Diesomnia – Pray for the Flood (Self-Released)
Friday, 16th June 2023
These days a slow ascension up the scene can make for larger payoffs as listeners gain comfort through steady exposure to your sound. Comprised of members from other acts across the Ohio and West Virginia heavy music scenes, Diesomnia started in 2017, releasing singles while sharpening their sound live opening for acts like Whitechapel and Slaughter to Prevail. Intending to release Pray for the Flood in 2020, obvious delays took place including vocalist Chad Cochran’s job moving him out of state. By the fall of 2022 the tracks would be completed, and we now have the six-song debut EP Pray for the Flood ready for consumption.
The five-piece pull from a host of styles across the decades of metal’s history – keeping the foundational elements rattling around the death/thrash landscape, injecting a bit of modern groove or rhythmic stomp from time to time. The gruff vocal stance Chad employs will keep this material a bit more at underground levels, as drummer Cary Alltop pummels his kit at varying thrash to semi-blasting measures, occasionally going for a bit more controlled tempo when the low-tuned guitars churn at slower paces. “No Truth” could be the future pit mover staple in the live set, the deadly tremolo runs sitting ferociously next to the double kick work, while the transitional down-tuned riff maneuver works well for listeners familiar with Sylosis, DevilDriver, and Slayer. The rhythmic bark and swirling semi-blasting/progressive swings take “Blood Red Sorrow” into fresh territory – guitarists Sean O’Bryan and Chris Yake executing melodic nuances against some crossover parts while doubling up when a sledgehammer gut punch is necessary. Many will enjoy the emotional growls plus stunted outbursts during “Art of Hopelessness”, while the almost Fear Factory-like guitar/drum interplay for “Cure for Weakness” keeps the hooks coming long and strong, even with the semi-blasting/fluid fill spots. Nothing is too over the top or technical – it’s a feet firmly on the ground approach where the listeners should be able to retain these songs rather quickly, return engagements mandatory as the aggression swirls consume your headspace.
Hopefully we will get a follow-up sooner rather than later – as Pray for the Flood puts Diesomnia in good company for newer artists that can cultivate a following from the death, thrash, or groove/modern-oriented camps.
