Reviews list for Vision of Disorder - From Bliss to Devastation (2001)

Some people don't like change, particularly when a band they've been listening to changes their sound out of nowhere. Like if Vision of Disorder fans were expecting another hardcore/metalcore album, they would be quite p*ssed. That is what happened when the band jumped on the alt-/nu metal wagon that was really rollin' at the time. However, that was long before I started listening to metal. From Bliss to Devastation is actually, to my ears, a great album. I think I still have some Gateway enjoyment left in me...

I'll fill you all in with what has led to this album's creation. This usually hardcore/metalcore band made it big with their first two albums released via Roadrunner Records. They ended up leaving the label and made a mostly demo-re-recorded album with a different label. And then here they were, delivering some sharp alt-metal with this release.

Already crashing in is the driving "Living to Die". I think it's still clear that they can be a great band even with a different sound. The guitars are razor-sharp and Tim Williams' vocals have all that hate and rage as always. "Southbound" has some sinister heaviness, coming out as a Sabbathian Soundgarden. The beat is probably the best I've heard here! "Itchin' to Bleed" rips on through just like their older days. "Sunshine" may remind some of Faith No More in terms of the music and vocals.

"On the Table" has a bit of the groove from Demolition Hammer's Time Bomb. The 6-minute title epic can make very much an alt-metal classic. I think this is the closest we ever have to hearing Sabbath-esque riffing and a Slipknot-infused groove in the same song. The most prominent throwback to the band's earlier rage is in "Downtime Misery". The aggression that occurs is in a slower groove, heard in fine production. "Pretty Hate" is another great track. It's nice hearing grunge from the prior decade being given a heavier resurrection. "Without You" packs some alt-metal punches that Bury Your Dead would also execute in their later material.

"Overrun" has haunting groove in the guitar. However, this is around the point where I start to recognize how repetitive things are getting, making me hope for a glimpse of their more hardcore side. "Done In" makes up for that by unleashing some metal fury in the riffing and vocals. "Regurgitate" does kind of the same but becomes an ugly mess, making me feel like regurgitating. "Walking the Line" makes me wonder if this is the same band who dominated 90s metalcore alongside Hatebreed in their debut era.

Slight mistakes towards the end aside, From Bliss to Devastation is for people who can appreciate rock-on alt-metal with none of the hip-hop elements of nu metal in sight. Sadly, the lack of success and support would result in the band disbanding temporarily. Still their greatness has stayed strong even in the roughest of times....

Favorites: "Living to Die", "Southbound", "From Bliss to Devastation", "Downtime Misery", "Pretty Hate", "Done In"