By Dave Guzda
It isn't news that Die! Die! Die!'s current release Harmony is solid. It has been out for a few months now (released August of 2012; now re-released on Smalltown America Records) and it has received a ton of good reviews. A few listens will tell you why. The band has trimmed the edges of their angst laden guitar noise punk and refined it a little, for a more consistent, but equally aggressive sound.
The trio originally hailing from Dunedin, New Zealand kick off Harmony with a soaring guitar melody which seems as much a statement as a strong and memorable song intro. Once Michael Prain's punchy drums arrive 'Oblivious Oblivion' starts to lift off but Michael Logie's deep bassline is what sells the track for me. Interestingly, this is Die! Die! Die!'s fourth bassist. Are Die! Die! Die!'s bassists blowing up Spinal Tap style? Weird. Singer/guitarist Andrew Wilson's clean vocals are somewhat trebly, often sounding under-produced, which is a good thing in my books. Wilson brings it when he needs to and always sounds impatient and edgy. The lead off track starts the album upbeat and positive. Next the song 'Harmony' seems more frantic with luscious guitar cacophony threatening to take over and again Logie's bass seems to pulsate unrelentingly throughout the song. The ending of 'Harmony' gave me a crazy 'Baba O'Riley' flashback as well. Even with harsh guitar attacking from everywhere the song melodies are always strong throughout the album. Wake up! yells 'Erase Wave' as it kicks you marbles with some nasty scratchy and grating guitar. It is almost like the band was saying we may be nicer now, but not that nice, eat this. 'Erase Wave' is quite a rocker.
If you weren't sold on this band after the first three songs, the fourth 'Trinity' will get you as it sinks its talons deeply into your music mind. It brings a big wall of noise with Wilson's often shrill, intense and electrifying vocals. Below this in the mix the bassline bounces along gingerly. What a great song. Next is the curious 'Seasons Revenge'. A slower meandering track with a pulsating rhythmic drum pattern that sometimes sounds like it is awkwardly trying to keep pace up with the sharp vocal harmonies. There are clearly many facets to Die! Die! Die!.
Hey! 'No One Owns a View' is another peppy rocker jammed with fuzzy jagged guitar. I felt '16 Shades of Blue' and 'Changeman' were the weaker tracks on Harmony. They sounded less refined, and felt almost under developed compared to other tracks on Harmony. The album ends with an impressive, somber and deeply brooding track entitled 'Get Back'. Wilson's guitar sounds like mournful sobs at times. The rest of the track is more seething noise.
With Harmony Die! Die! Die! have found the delicious intersection of where noise!/punk!/angst! and a well written, catchy song meet. The band brings gobs of energy, creativity and buckets of abrasive noise to invent some impressive and infectious songs. There is a lot of good material on Harmony, check it out or Die! Die! Die!.
