CD review: "Preaches the New Wilderness" by Destruction Island

Destruction Island redefines genre-bending.

"Preaches the New Wilderness" is the band's first release since becoming a quartet, with original members Kye Hillig and David Bilbrey adding Daniel Disparte and the man known simply as Yos-Wa to the eclectic mix. The band itself isn't the eclectic part, nor are it's individual members. The mix comes through in the music, with tracks ranging in sound from fast and heavy rock ("Casually Finding a Torso on a Sunday Morning") to danceable indie ("Good Reincarnations") to even country ("The End is Near!").

As well as seemingly redefining every genre with each individual song, the instrumentation also changes. On top of the typical guitar, bass and drums, there are signs of synth, piano, violin and cello. The song "Would It Kill You?" even features all of the above in a smooth melody. The final track on the album, "Holy Waters," is very synth heavy and in honesty, kind of reminds me of a track you would have heard on the old Sonic the Hedgehog games for Sega Genesis. Truly Destruction Island is not your typical indie band, they play what they want and hope you enjoy the ride.

Destruction Island's vocal stylings aren't typical, either. Hillig's voice is still the same one that made Pistol for a Paycheck fans stand up and take notice, only now it's coupled with gravelly screams and falsetto whispers. It's three sounds that in theory don't go together, but in practice make a harmony worth hearing. Fans of Hillig's left-of-center lyrics won't be disappointed with lines such as "I hope you brought a rubber, baby, I ain't fixed and I'm beginning to think you're trying to stick it to me" ("Sex With Strangers: Being Young and Stupid") and "car crash teeth fully aligned, your orthodontist must have had sex on his mind" ("France!").

If you were a fan of the power shown by Pistol for a Paycheck, then Destruction Island may not be for you. The band was first formed because Hillig was writing songs that didn't match the raw adrenaline of PFP. Definitely these songs are not ones you would have heard on any Pistol record. Hillig's songwriting abilities are in no way stifled, however, and any fan should be able to appreciate the stories that are woven throughout "Preaches the New Wilderness."

http://www.myspace.com/destructionisland