Dead Letter Circus – This Is The Warning : Album Reviews
July 19, 2010 by Simone Ziada
Filed under Album Reviews, Music
It’s 2010, and Dead Letter Circus are back in the Australian alternative rock music scene with their debut album, This Is The Warning. In the spirit of Australias recent knack for producing high-intensity progressive and alternative hard-rock bands, Dead Letter Circus have produced a steady album.
Known for their performances and ties with fellow acts such as Karnivool, Cog, The Butterfly Effect and Helmet, it is clear to see where some of their sound and inspiration comes from.
Released in May of this year, it debuted at number 2 on the ARIA Album Chart. With a result like that, there must be something near-spectacular about the album, right? Well, maybe not. The band has stayed true to their sound, developing it somewhat, but This Is The Warning may just be too safe for its own good.
Opening with the track Here We Divide, a simple guitar riff leads the listener into the song and, furthermore, the rest of the album. Their sound has the enthusiasm and unabashed power power of a newly formed band, yet is evenly matched with a sophistication and attention to detail that indicates above all, that they’re more than capable of forcing their way up the heirarchy of Australian bands.
The album itself is good. However, it perhaps lacks some key quality ‘high’ points as it maintains a consistent level the whole way through. Again, not to say that as a negative thing, but rather an obvious point. One of the few obvious stand out moments on This Is The Warning would be Next In Line. As the first single to be released off the album, it is a definite highlgiht, yet moments like these are few and far between.
Having seen them perform live before, I personally believe that they are more of a live band then a recording band. Their music, although quality on disc, does not do justice for the way that they perform live.
Kim Benzie sings with his utmost power yet, as mentioned before, the album is seen to plateau. That is not to say that it isn’t a good album, though. It is a well written, constructed and executed album. However, Five years in the making may have been stretching the friendship just a tad.