Three Neuron Kings

I first heard Disillusion with their full length release Back to Times of Splendor (BTToS); I was pretty quickly impressed with the band's full length released so I went ahead and picked up this EP. Upon first listen I was a little shocked, as the Disillusion I had become used to from Back to Times of Splendor did not seem to share a great deal in common with the band's sound on this EP.

Ultimately, the primary difference between the band's sound on BTToS as opposed to this EP is the complexity of the songs. Rather than lengthy and layered compositions present on Back to Times of Splendor, Three Neuron Kings is made up of short and noticeably simpler compositions. There are no violins, additional backing instruments, or layered vocal choruses.

However, the fact the songs found on Three Neuron Kings are stripped down and even somewhat simpler when compared to those on Back to Times of Splendor does not detract from their overall quality. Vurtox's vocal performance on this EP is still strong, ranging from melodic clean singing to more forceful growled vocals. The guitar work is solid, but not quite as accomplished as the work present on the band's full length release.

One of my primary complaints with this EP is the sound of the drums in several of the songs (namely the title track and A Long Way Down to Eden). The best way I can think to describe the problem, is that the drums sound dull, they almost sound as though they were placed a little too far back in the mix and are not as forceful as they should have been.

While this release did not seem particularly impressive in light of Disillusion's first full-length release, it is still a solid beginning for a remarkable band. Rather, when viewed without comparing it to Back to Times of Splendor, Three Neuron Kings is an enjoyable release and is well worth picking up for any fans of the band.