City of Dis [Enhanced]

The Mass | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 4, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Crucial Blast
• ASIN: B0006A9GMW
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #120,779 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Porc

2. Trapped Under a Ice

3. Hex by Hex

4. Major Strip

5. Buttlip

6. Treadmill of Suffering

7. We Enslaved Elves to Build Our Death Machine

8. Marca Dos Invernos

9. We Enslaved Elves to Build Our Death Machine [Live][*][Multimedia Track

Editorial Reviews

A scalding blast of sax-assisted King Crimson-meets-Slayer art/thrashcore worship from these Oakland, California pummel monsters led by TYLER COX of psych-sludge rockers TOTIMOSHI. Light-speed riffing collides with beautiful saxophone melodies and frenzied free-blowing, shrieking vocals and burly singing, jazzy tempo shifts, and bloodthirsty pop-prog dynamics. No wave, post-punk, demented pop, thrash metal, and math rock all receive their due here. Enhanced CD features video footage not included on the European version.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If John Zorn worked with Converge, May 9, 2005

By 

cosmokane31 (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: City of Dis (Audio CD)

If John Zorn worked with Converge, it might sound like this. The Mass don't fit into any genre, but are best (and always) described by comparison to The Dillinger Escape Plan, Fantomas, Mr. Bungle - you get the picture. What sets the Mass apart are (a) saxophone, and (b) a willingness to play straight-up, horns-in-the-air metal, if only for seconds at a time. This Oakland-based band is less vocal-oriented than their peers (but where there are vocals, they are varied and effective). Thus, instrumentation takes center stage. In addition to the requisite art-skronk freakouts, there are intriguing composed passages and moments of introspection. In a world filled with musical conformity, "City of Dis" is a refreshingly challenging listen.

4.0 out of 5 stars Go to the City of Dis!!, March 13, 2005

By 

Florg1 (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: City of Dis (Audio CD)

this is a killer full-length debut and is a sickly chaotic ride. i find it quite addictive and intriguing and would say that this is perfect music for fans of hard-edge and raw, yet melodic music like quality hardcore (Minor Threat? Bad Brains?), classic metal, raging rock-fueled jazz and prog workouts in the vein of Crimson. i have heard other people mention Iceburn Collective and Zorn's Naked City upon hearing this. the music does sway into mellow territory occasionally, but this is quite an intense listen overall and it seems to contain truly evil overtones. Matt Waters (vocals/sax) yells his head off AND lays down some killer melodic passages on his horn. The rest of the band kicks down furiously (quartet= vocals/sax, guitar, bass & drums). these guys are awesome and have a very wide scope. this is eclectic stuff, but it does remain in a sort of hardcore/metal/prog-jazz sort of realm (i use the word jazz loosely...they don't blow straightahead or bop on this record! there seems to be little improvisation here, as well). this is not over-produced to any extent....it's an extremely raw record. unleash the fury! get City of Dis!! p.s.: contains a 7 + minute video track of 'We Enslaved Elves..' to be played on pc or mac. you will like. i suggest viewing after listening to the c.d. a few times. p.p.s. enjoy the riff lift from Metallica's Disposable Heroes on 'Trapped under a Ice' !!!