The wait for Disconnected Souls’ debut album, Fragments of Consciousness officially ended Friday. More than a year after premiering the album’s lead single, ‘Dissonant Whispers,’ the band finally released the 12-song album to the masses independently. As that single and the trio of songs that followed have shown, the album is a welcome addition to this year’s field of new hard rock and metal albums thanks to its musical and lyrical content alike. They are just a sampling of what makes the 37-minute album worth hearing but as noted there are nine other songs featured alongside those singles that do their own part to make the album engaging and entertaining. Among the most notable of those other songs is the early entry, ‘Plague Rats.’ This song will be examined shortly. Kintsukuroi,’ which comes later in the album’s run, is another example of how the album’s musical and lyrical content alike make it worth hearing. It will be discussed a little later. ‘Iyashikei,’ the album’s closer, also proves an intriguing addition to the album and will also be examined later. Each song noted here is important in its own way to the whole of the album’s presentation. When they are considered along with the album’s already existing singles and the rest of the album’s entries, the whole therein makes Fragments of Consciousness a somewhat promising debut from Disconnected Souls.
Fragments of Consciousness, the long-awaited debut album from independent goth-metal band Disconnected Souls, is an interesting first full-length from the band. That is due to its musical and lyrical content alike, as each of its current singles have proven. They are just a sample of what makes the album worth hearing. The record offers other notable entries, too, including and not limited to the early entry, ‘Plague Rats.’ The album’s third entry, it shines in part through its featured musical arrangement. The keyboards and electronics give the arrangement a semi-dubstep style approach, making for intrigue in itself. That instrumentation, alongside the death metal growls, makes for even more interest that should not work in theory, but somehow in reality actually does work, and surprisingly so. The familiar goth styling that the band uses throughout the album is just as present here but still manages to maintain its own identity.
The intensity in the song’s musical arrangement matches that in its lyrical message, which is a commentary about the people who have been brainwashed to believe in the lies spread by corrupt leaders. The finger pointed at one Donald Trump is obvious even though he is never mentioned directly by name. This is all made clear in the song’s lead verse and chorus, which state, “This is an infestation claiming “emancipation”/When we forget infection/We won’t learn our lesson/Our cities overran by f****** plague rats/Treating objective fact like f****** parallax/Anti-intellectualist/We need to cut you out like a f****** cyst/You live your life in fantasy/Disconnected apathy/Plague rats/Just f****** plague rats.” The mention of people believing they are emancipating themselves really comes across as a reference to the events of Jan. 6, 2021. Those who treat fact like fiction is also pointed out here. The Trump cult members are those who refuse to accept fact, so again, this sociopolitical commentary is all too familiar. The commentary continues in the second verse, which states, “You’ve been deceived/Thoughtless zombie/Rules for thee/But not for me/Choking on a foolish creed/I can spare no pity/For plague rats in this city.” The people who fall for Trump and his evil rhetoric are the ones who have been turned into zombie, and the song’s subject states clearly, he has no sympathy for what happens to them as a result of their behavior. No one should have sympathy for them because they so blindly follow a false leader like him. As if all of this is not enough, the song goes so far as to point out this false leader in its third verse as “A king unwound by his ego trip/As the rats flee the sinking ship” and “A narcissist” who “still clings to power” and who craves “his own finest hour.” At this point, there is no question, this is a commentary about Donald Trump and his brainwashed cult members, and a powerful one at that. All of the anger and frustration toward those people (and those who have been brainwashed by false leaders in general) hits hard here in an accessible fashion. The fire in its delivery works with the energy in the song’s musical arrangement to make it one more clear example of how much the record has to offer audiences just as much as the record’s current singles.
Another interesting example of what makes Fragments of Consciousness worth hearing comes later in its run in the form of ‘Kintsukuroi.’ According to research into the song’s title, it is a Japanese tradition of repairing broken potter. More specifically it is a reference to fixing broken pottery through the use of lacquer mixed with gold or silver. This matches well with the song’s lyrical theme, which is clearly that of mental health. This is inferred clearly through the song’s lead verse and chorus, which state, “It overwhelms your mind like a shadow in the night/You must emerge from the darkness/And diverge into the light/Bitter words of discontent/Push you to the start again/If you can’t suppress the voices/This will surely be the end/The ice is wearing so thin/Drowning in the deep sanguine waters/Sinking so deep in despair/It’s not too late/It’s never too late/Unburden your shoulders/And shed the weight/Reclaim your mind/To rewrite your fate/Your life is yours to dictate.” The chorus continues, “Despite all the pain that you’ve been through/Don’t let all of this scorn encompass you/Hold back the bitter cold/Fill in the cracks with gold.” That mention of fixing cracks with gold is a direct reference to the song’s title. The whole herein is even more of a link as it encourages listeners to “repair” themselves. It reminds listeners that “it’s never too late.” This is a message that while it is quite familiar, is just as welcome here as in any other case from other acts out there.
The message continues in similar fashion in the song’s second verse, ultimately reminding listeners to “Never succumb” and that “You must overcome.” That uplifting message becomes even more resonant with listeners when it is considered alongside the song’s musical arrangement. The arrangement in question is a heavy, melodic hard rock work complete with all of the band’s familiar electronics, guitars and dual vocals. At the same time, there is a certain sense of melancholy associated with the arrangement that does well, as noted, to help illustrate the mood set through the song’s contemplative but uplifting lyrical theme. Again, the pairing of that musical arrangement with the song’s lyrical theme makes the song in whole another positive point of evidence in what makes Fragments of Consciousness worth hearing.
One more example of what makes Disconnected Souls’ debut album a mostly successful first outing is the record’s finale, ‘Iyashikei.’ The Japanese term is apparently connected to manga and Japanese animation in general, according to information revealed through research. The art in question is apparently meant to present a calming effect on audiences because of the everyday life that is presented through this style of Asian art. Right from the outset of this nearly six-minute fully instrumental composition, the Asian link is audible through the song’s keyboard line. There is a distinct Asian vibe exhibited through the line. The overall EDM approach taken to this song points just as much to the music that audiences have come to expect throughout the years from the realm of anime and manga, too. To that end, this song is certain to appeal to a specific audience base in its own right, especially considering how different it is from everything else in the record. It is just as certain to engage and entertain listeners as any of the other songs examined here, any of the album’s singles and the rest of the album’s entries. All things considered, this song, the others examined here and the rest of the album’s entries make it an intriguing but promising first full-length outing for Disconnected Souls.
Fragments of Consciousness, the debut album from Disconnected Souls, is an interesting first full-length outing for the independent goth metal band. The record’s interest comes both through its musical arrangements and its lyrical themes. Each of its existing singles have proven that clearly. The songs examined here do just as much to make that clear. When all of that content is considered alongside the rest of the album’s entries, the whole therein makes Fragments of Consciousness a welcome addition to this year’s field of new hard rock and metal albums.
Fragments of Consciousness is available now. More information on the album is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
Website: https://disconnectedsouls.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/disconnectedsouls
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DSbandUK
