Detonation (1983: Doomsday)



Detonation is a rock band formed in 2006 in New Britain. It has 5 members: Ronald Watson (Born 1989, lead singer, plays bass); Devon Colsa (Born 1990, 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 the ANZC, 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 deppressed and unstable till then.

The band's music has often been called 'Opera Rock', because every single one of their albums were rock operas, save one: The Gods of Rock, a cover of the greatest songs of Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Clash, Deep Purple, Jimi Hendrix, and a few others.

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, saw Waters play several songs, including Mozart's Requiem, Vivaldi's Four Seasons (All four), 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 sucess, it was not exceptionally popular. It told the story of the Hangman, the Guardian of Fate (See Music Influences and Aspects).

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 unamed punk rocker who is transported into an alternate dimension where Andropov launched the Soviet ICBMs, while Reagn decided to save humanity and not launch his nukes. Andropov then nlaunches a brutal war of conquset, killing a further billion people till 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 commision in 2008 reported that nothing of the sort ever occured (Watson later said that that was just Avakim's way of pointing out Reagan's role in Doomsday).

It was an immediate sucess throughout the ANZC, New Britain, and Canada. In addition, a Spanish version was made and sold through the SAC to slightly less sucess.

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 reinforce these rumors, and Detonation began to be written off. Avakim later admitted that Watson and him had a major argument which almost led to Wilden, Lau, and Watson to leave. Ironically, Waters, who later encouraged Watson and Lau to rebel aganist 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 Febuary 2008, when they made a surprise return with Sucess 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 Sucess 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 LSDs. Forcing him to take a drug test, he found Avakim was on Cocaine, not LSD. Angrily, he and Lau (with Richards' help) attempted to kick him out. The argument- which caused the band to do a 6 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 Richards', who was performing a recital 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 unleahes 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.

Detonation is currently working on The Hit List. It will be realeased early 2013. It is unsure whether it will be a continuation of the Saga of the Three.

The Winners of War (2006)

 * The Hangman
 * Monster World
 * The Dead and the Missing
 * Dark Worlds
 * Rise and Fall
 * Feelings of Doom
 * Fantasy
 * The Chilling Escape
 * Realitys Fault 
 * Doomsday
 * The Fall of Mankind
 * Who Won the War?
 * How the Truth can Lie
 * Trapped in Hell
 * Rising Anarchy
 * 10 Dead Men
 * Feelings of Light
 * Oh Pitiful World...
 * Flying Away
 * A New Sky
 * Sand Clogged Red
 * A Field of Bones
 * Survivors
 * Push Through
 * The Untied Kingdom

An Anarcho-Punk in King Andropov's Court (2007)

 * Defend the Lies
 * Limited War, Limited Life
 * Give the Order
 * Armies Marching
 * Another Dimension
 * Fail to the Chief
 * The Untied States of America
 * Stop the Horror
 * Arrival in a New World
 * Conquer the Court
 * Falling Rain
 * Nuked 
 * World of War
 * Craft a Better World
 * Know Yourself 
 * Machine Guns
 * Have Fun With That
 * Disorder, Gentlemen
 * Return to Home
 * Secret Invasions
 * The Death of the King
 * The Crowning
 * The High King of Rock
 * Above All Else
 * Duties of the Damned
 * Free the Slaves
 * The King Lives
 * Another Attack
 * The Smoke Clears
 * Clear the Way

The Gods of Rock (2007)
Note: All songs are covers.
 * White Riot
 * London Calling
 * The Guns of Brixton
 * Another Brick in the Wall (Parts 1-3)
 * Spanish Bombs
 * Smoke on the Water
 * Smells Like Teen Spirit
 * The Final Countdown
 * I Fought the Law
 * Comfortably Numb
 * In the Flesh (Parts 1-2)
 * Purple Haze
 * Moby Dick
 * Stairway to Heaven 
 * The Trial
 * The Show Must Go On
 * Hey You
 * The Happiest Days of Our Lives 

Sucess is Failure (2008)

 * The Bombmaker
 * Filling Graves
 * Never Let Go
 * Dead Friends
 * Dead Soldiers
 * Ruthless Leaders
 * Strike as the Iron is Hot
 * The Call of Money
 * Fight the Urge
 * Pop the Cap and Kill
 * Hostile Takeover
 * Deep Penetration
 * Vive la Vida!
 * The Glorious Ones
 * Murderers 
 * Evil Genius
 * Kill the Rebel
 * REVOLUTION!
 * War of Life
 * The Victors
 * Plutocracy
 * Monsters in the Basement
 * Well Beyond the Stars
 * Essence of Life
 * Live Life 
 * Survivalist
 * Tentative Approach
 * Compromise
 * Meet the Damned

​The Unmade (2009)

 * The Locksmith
 * Killer Friends
 * Friendly Killers
 * In Life...
 * ...As in Death
 * The Cruel World
 * Saint Dante
 * Inferno Row
 * Dead and Damned
 * Infamous
 * Feel the Heat
 * Freeze Burn
 * New York
 * London
 * Sydney
 * Memorial to the Gone
 * The Other Side
 * Flames
 * Let the World Burn
 * Monsters from another World...
 * Memories
 * A Better World?
 * The World We Knew
 * The World We Live In
 * The World as We Know it
 * The Killer Wars
 * Ashes and Dust
 * Claws
 * Teeth
 * Slasher 

Guns and Glory (2011)

