Dizmas - On A Search In America

Reviewed by Jonathan Langley

Is this Marilyn Manson? The thunderously crunchy riff from "Revolution", the opening track on 'On A Search.', as well as it's deliciously screamy glam chorus, could easily be confused with Manson's best Bolan rip-offs. But that is where similarities end. Dizmas are an overtly Christian rock outfit from California who blend, with interesting results, the emo sound of bands like Anberlin, the screaming urgency of an Underoath, with the deep-fried Southern cheese of an Aerosmith. By not overplaying the glam to the point that made Tooth & Nail Records' Philmore little more than a novelty act, Dizmas craft a unique sound, but may find it has a limited audience. Soft-rock tracks like "Redemption, Passion, Glory" and "So Long, My Friends" will have Switchfoot fans reaching for their hankies and Creed followers waving fists in the air, but highlights like the sublimely aggressive devotional "Controversy" are much heavier. There are tracks here that rival the subculture anthems of bands like Fallout Boy and My Chemical Romance but a lack of focus and a seeming reluctance to use the biggest, catchiest hooks (which they clearly can write) on any but the softest songs leave one with the impression that Dizmas have more and better to offer.