Reuniting last year after a 10 year hiatus Mike Centrone, vocalist of NYDM band, Dehumanized, said you know what this damn world needs?  I’ll tell you what it needs, it needs the reformation of Through The Discipline.  Originally formed in 1997, the band released some demos, eps and a full-length album in 2004, titled Art of Survival.  Now after all this time off, the band is rounded out by: Luis Ramirez and Patrick Reilly on guitars, Keith Sullivan on drums and Mark Morrill on bass.  This is a 3 song ep, titled 5 Ronin to reintroduce the world to Through The Discipline.  I know Mike, he’s a good dude, a true underground metal supporter, a supporter of Internal Bleeding, and a killer singer with Dehumanized.  He took a chance sending this to me, but maybe he knows I’m a little more open-minded in my reviews, although I did tell him TTD is not my normal cup of tea, when it comes to metal.

The music is rooted in metalcore with strong core/thrash influences, not too far removed from Chimaira.  Although I worship thrash metal, metalcore, even at its height, was not something I listened to.  With that being said the ep has been recorded in Queens, NY and mastered by Zeuss.  The themes are centered around martial-arts, as well as some spiritual influences and with the intro “The Summoning”, reminds me of the outstanding Dim Mak debut album.  I feel like I am sitting outside a temple, surrounded by bamboo and feeding koi some food.  Very cool, and then “Demon’s Seal” comes through.  I even told Mike, I appreciate his vocal style on this, non-death metal, although he’ll throw a little growl in here and there.  But damn the production pummels you into oblivion.  The musicianship is impressive with some cool guitar solos at the 55 second mark and Mike having a very, I guess you can say tough-guy type of vocal style, as well as a few high shrieks, similar to Chimaira.  The 2.25 groove is quite good with a nice reverberating double bass and a well- placed growl, before a tranquil part comes in.  A melodic part ensues with some gang vocals and I am loving this damn snare drum sound-killer.  More solos and the mid-paced moments go back ‘n forth.  I’ll be honest I would have liked the song to pick up a gallop styled thrash pace, but it does not.  However Mike keeps telling us “Only I Can Heal Myself” at the 4.15 part. And then boom-the Holy Shit part.  Massive groove, slam that is excellent, well thought out and then I am greeted with my fast little part towards the end.

The title track is up next with a killer guitar part, a blade swipe and then into a chunky thrash beat.  Goes into a slower part and then boom, right into a Testament style thrash part and Mike bashing us with his vocals and killer bass guitar part helping that rhythm section groove at the 2 minute mark.  This part works well and almost has a wee bit Meshuggah earmark to it.  More melodic moments erupt and tranquil elements where the spirituality aspect comes in with the washed out heavy reverberated spoken vocals.  The tune thrashes some more and the thrash speed is powerful and the song ends with a powerful groove.  So at the end of the day I do believe there is a market for Through The Discipline’s musical style.  I do feel the overseas market, will pick up on this, because overseas is usually more musically open-minded.  Whereas this style, in the US, may have had its day, although Chimaira has reformed and there are still some bands in the states playing this style of music.  I do believe, TTD has a market with the hardcore scene.  Although they are not hardcore, the New York attitude laden-grooves are definitely something the hardcore fans will latch onto big time.  I’m thoroughly impressed by Mike’s vocal delivery and different style, than his death metal voice.  Complete opposite vocal styles, like 2 different singers-that’s talent.  All the above musicians I mentioned all are talented and do an admirable job of blending melody, atmosphere and some kick ass metal.  For this genre of metal, 5 Ronin is damn good.  Welcome back to the scene Through The Discipline.

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