Andrew Wilson and Michael Prain, the founding members of Die Die! Die! may have started out in various noise bands in New Zealand , but despite what the parodically nihilistic metal moniker may imply, the band, founded in 2003 have evolved a sound that encompasses a broad range of genres. That isn’t to say they’re not noisy: waves of noise crash over the rippling synths, buzzing bass and rock-steady rhythms of ‘Obvious Oblivion’, and kick-start an album that’s full of unexpected depth charges.
The title track’s guitars warp against the piston-like drumming, while lead single ‘Trinity’ is a sneering blast of shouty punkiness that sounds the way Jane’s Addiction might have sounded if they’d had any balls and been produced by Steve Albini.
The pace is slowed and the ferocity tempered by the more jangling, almost shoegazey ‘Seasons Revenge’, but the crashing snare – with its occasional stutters that prevent things getting too comfortable – and the wall of noise guitars mean it’s anything but wish-washy. Part Dinosaur Jr, part Pixies, part MBV, ‘16 Shades of Blue’ amalgamates indie slacker pop with grunge, some pleasant harmonies countered by a blazing curtain of distortion. ‘No-one Owns a View’ is an angry rant over a trebly squall, and on the wired discord of ‘Changesman’, the chords are all but buried in a Sonic Youth-esque avalanche of racket.
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Exciting stuff and two thumbs up.
Die! Die! Die! Online
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