October 22, 2009 (Los Angeles, CA) - Seattle based Industrial band, Desillusion will serve as supporting act for International Glam/Fetish Band Genitorturers Friday, October 30th at El Corazon in Seattle, Washington.

An event that proves to be a night of debauchery and pure adrenalinzed industrial rock, Desillusion is no stranger to opening for some of Industrial music's elite with an early 2009 stint with Norwegian aggrotech band Combichrist.

For the past two years, the hottest clubs in Seattle have been rockin' hard and heavy with the band's blistering rocktronic/industrial/metal explosions-a hybrid vibe that Exotic Underground compares to Nine Inch Nails, Stabbing Westward and early Marilyn Manson.

For More Information on Desillusion Please Visit: DESILLUSION WEBSITE

Well, both the EP title and the band name are weird mouthfuls I'm not entirely comfortable with, but this 5-song short take is a great example of prog cabaretic techno-industrial metal long on futuristic visions ominous and baleful. Westin Halvorson is another musician-cum-actor-type grittily imbued with a manic passion producing a powerful sound colliding Rammstein, Killing Miranda, Skrew, NIN, Hyperhead, KMFDM, and all the killer modern electro-influenced pounders. Like Alice Cooper, Manson, and Chico Fellini, the guy has a playwright's feel for brutal stage sentiments and presentation, laying out tableaus with dark passions and spitfire intensity beautifully offset by pools of calm, quivering sidestreams of nervous reflection.

Frankly, I can't get enough of this stuff and am always on the hunt for it. Having recently discovered the superb Sister Machine Gun, I was elated to receive this little gem in the mail, nicely beefing up a slim CD shelf of crossbred masterpieces. Halvorson doesn't just thrash out the power chords but employs a number of styles, whatever's appropriate to get the point across. Thus, it's not too surprising when he whips out some great Glen Buxton lines in the title cut (ending with a hilarious choked-off send-up of political paranoia) along with the nightmarish electronica.

The production gents on Blasphaestetic are impressive—Steven Bier Jr. (aka 'Madonna Wayne Gacy' of Marilyn Manson), Brian Diemar (Ministry and Revolting Cocks), and Rae Dileo (Filter and Veruca Salt)—and Desillusion has opened for heavyweights Frontline Assembly, Powerman 5000, Genitorturers, and others. The disc is on par with Alice Cooper's Welcome to My Nightmare, Chico Fellini's Chico Fellini, and Killing Miranda's Consummate*for metalle noir and atomic cinematic punch. The only drawback is that it's so damned short. Desillusion is a prime group and absolutely deserves full-blown deluxe treatment. Westin Halvorson's an intelligent and viscera-churning composer and musician; short-timing his talents like this is on the order of criminal.

On the other hand, if you're a fan of all the groups I mentioned, then screw my frustrations (which will soon also be yours anyway): rush out and buy the motherfucker. Like me, you'll probably spin it three times straight through before taking a breath…and that's almost as good as getting a full release.

Desillusion is a 3-piece band made up of: Westin Halvorson on lead vocals & guitar, Jay Keller on bass and Galen Waling on drums.  These men pack one hell-of-a-freakin’ punch, which is amazing considering there are only three members.  This Seattle-based industrial-metal group definitely does not personify your typical Seattle “Grunge” Rock band.  Desillusion brings an exotic & dark underground vibe along with a highly aggressive style.  Desillusion’s latest EP is full of angst and rebellion for good reason, according to Halvorson.  Desillusion feels that the main concept behind Blasphaesthetic is simply “beautiful blasphemy—not so much in the religious sense as simply choosing to follow a mindset and path of their own, going against the grain and the majority belief”. 

What you first witness on the cover of the disc is a small figure with a red Mohawk holding a knife in one hand and sticking his middle finger up in the air with the other.  What really took me back was what appeared to be an upside down, red cross on the upper torso.  With blasphemy being part of the title, meaning behind the album and with this visual display; I couldn’t help but think that an attack on religion and God was quite relevant.  To help further this conclusion, during the opening track, “Blasphaesthetic” ironically enough, Westin sings a line stating that “Heaven is a place for the weak”.  With all of that, I would have to say that heavy emphasis is on religious aspects.  I did hear the elements of going against the grain and majority belief, stated by Desillusion, but I can’t help notice that religion and God seemed to be in the spotlight.  I have to say also that although I’m not one of those religious nuts or bible thumpers, I do try to attend church once a week and do consider myself one with God.  So, after witnessing this with my eyes and ears, I do have to say I’m absolutely offended for the obvious display of disrespect for God and everything that he and his followers represent.  With numerous relatives and loved ones on my side of the family along with my girlfriend’s side passing away, this definitely bothers me and leaves a sour taste in my mouth.  I know that all of my deceased relatives as well as my girlfriend’s are in a good place surrounded by nothing short of a strong sense of love, security and safeness.  Heaven is real, it does have a purpose, it does offer truth—you just have to stop, think and believe for your OWN self being first. 

The EP starts off with a mysterious tone, but quickly turns aggressive that can best be described as angst with attitude.  The next song, “Discontinued,” offers up creepy-sounding electronic elements mixed with gothic metal that actually comes across as audibly appealing.  “Desperation” is just that with a scary-like presence thanks to Halvorson’s unique vocal approach and the band’s direction.  Fright Night for the Masses in an electro-rock-metal-modish’-kind-of-way is what Desillusion has here.  These three artists have the amped-up energy, power and force to make a big impact on the music world.  The dedication and drive is there and Desillusion fully believe in their music and its message.  Now, they are ready to pour it all onto the public.

For more on Desillusion and their latest EP, Blasphaesthetic, SKOPE out www.myspace.com/desillusion.

By Jimmy Rae

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