Disorder Of The Mind
Here I have the debut album from our three-fifths South American cousins, Irist, the other two-fifths are from Atlanta, where the group are now residing. It takes a lot of courage to uproot your life entirely from what you know and risk it all for a business that is as fickle as music. Now more than ever bands will struggle as our live music scene has been broken, with no chance of restoration in the foreseeable future. This puts additional pressure on us all, as fans though, it is imperative we take this opportunity to support musicians through buying merchandise and new music when possible. I understand we all have our limitations, but then so do the artists. I don’t purposely wear my heart on my sleeve, I try not to get drawn into debate, mostly because I’m scared. Irist are brave and true and that my friends has got to stand for something.
‘Eons’ defines a lengthy period of time, a forever, an eternity perhaps, but the lyrics here speak of tyranny and dominance, a time where order is desirable, the more powerful will demand obedience and will not accept resistance or dissent in any form. For those that suffer it is an endless torture. And so, begins their debut album titled ‘Order Of The Mind’ with a tantalising lift off at 1.55, a sublime and sweet interlude at 2.26 that leads us into the Lord have mercy riff at 2.40, sit down ladies and gents, they’ve only just started. Let’s get spiritual now with ‘Burning Sage’ , a powerful ritual which cleanses and purifies. Let the flames consume you folks, and be re-born, refreshed and invigorated, ready to face whatever life throws at you. With a bewitching composition ‘Severed’ gives you a panoramic and graceful aspect that attracts at first and the harshness of the lyrics may act as a repellent for those of a weaker constitution. The songs here do not have convoluted lyrics, long sentences, they are a great example of conciseness and brevity. In ‘Creation’ you have ‘fear’, ‘trapped’, ‘condemning’ and ‘confined’, straight out of the armoury of adjectives used as a cattle prod.
Singer Rodrigo Carvalho is in the same league as Derrick Green (Sepultura), a robust and, muscular presence, both physical and emotional. The last forty-two seconds are reflective and introspective, I feel. ‘Dead Prayers’ is pervasive in its composition and in its direction, harbouring thoughts of hostility and plunder, adding danger and ruthlessness to the mix. We have talk of ‘hell’, ‘sorrow’ and ‘abysmal pain’ next in ‘Insurrection’ and a continuation of the graphic imagery that won’t leave you once the record is over. The title track follows, and we understand the fragility of the mind, you can never tell what will send someone over the edge. A harrowing narrative set against a superlative musical landscape, evident at 2.47, but it doesn’t detract from the harsh reality portrayed here. A lesson in humility is available in ‘The Well’ for those who wish to redeem themselves, we are told that ‘pride deepens your pain’ and you need to ‘unsay your lies, to stay alive’. My guess is it is a lesson that will go unnoticed by those who need to see it. We hope to sail away on the ‘tide that sets me free’ on the final song ‘Nerve’ , as we drift gently at 2.00 then rise with the raging waters at 2.27,only to be left to glide along our course until the end.
Iris flowers symbolise faith, hope, wisdom and courage. Irist my case.
Irist – Order Of The Mind out now via Nuclear Blast