Detonation is a rock band formed in 2006 in South Africa. It has five members: Ronald Watson (Born 1989, lead singer, plays bass); Devon Colsa (Born 1985, lead guitar, backup singer); River Lau (Born 1990, drummer); Simon Wilden (Born 1989, backup singer, second guitar); and Richard Waters (Born 1990, pianist, song writer and composer). The band has won several awards, and is incredibly popular in English speaking countries. They have also toured in the SAC, where they have a small but devoted following. Until late 2010, a sixth member, Jacob Avakim (Born 1989, Died 2010, originally lead guitarist, song writer, and singer), was considered the leader of the band. However, he was killed in a mountain climbing accident. As a result, Devon Colsa, from Australia (he had previously played for Dragonhead), was brought in to replace him. Waters, Lau and Watson had been opposed to his leadership at the time of death, but despite inquiry, all three were found not guilty. Though ruled an accident, it is widely thought that it was suicide, as Avakim had been increasingly depressed and unstable until then.
The band's music has often been called 'Opera Rock', because every single one of their albums was a rock opera, save one: The Gods of Rock, a cover of the greatest songs of Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Clash, Deep Purple, Jimi Hendrix, and others.
On August 3rd, Waters announced that he would be departing Detonation to join the new band Dead Man's Honour. Wilden announced he would be leaving shortly after, citing creative differences and Watson's iron grip over the band saying that he was "tired of playing second fiddle - or guitar, in this case". In January of 2014, he announced he would be joining South African band Bashful Thunder. Watson and Lau agreed to dissolve the band after the Seven Against Doomsday "megatour".
Background: 2006-Mid 2007[]
In May 2006, Jacob Avakim, Ronald Watson, and Simon Wilden started a band called Sickness. The band eventually failed, as they could not find a suitable drummer or keyboardist for the band. Three months, later, though, Wilden, at a recital in Port Elizabeth, saw Waters play several songs, including Mozart's Requiem, Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Beethoven's Fifth, and Fur Elise without a single error. Greatly impressed, he and Watson approached Waters about the band. Waters readily agreed, and suggested a drummer - River Lau, a high school friend. After consulting with Avakim, both joined the band, renamed Detonation.
They released their first album, The Winners of War, in December 2006. Though it was generally regarded as a success, it was not exceptionally popular. It told the story of the Hangman, the Guardian of Fate.
Their second album, An Anarcho-Punk in King Andropov's Court, (A play on Mark Twain's book, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court) told the story of an unnamed punk rocker who is transported into an alternate dimension where Andropov launched the Soviet ICBMs, while Reagan decided to save humanity and not launch his nukes. Andropov then launches a brutal war of conquest, killing a further billion people 'til he is the king of the world. (Reagan is executed after his capture in Australia). The Rocker, meanwhile, transported into this dimension, rouses the public and finally overthrows King Andropov (In 2007). However, it is hinted that Reagan had ordered the launching of flares to make it seem like the Soviets were launching and would attack America, hoping for some destabilization in the USSR. However, these malfunctioned. Though this was believed for a short time by fans, a commission in 2008 reported that nothing of the sort ever occurred. Watson later said that that was just Avakim's way of pointing out Reagan's role in Doomsday.
It was an immediate success throughout the ANZC, southern Africa and Canada. In addition, a Spanish version was made and sold through the SAC to slightly less success.
Breakthrough: 2007-2010[]
After An Anarcho-Punk, more attention was paid to Detonation, who released (in Early 2007) The Gods of Rock, the covers of the greatest pre-doomsday songs. Though this was generally praised, several reviewers wrote it off as a lack of imagination and material, which had led Avakim and Watson to this. Their next action, a tour of the ANZC, served only to re-inforce these rumors, and Detonation began to be written off. Avakim later admitted that he and Watson had a major argument which almost led to Wilden, Lau and Watson leaving. Ironically, Waters, who later encouraged Watson and Lau to rebel against Avakim, managed to convince them to stay. After the agreement, while writing new material, Detonation completely disappeared from the public stage, from August 2007 to February 2008, when they made a surprise return with Success is Failure. Though told from the Bombmaker's point of view, the title was actually from the Hangman's. In the album, the Bombmaker, realizing that the only way to defeat the Hangman is to cause him to misuse his powers, triggers a global catastrophe that kills and destroys billions of people, then stands back, telling the Hangman to diverge from the set path and stop the disaster, but the Hangman refuses, staying in power but allowing the billions to die. In the last song, the Bombmaker asks him if the price to stay in power was worth it, summoning souls that were killed to question him. The Hangman stays silent to the last line, when he replies: " And was it worth it to be proved wrong, to know that not all is corrupt?"
