Fresh Meat Feature: The Uncompromising Art of Dollflesh

Sep 18

Sometimes a song comes along that is the perfect poster child for a playlist's entire ethos. For Gillsaw Stew, that song is "Discharming Man" by Dollflesh. It’s a visceral two-and-a-half-minute assault that covers so much heavy ground, it's impossible to pin down. You hear chugging basslines that feel like they were summoned by Justin Chancellor of Tool, vocals that channel the guttural power of both Till Lindemann and Corey Taylor, and a synth that sounds like something Rob Zombie would cook up for a horror movie. It’s a track that, after one listen, makes you say, "this is heavy," and leaves you wondering what it was all about.

The Story Behind the Scream

That question of "what is this about?" is where the Dollflesh story gets truly compelling. The raw, confrontational lyrics of "Discharming Man" come from an equally raw real-life experience in São Paulo. The song’s title itself is a piece of sharp, dark wit: a direct play on “This Charming Man” by The Smiths. The irony becomes clear when you hear the story behind it.

“The lyrics were written when I was walking with a friend… and she saw a homeless man and decided to give him some money,” bassist/vocalist Kephas explains. “We approached him, she gave him some change and I noticed he was doing his business in the middle of the street! He accepted the money but never stopped defecating. I was shocked.”

This single, jarring moment serves as a microcosm for the band's larger lyrical mission. It isn't just about shock value; it's social commentary. “Our lyrics aim to discuss abuse and power,” Kephas says. “We can talk about technology, sex or something else, but these themes are just a canvas in which we can discuss how people are controlled by those means.”

The Art of No Genre

That jarring story is the perfect entry point into the band's philosophy. Other than "heavy," there is no genre you can pin on this song. It stands on its own, born from a place of pure creativity and a refusal to cater to formulas.

“We try not to think about the songs in terms of genres,” says guitarist Spynx. “It's more driven by how interesting the sound is without losing the ‘dollflesh elements’: heaviness, noise, groove and attitude. It's curious how different our songs are from one another and still maintain that dorsal spine.”

This "anti-scene" mentality is a core part of their identity. Kephas admits, “I'm not a fan of this idea of a 'scene'. I'm really scared of people who dress the same way and listen to the same kind of music.” This outsider perspective is what makes their music feel so genuine and free.

Death to the Album, Long Live the Gig

The band's uncompromising nature extends to how they plan to release their music. In an era obsessed with content drops and album cycles, Dollflesh is focused on what’s real: the live experience.

“We want to do some gigs, meet new people, go to different places to put on some shows,” Kephas says of their future plans. When asked about upcoming releases, his answer is as blunt and refreshing as their music: “We are not thinking about albums or EPs because those things are dead.”

An Essential Investment

The result of this uncompromising approach is a sound that is both like songs you've heard before and nothing like you've heard before, making it feel at once familiar and unique. That's not an easy feat, but Dollflesh has done it.

I can see them having a lot of songs cycle through the Gillsaw Stew playlist in the future. If you like your music to be uncompromised and uncompromising, then you have to spend 2 minutes and 23 seconds with an earful of "Discharming Man." It's a small investment for a killer return.