Big’n was one of the best Chicago-based noise rock bands during the nineties. Their impressive discography proves their ability to deliver a fresh and unique take on the genre when the majority of the groups sounded nearly identical. Discipline Through Sound is more than a rock-solid proof of their complex, groovy, heavy, dynamic, aggressive, powerful sound, where every song breaks the rules and shapeshifts the boundaries of the genre. Produced by legendary Steve Albini at Chicago Recording Company in December 1995 and January 1996, and remastered by Carl Saff for a 25th-anniversary edition, Discipline Through Sound resonates with even more power than ever before. As usual, Computer Students did an incredible job by housing double black vinyl in a hefty, high-quality printed gatefold, which includes a foreword by Steve Albini, various documentation, and band photos. Of course, then the record label packed these goodies in their heat-sealed protective aluminum bag.
What makes Discipline Through Sound so good is the ability to reinvent noise rock sound by introducing some of the finest properties borrowed from post-hardcore, post-punk, art-punk, indie rock, and other complementary music genres. These additional elements serve as more than necessary enhancements, accentuations, decorations, and other details that uplift these songs on an entirely new level, while Big’n remains loyal to the primary sonic direction. Of course, these experimentations resulted in a comprehensive collection of wisely assembled compositions that immediately grab your attention. Another detail that makes Discipline Through Sound such a remarkable album is the guitar works. You’ll be surprised how the guitar resonates with raw, abrasive, heavily distorted, dirty chord progressions, riffs, themes, and leads. Besides all this heaviness and tension, Big’n even found some space for melodies and harmonies that serve as a nice contrast. It’s also good to mention that these guitar works serve as an appropriate backdrop for such aggressive, angry, pissed-off vocals, which are unquestionably one of the highlights of this material.
Of course, this material wouldn’t sound as good as it is without equally complex, vividly hearable, warm-sounding basslines that offer more than necessary heaviness, depth, and clarity. The profoundly dynamic, well-accentuated beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics provide groove and pace, but also keep the remainder of the instrumentations in line. Everything sounds top-notch from scratch to finish, so you’ll have a fun time listening to this material. It’s difficult to pick the best tracks on this material because even the demos, outtakes, and their side of the split release with Oxes sound marvelous. It’s one of those albums that demands your utmost attention from scratch to finish, without skipping any tracks, but if you really need some highlights, Trophy, Final Song, Moonshine, Bird Of Prey, Dry, Lucky 57, White Russan, and Cuss are plenty of reasons why you should pick this album. It will become your go-to album whenever you need exceptional noise rock music. Head to Computer Students for more information about ordering.
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