditional CONTRAST ATTITUDE fans, it may actually appeal to other people who don’t necessarily wear DISCLOSE pajamas (unlike me). A good record that I still wish was a little crustier.