Watson Takes Over: 2010-2011[]
In early 2010, following several major record switches and tours, Detonation released The Unmade, the first album told from the Locksmith's view. It tells the same story as Success is Failure, but from a different POV. Though not highly rated, every single song made the top 50 chart in record sales and listens. As Detonation performed this, however, Watson (who hated the idea of musicians taking drugs after the fate of Syd Barrett) suspected Avakim of taking LSD. Forcing him to take a drug test, he found Avakim was on cocaine, not LSD. Angrily, he and Lau (with Waters' help) attempted to kick him out. The argument - which caused the band to do a six month tour in the ANZC, because they couldn't produce new material - ended in a rock climbing accident where Avakim was killed. Though initially suspected, all of the other members of the band had solid alibis - especially Waters', who was performing a recital of Beethoven in front of nearly 1000 people, and Lau, who was actually on screen talking to the public about the schism.
Current Work: 2011-Present[]
Since then, Detonation have produced three albums. The first, Guns and Glory, was the next chapter in the tale. Told once again from the Locksmith's Point of view, the last song is from the Hangman's, the first from the Bombmaker's. It shows the Bombmaker now trying to undo what he has done, to uplift human civilization, with the Locksmith helping, but the Hangman, believing it is just another trick by the Bombmaker, refuses to help, and causes several setbacks (the four song cycle, Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright, In the Forest, and Of the Night show the three monsters he unleashes on them- the first are the forces of nature, the second and fourth unknown monsters, and the third is a 'Forest full of danger, where nothing can be seen/Live life to the fullest, it is always just a dream.'
The second, The Freezing Inferno, Details the Hangman's realization that they (the Locksmith and Bombmaker) were actually doing good, the Bombmaker's realization of what his actions caused, and the Locksmith's realization that the perfect society he tried to raise in the wake of the disaster has turned into an evil, disfigured despotic society- not unlike 1984. It also details how they attempted to make amends.
The third, The Clash of Three, continues from the Freezing Inferno, the three have been trapped in a maze by a greater power in which their goals- from the earlier album- all stand against each others so only one can be realized. the three fight it out until they realize that there is an exit, which doesn't need them to fight. They leave, but trigger a reality breakdown. As they try and save reality, the album ends with the Hangman separated from the other two.
Detonation recently finished the album The Hit List and are currently on tour promoting it. The album flashes between the Locksmith's background and his efforts, with the Bombmaker, to save reality.
Discography[]
The Winners of War (2006)[]
- The Hangman
- The Dead and the Missing
- Dark Worlds
- Feelings of Doom
- The Fall of Mankind
- How the Truth can Lie
- Trapped in Hell
- Sand Clogged Red
- A Field of Bones
- Push Through
An Anarcho-Punk in King Andropov's Court (2007)[]
- Defend the Lies
- Give the Order
- Another Dimension
- Fail to the Chief
- The United States of America
- Stop the Horror
- The New World
- Conquer the Court
- Disorder, Gentlemen
- The Death of the King
- The High King Returns
- Duties of the Damned
The Gods of Rock (2007)[]
Note: All songs are covers.
- London Calling
- Spanish Bombs
- Smoke on the Water
- Comfortably Numb
- In the Flesh (Parts 1-2)
- Purple Haze
- Moby Dick
- Stairway to Heaven
- Money
- Hey You
- The Happiest Days of Our Lives
- Brown Sugar
Success is Failure (2008)[]
- The Bombmaker
- Never Let Go
- Dead Friends
- Dead Soldiers
- Ruthless Leaders
- Hostile Takeover
- Deep Penetration
- The Glorious Ones
- War of Life
- Monsters in the Basement
- Well Beyond the Stars
- Essence of Life
- Meet the Damned
The Unmade (2009)[]
- The Locksmith
- Friendly Killers
- The Cruel World
- Inferno Row
- Dead and Damned
- Feel the Heat
- Memorial to the Gone
- Monsters from another World...
- A Better World?
- The World We Knew
- The Killer Wars
- Ashes and Dust
Guns and Glory (2010)[]
- Guns and Glory
- Darkness and Light
- Tiger, Tiger
- Burning Bright
- In the Forest
- Of the Night
- Soldiers of Life
- The Flared
- SkullHead
- The Triangle Heads
- We Stand For Death
The Freezing Inferno (2011)[]
- Feel the Cold
- The Wave of Dreams
- The Nightmare Child
- Burn and Freeze
- Inherit the World
- Down the Cliff
- The Locksmith Rises
- The King of War
- Dark Lord
- The Horror
- The Wonder
The Clash of the Three (2011- 2012)[]
- The Impartial Judge
- The Sleeping God
- The Race of Death
- Drowning in Sorrow
- Drowning in Blood
- The Tunnel of Life
- At the End of the Tunnel
- The Enemy of my Enemy
- The Devil You Know
- The Devil You Don't
The Hit List (May 2013)[]
- Falling Skies
- Men from Mars
- The World at Large
- Stand and Fight
- The Ultimate Power
- Gods and Men
- Lie Down and Die
- Tears of Sorrow
- For All We've Lost
- The Gravedigger
- The Hit List
Popularity and Awards[]
Detonation has won several major awards. They are wildly popular throughout the Anglosphere. They also have a small but dedicated following in India and South America. In July 2012 they are expected to go on a world tour, including the ANZC, Southern Africa, Ireland and Great Britain, and the SAC.
