Distaudio - Milieu Control

"How can I give a fuck, when I don't have a fuck to give?" This is one of the first lines we hear from "Distaudio", the solo project of Heath Friend.

Fitting words indeed - my initial thoughts on this release were that it sounded very similar in vocal style, musical composition, and general anger to "Pretty Hate Machine" by Nine Inch Nails (as if you didn't know...).

Heralding from Brisbane in Australia, and best described as Electronic Rock, it's instantly obvious that this project has a statement to make - Escapism, Anti-Corporation, Dogma and Religion - the project name itself, "Milieu Control" refers to a form of social pressure - Dogma and Propaganda being among the finest examples.

"Submit" is a powerful, and bile-ridden opener :
"I'd like to care, but it's best I don't make a sound..."

Distaudio is effectively your middle finger ascending to Godhood, and sticking itself in your face - with brutally Heavy and mood-fitting Guitar work.

I previously compared this to Nine Inch Nails - a move which I dearly hope doesn't rile the artist, as Pretty Hate Machine is one of the best albums of all time - although I'd be foolhardy to say this is as good, the songs are as enjoyable, and the Guitar work is so well mixed in and aggressive that the feeling of anti-socialism has flooded back, Twenty-Two years later.

"What's In It for Me?" and "March of the Moral" greatly further the influence of Trent Reznor, and " (FWD: RE:) Not Yours" and "The Other Side" are the softer but still biting tracks, reminiscent of "Piggy", "Something I can Never Have", and "Closer".

After two listens, the vocal work on "What's it it for Me?" is just excellent, and has that Industrial Rock edge that has been sorely missed since the Millennium. Lyrically, this doesn't miss a trick either.

Now, this album, with its torrent of Potential, also has some great flaws.
Out of the Nine tracks available on here, I find it hard to identify any that stand out ("Market (Reprise)" has some incredible Electronic work though). Although this shows solidarity and consistency, I'd have hoped for a stand out ballad, or headbanger - to be fair to Distaudio however, this is a debut album, and a fucking great one!


I don't expect this album to appeal to everyone, it's riddled with cusses for one, but to be honest, this is Industrial music, and if you don't like swearing, you've really fallen off the Ball.

There is work to be done, maybe in the form of a major Label (although the mastering and mixing here is absolutely fine) - Distaudio needs a lot more promotion (I'd never heard of it prior to getting the well-designed Digipak), but my gut feeling is that this could go somewhere.

Trent Reznor caused a huge stir a few months ago when he turned up at the Golden Globe awards wearing a Tuxedo. The legions of butt-hurt fans didn't take long to throw the "sell-out" card all over the shop. Maybe Distaudio could replace him?

Get a hold of this CD, and see what you think. I don't believe you'll disagree with me.

Best tracks on the album :

"What's In it for Me?"
"Submit"
"March of the Moral" May 19 2011