Sharing an interest in progressive music, The Great Discord founders; vocalist Fia Kempe and drummer Aksel Holmgren, began their collaboration in 2013, counting Genesis, King Crimson and contemporary acts Meshuggah and The Dillinger Escape Plan among those who have, and would inspired them. Despite their influences, it is impossible to label the Swedish unit. The Great Discord’s layered, textured music gets under the skin, constantly shifting tones, moods and dynamics. “We wanted to make an album that gets to you. It’s supposed to jump out and grab you, hold you down and make you consume a new piece of it every listen,” states vocalist Fia Kempe. While on the self-produced Duende the band push to the limit to deliver the best possible performance, nothing comes off as forced. The mix is pristine and ultra-precise, yet it never places perfection before passion.