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The Inalienable Dreamless

The Inalienable Dreamless is the third and final studio album by grindcore band Discordance Axis, released on May 23, 2000, through Hydra Head Records. It has since become one of the most acclaimed grindcore albums of all time.[1] The album, along with its production history, was made the subject of the 2012 book Compiling Autumn: The Making of Discordance Axis' "The Inalienable Dreamless", a limited edition paperback that was released to aid the Japanese Red Cross Society.[2] The album was repressed on black and blue vinyl for Record Store Day in 2011.

The Inalienable Dreamless
A view of water below a blue sky. Above reads "Discordance Axis", along with "The Inalienable Dreamless".
Keep case cover
Studio album by
Discordance Axis
ReleasedMay 23, 2000 (2000-05-23)
RecordedDecember 11–15, 1999
StudioTrax East (South River, New Jersey)
Genre
Length23:21
LabelHydra Head
ProducerJon D'Uva, Discordance Axis
Discordance Axis chronology
Jouhou
(1997) 		The Inalienable Dreamless
(2000)

Many of the tracks refer to elements from the anime/manga franchise Neon Genesis Evangelion, including "Angel Present", "Pattern Blue", "The End of Rebirth", and "The Third Children".[3][4]

Background and production

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After the release of the 1997 album Jouhou, guitarist Rob Marton left the band right before they could start their Japanese tour, citing schedule conflicts with his job as a main reason. To fill in his place, the band hired guitarist Steve Procopio for the tour.[5] The band would then take a two-year hiatus before reforming in 1999 to work on new material, Marton now back in the band. The trio was then offered by Hydra Head Records after label head Aaron Turner listened to Jouhou.[5]

The Inalienable Dreamless was recorded, mixed, and mastered in four days in December 1999 at Trax East.[6][7] It was completed on December 15, 1999.[8] Originally, Steve Evetts was to engineer the record, however he quit and left the studio before the band could start the sessions, so Jon D'Uva was hired last minute to replace him. During the sessions, D'Uva added a subharmonic bass synthesizer effect to the guitar recordings, giving the recordings a more "full" sound.[6] The album was made available to order online, first on compact disc and later on vinyl, on May 23, 2000.[9] Discordance Axis also gave out copies of The Inalienable Dreamless at their show at CBGB's in New York City on June 3, 2000.[9]

Artwork, packaging, and lyrics

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The CD edition of the album was packaged in a keep case, which is normally associated with DVDs. The booklet included with the CD release includes lyrics in unique handwritten fonts displayed over pictures of the oceanside taken by photographer Scott Kinkade. The photos were taken out at Sea Bright, New Jersey, which was where drummer Dave Witte was living during the production of the album. Kinkade was hired to take the photos because he had been friends with the band ever since they met each other at a show in 1996.[10] The LP edition of the album too featured the booklet, and was pressed on black and clear vinyl. The clear edition was a pressing of only 100 copies. All LP editions featured etchings in the run-out grooves that read "Are You My Pal...Danny?"

Lyrical themes of the album include loneliness and despair, a departure from the group's earlier politically motivated works. The lyrics also include references to, and were heavily inspired by, the anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion, in particular the films Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth and End of Evangelion.[3] Authors Philip K. Dick and Joseph Conrad are referenced as well.

Reception and legacy

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [11]
Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles10/10[12]
Chronicles of Chaos9.5/10[13]
Exclaim!Favorable[14]
Maelstrom ZineFavorable[15]
Metal Hammer7/10[16]
Punknews.org     [17]
Stylus MagazineA[18]

Since its initial release, the album has received critical acclaim from critics, and is considered by many to be one of the best grindcore albums ever made. In 2009, Decibel magazine included the album in its "Hall of Fame" list.[1] William York of AllMusic awarded the album a near perfect score of 4.5 out of 5 and "Recommended Pick" status, praising the band's musicianship.[11] Greg Patt of Brave Words gave the album a perfect 10/10 score, complimenting the "painfully emotional and poetic" lyrics and Dave Witte's drumming.[12] Stylus Magazine writer Clay Jarvis rated the album with an A score.[18]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."Castration Rite"0:58
2."The Inalienable Dreamless"0:41
3."Sound Out the Braille"0:32
4."Oratorio in Grey"0:54
5."Vacuum Sleeve"1:02
6."Angel Present"1:28
7."The Necropolitan"1:42
8."Pattern Blue"1:27
9."The End of Rebirth"1:04
10."Loveless"1:27
11."Radiant Arkham"1:14
12."Use of Weapons"0:35
13."Compiling Autumn"0:48
14."Jigsaw"2:08
15."The Third Children"2:16
16."A Leaden Stride to Nowhere"4:07
17."Drowned"0:58
Total length:23:21

Personnel

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Discordance Axis
  • Jon Chang - vocals
  • Rob Marton - guitars
  • Dave Witte - drums
Production
  • Jon D'Uva - engineering, recording
  • Scott Kinkade - photography

References

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  1. ^ a b Stewart-Panko, Kevin. "Decibel Hall of Fame: Discordance Axis - "The Inalienable Dreamless"". Decibel. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  2. ^ n/a. "Compiling Autumn: The Making Of Discordance Axis "The Inalienable Dreamless"". hydraheadlines.blogspot.com. Hydra Head Records. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  3. ^ a b Childers, Andrew (2012). "Compiling Autumn Chapter 3: Loveless". grindandpunishment.blogspot.com. Grind And Punishment. Retrieved 2017-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Moore, Doug (January 31, 2014). "Screaming Bloody Gore #1: Jon Chang (Gridlink, Discordance Axis, Hayaino Daisuki)". Invisible Oranges. Archived from the original on January 8, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  5. ^ a b Childers, Andrew (2012). "Compiling Autumn Chapter 1: Continuity". grindandpunishment.blogspot.com. Grind and Punishment. Retrieved 2017-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ a b Childers, Andrew (2012). "Compiling Autumn Chapter 4: The Jigsaw". grindandpunishment.blogspot.com. Grind and Punishment. Retrieved 2017-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "Catalog: Releases". hydrahead.com. Archived from the original on 2000-03-02. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  8. ^ "Report". studio-grey.com. Archived from the original on 2000-04-20. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  9. ^ a b "Report". studio-grey.com. May 23, 2000. Archived from the original on 2000-06-06. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  10. ^ Childers, Andrew (2012). "Compiling Autumn Chapter 5: Typeface". grindandpunishment.blogspot.com. Grind And Punishment. Retrieved 2017-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ a b Allmusic review
  12. ^ a b Pratt, Gred (2000-07-26). "Discordance Axis - The Inalienable Dreamless". bravewords.com. Brave Words. Retrieved 2017-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ Schwarz, Paul (2000-10-25). "Discordance Axis - The Inalienable Dreamleass". chroniclesofchaos.com. Chronicles of Chaos. Retrieved 2017-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ Gramlach, Chris (2000-07-01). "Discordance Axis - The Inalienable Dreamless". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2017-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ Martinelli, Roberto. "Album Review: Discordance Axis - The Inalienable Dreamless". maelstromzine.com. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  16. ^ Sadler, Darren (November 2000). "Under The Hammer | Discordance Axis: The Inalienable Dreamless". Metal Hammer (80). Future plc: 75.
  17. ^ Punknews.org review
  18. ^ a b Stylus Magazine review

Further reading

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  • Stewart-Panko, Kevin (March 2009). "Leaden Stride Out of Nowhere: The Making of Discordance Axis' The Inalienable Dreamless". Decibel. Red Flag Media, Inc. pp. 69–73.
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