Music Influences and Aspects[]
While under Avakim, Detonation had a strong Anarcho-Punk theme. However, Watson, Lau and Waters disagreed with this theme. The others strongly supported it, but after Avakim's death, agreed to change it, as Avakim had been the only die hard about it. The initial idea, though, was kept, though the tone was changed to a Pink Floyd-esque 'progressive psychedelic' theme. However, the initial story has remained, which is basically of three characters,
- The Hangman: Represents fate, unbiased, unaffected by what someone does. He follows a plan fair for everyone. He is the deux ex machina, the order out of chaos. His background is that he was an ancient warrior, thousands of years ago who forged an empire. He was a strong believer in good and evil, but he died, fighting enemies trying to sack his empire. As he died, he told death that it was not fair that the good should lead the same lives as the evil, to which death replied there was no distinction. The Hangman refused to go with death, and a fight ensued, which the Hangman won. However, after he took up death's mantle, he was overcome with the deaths he had to service, and realized that none of those dying considered themselves evil.
- The Locksmith: Represents the common man. He has a very clear sense of good and evil. He is the guardian of barriers, but also of misfortune, as every one of his plans ends badly, foiled by either the Hangman or the Bombmaker. His background is that, at the end of the empire forged by the Hangman, he tried to defend the last King against an enemy supported by a minority of rebels. However, as he fought the rebels he was stunned and watched as they killed his king. He was left for dead in the desert, where he begged the Hangman to change time and allow him to save his king by trading their lives. The Hangman refuses, saying not all souls are equal. The other guards, who also accompanied him, offer their lives too, but the Hangman refuses each one, saying he will collect them anyway. He leaves them to die in the desert, but as the Locksmith is dying, the last of the Guards, the Hangman saves him, saying that he refused his soul because it was worth more than that of the King, not less. However, the Locksmith forever hates the Hangman despite the fact that he agrees with him, that the King was not worth his life, but that the Guards lives should have been saved. That he has history with the Bombmaker is clear, but it cannot be ascertained. The Hit List, the next album, explains more on the topic. It is the only rock opera that the Hangman does not appear in (he makes a cameo appearance in An Anarcho-Punk in King Andropov's Court, in the song The United States of America). The album begins with a description of the fall of reality, as the universe breaks down and Monsters break through from others universes. Then, in the third song, the story flashes back to the past, where the Bombmaker and the Locksmith decide to make the world a better place. However, the Hangman refuses to change the Plan for the Universe. The story then flashes forwards again to the invasion of Earth, where the Locksmith and the Bombmaker fight against the Monsters for Earth, then come to face the power that trapped them in the maze in The Clash of Three. As they prepare to fight the being, the story flashes back once more, to the past, as the Locksmith and Bombmaker prepare to flaunt the Hangman's rules for intervention in human society. However, the two argue in Tears of Sorrow, which takes place in both the present and the past (indicating that the same argument is repeated), and at the end of both arguments the two fight. In the past this causes a a nuclear war, and in the present this wipes out many cities from the globe, but also defeats the monsters, leaving only the Great Power that caused the series of events. The power then materializes as the Gravedigger, the King who the Locksmith promised and failed to protect. He reveals that he is here in revenge; revenge on the Bombmaker for killing him, revenge on the Hangman for letting him die, and revenge on the Locksmith for failing to stop his death. After explaining this in The Hit List he then attacks the Bombmaker and the Locksmith, defeating them both. However, as they are about to die, a light shines out behind them...
- The Bombmaker: The most elusive character, the Bombmaker represents the revolutionary, the anarchist out of chaos. His back story is that he was the one who stunned the Locksmith and killed the King, though it is made clear in Guns and Glory that the Locksmith is unaware of this, so his mistrust of the Bombmaker has something to do with their history, as the Bombmaker is depicted as the character that is the most trustworthy. After he killed the King, though, he watched the Glorious Revolution turn into a corrupt, debase government worse than the one before. He believed that authority corrupted, that anyone in power could not be trusted, and set out to prove the Hangman as a corrupt hypocrite, but as Success is Failure proved, this is impossible, though he refuses to accept it. His history with the Locksmith is revealed in The Hit List.