 * Guns and Glory
 * On Mars
 * Darkness and Light
 * Everlasting Struggle
 * The Worms Always Win
 * Tiger, Tiger...
 * ... Burning Bright...
 * ... In the Forest...
 * ... Of the Night
 * What's Your Name?
 * Monsters and Angels
 * Death and Life
 * Breakdown
 * Jump!
 * The Merchant
 * Dark Sweeney
 * Red Riders
 * Rise of the Fallen
 * Dark Priest
 * Soldiers of Life
 * The Evitable Clash...
 * The Flared
 * SkullHead
 * Dead Face
 * Mutilation
 * Reegeneration
 * Disaster Zone
 * The Triangle Heads
 * We Stand For Sickness
 * We Stand For Death 

​The Freezing Inferno (2011)

 * Die Alone
 * Feel the Cold
 * Desert Snake
 * Eagle, Eagle 
 * In the Tunnel
 * The Wave of Dreams
 * The Nightmare Child
 * All Alone
 * Burn and Freeze
 * God Save the Meek...
 * Inherit the World
 * Loveshorn Heart
 * Brake
 * Down the Cliff
 * The Duel
 * The Locksmith's Downfall
 * Alone on a Quest
 * Return
 * Anarchy Forever
 * Vive y Muerto
 * God Save the Weak...
 * The Locksmith Rises
 * Vivisection
 * Fight Lord
 * The King of War
 * Dark Lord
 * The Magic
 * The Horror
 * The Wonder
 * The Knowledge 

The Clash of the Three (2011- 2012)

 * The Impartial Judge
 * Lock and Load
 * The Pain
 * Pick the Lock
 * Tear Down the Wall!
 * The Wrath
 * The Sleeping God
 * Let the Dead Live
 * Free Them
 * Tidal Wave
 * Regicide
 * Duel to the Death
 * The Race of Death
 * The Bombs Fall
 * Drowning in Sorrow
 * Drowning in Blood
 * Fire at Will
 * The Tunnel of Life
 * At the End of the Tunnel
 * Enemies, Unite
 * The Enemy of my Enemy
 * The Devil You Know
 * The Devil You Don't
 * Who the Devil?
 * Time Travel
 * Forget
 * Hint of Memory
 * Ten Thousand Years Later
 * The Neverending Cycle
 * Over the Ocean



Popularity and Awards
Detonation have won several awards, including three Grammies and 4 nominations. They are wildly popular throughout the Anglosphere. In July 2012 they are expected to go on a world tour, including the ANZC, New Britain, Alaska, the remainders of 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 their theme to a milder psychedelic tone.

Originally the band was highly critical of both the USA and the USSR. This was mainly Avakim's and Watson's feeling that their selfishness, their stubborness to let go of doomed ideas, was the cause of what could have been their lives in a better world. Watson, however, blamed the USSR only, arguing that freedom was a cause worth dying for. Avakim blamed both sides equally.

With the exception of An Anarcho-Punk in King Reagan's Court, every single one of Detonation's rock operas featured three characters: The Hangman, The Bombmaker, and The Locksmith. The Hangman is essentially a version of the Grim Reaper, but rather than representing death, he represents things that relies on fate. He is completely impartial to the entire world, and in a sense the only fair one of the three. However, as he treats all equally, he is as likely to help or hurt anyone, no matter what they have done. He is pictured as a warrior who died in an ancient battle. When Death came for him, he fought, saying that he was good and did not deserve to die. He defeated Death, gaining his role, but realized that good and evil did not exist.

The Locksmith represents judgement. He isn't impartial, but he does not help 'evil'. This is his definition, of course. As a result, he can be pictured as both a protagonist AND and antagonist (same as the other two). His story is that he was a royal guard (again, in the ancient past), and when his king was attacked, and his friends overwhelmed and killed, he asked Fate (the Hangman) to defeat his foes in order to save his king, offering himself instead. The Hangman refused, saying that each soul has it's own price and that this is an unfair trade. The Locksmith offered to become a slave for deqath, working until the value of his soul to The Hangman was the same as his king's. The Hangman once again refused, saying that the king's soul was worth LESS than the Locksmith's. As a result, the King is killed, and the Locksmith wanders into the desert. There, the Hangman takes pity on him, granting him immortality, and the power to judge souls. Though the Locksmith is grateful for this, he also hates him for refusing his soul, and is determined to prove him wrong. However, it is suggested that this is impossible, as everything he does just proves that he was willing to sacrifice himself for others.

The Bombmaker is the rebel. He does not believe that it is possible for fate to be impartial, and is constantly trying to undermine and corrupt the Hangman. He is pictured as the Hangman's constant scourge, killing millions to get the Hangman to use his power to defeat him. Every time, he fails. However, in some, when he acts for good, he is foiled by the Hangman, proving (in the Bombmaker's eyes) that the Hangman is constantly aligned against him- which he shouldn't be. The Locksmith is seen as both his enemy and his ally. His tory is that he was a rebel in an ancient kingdom, who tried to overthrow the king. After killing him, he saw the rebels, after glorious talk of the revolution, settle down for power themselves, becoming like the old system of beauracracy and corruption. Disillusioned, he comes to believ everything is corrupted, even fate itself. As a result, he fights the Hangman, who defeats him by refusing to retaliate and prove him right. The Bombmaker was cast down and became the lowest of the low, but kept on trying to prove the Hangman's corruptedness.