Synth Music has New Contender: "Disillusion" May Be Disillusioned

Synth pop has been around for about as long as the genre "pop" itself was coined. Then, in the '80s, we experienced synth punk. Blondie ventured into that realm, and groups like The Epoxies have kept it going. But never in my wildest dreams did I think the world would get to experience synth metal.

Now, many have compared the group Disillusion with earlier groups such as Nine Inch Nails and Tool, but unlike those bands, Disillusion's "Gloria" album rarely strays from its formula and rarely dares to be bold with its music. The vocal effects at times are just a little too weird and the songs seemingly go nowhere.

However, due to these changes from the pattern set by previous bands and its delving deeper into industrial-style metal, it's possible that Disillusion is on the cusp of something big. Perhaps it's because it doesn't feel the need to be overly metal that Disillusion could be the next big thing. The music is somewhat unremarkable, although the occasional emotional bursts in the timing are interesting. The lyrics are the typical melancholy crooning, but if nothing else the album has cuts that would have a home at a gothic disco somewhere in Europe or New York or, dare I say, at some underground gay leather club.

Ministry they're not. Disillusion is a little too polished and downplayed to be like one of Al Jourgensen's metal forays. They have the potential to make it big, but American tastes in both metal and club music will have to change in order for them to take hold here. Disillusion's sound is absolutely Euro, which is something they do deserve credit for in not trying to alter their sound and pander for American favoritism.

There's an epic element to them that's similar to Rammstein, but actually try and compare Disillusion to Rammstein would be like comparing a Honda Civic to a Volkswagen Jetta. They're both smaller, sporty cars, but each with its own uniqueness.

Disillusion is very popular in their home country of Germany and continues to have exposure in the underground in the U.S. It's hard to see Disillusion on a major tour with other metal-oriented groups, though. A tour of techno, synth and goth clubs specializing in Euro would most likely be where Disillusion would be sequestered on a U.S. tour. "Gloria" certainly appeals to synth fans, Euro dance enthusiasts and even to the goth community to a degree.

Short of that, they might have a little too selective of an audience for their own good.