Dead Town Nothing – ‘Consequences’ – Exclusive EP Review

 Dead Town Nothing – Isle Of Wight, England, United Kingdom.

An exclusive look at the upcoming release of the latest album from Southern UK heavyweights, Dead Town Nothing.

Dead Town Nothing are a 5-piece Hardcore Punk/Metal band currently based on the Isle Of Wight. Formed in 2011, the band have constructed their own take on the sounds of Hardcore and Metal to form a barrage of brutal noise that leaves most people with a aching neck after their set. Not, however, without a real feeling of a, ‘fuck that was good’ level of satisfaction. I can safely say that is completely true, I was lucky enough to see the band back in March of this year, supported by MF approved fellow IOW boys, Blind Signs. (If you’re interested in hearing more about Blind Signs, they got the Musically Fresh treatment recently, check it out here.)

A little while ago, DTN’s Ash Hoy (Vocals) contacted us at Musically Fresh after reading the aforementioned review of Blind Signs debut EP. He thanked us for the shout out to him and his band mates, so proceeded to ask us if we would review their latest album. Of course we were more than happy, but when he added that it would be an EXCLUSIVE before the albums release on 11th September this year; the deal was sealed. We are the only other people outside the band to hear it. Excited? Yes we are.

Consequences will be released on both download from iTunes and hard copy CD which will be available from both the band and their bigcartel site. The album was recorded and mixed by the same people that worked on albums by Gallows, Hole and Hang the Bastard. I caught up with Hoy recently, here’s what he said about the production of album number two:

‘We wanted to make an album that was “real”. Too many bands nowadays are precise and over produced in a scene flooded with blueprint bands copying what’s all ready being done. So we left feedback in. Left the vocal warbles in places because it really makes you feel the natural and real element of the music. But, at the same time giving good sound quality while still sounding raw and heavy.’

Fans of the bands first album will be eagerly awaiting the release date of Consequences. If by chance you haven’t heard the bands first album, you can listen here on their SoundCloud profile, purchase it from iTunes and DTN’s bigcartel. It’s a fucking belter and as with the upcoming second album, if you’re a fan of bands such as: POLAR. (DTN have shared a stage with them) , Comeback Kid, Cancer Bats and generally good Hardcore then you’re in for a treat.

Right then, enough. Here’s our review of the forthcoming – Consequences:

1. Scene It All before – A looming heaviness starts off the album with hard hitting vocals, a slow build up of drums and guitar – all before a brutal set of Metallic riffage. It’s a heavy track that will get anyone to their feet expecting the next blast of noise. Track 1 is testament to the band’s more ‘Metal’ influences and starts off the album well. Heavy. Lyrically the band spare no time in blasting out their anger at those who have changed, the screamed, ‘don’t think that I cant see, what you have become’ is perhaps the most effective line in a song that vents anger in a way that anyone in a band or anyone listening to this song really needs.

2. Eight Lives down – Continuing with a nice heavy intro ‘Eight Lives Down’s intro breaks into a thick set if Metallic Hardcore chugging in its verses that is making it difficult to type this section of the review as I’m moving around so much. Between the 0:52 and until the 1:10 mark, you get a refreshing blast of the old school Hardcore with a high reaching guitar melody that in no way breaks up the intensity set out in the verses. Finally, again showing the bands Metal interests, we have a heavy lead guitar led breakdown to play us out.  Track 2 then, could – to an extent – be seen to be a precedent of what’s to come.

3. Keelhaul – It seems that I wasn’t mistaken. ‘Keelhaul’ then is still a DTN nothing song, but shows the skill in which they are able to alternate from their multi-faceted sound on a track-by-track basis and within the songs themselves. Starting off with a short and simple bass intro reminiscent of the creme de la creme of old-school Hardcore, we are then launched back into hard riffage before the band’s Hardcore/Punk elements come through in a fast and classic rhythm for the chorus. The song on the whole leans closer to the aforementioned Punk genre, but still maintains the hard Metallic edge in places.

The vocals here also show some diversity. The verses are still spewed out with the same vigour but the chorus on the more Hardcore elements of the track make more use of gang and backing vocals as well as Hoy’s lead sounding ever so slightly more melodic, suiting the song well. Personally, ‘Keelhaul’ gives off a real feel for Hardcore legends Comeback Kid and that is certainly not a bad thing.

4. So The Flowers Didn’t Work Then – ‘You said, it would be ok, I can’t live my life this way, you tried, but I have this pain, you said it would be ok’. The tale of love lost, the conversing with an ex parter can be painful after the end. ‘Why should I take advice from the one who sold my spirits’. The song is heartfelt without sounding like a wining love song. The emotionality of the lyrics and vocals as well as the looming heavy riffage gives you an overall discordant feel to the song’s hard hitting noise. Track 4 in particular – along with the rest of the album – pulls of the sound that band have aimed for in regard to the production.

5. Put the Bat Down Wendy – I must admit when I saw the track listing, I did laugh at the title of this song. ‘Put The Bat Down Wendy’ is a straight to the point set of British Hardcore and anger. It had to be good really, with that title.

6. Doers and Dreamers – ‘Go hard, or go home’ is the message from DTN on this track. We are all guilty of the title ‘Dreamer’, we all have phases, days, weeks; it’s part of being human. However, that doesn’t mean it cant be beaten. The song in regard to the musical composition is more on the Metal side of their sound but lyrically more on the Punk side of things; again showing the bands own take on genre. ‘Lying to yourself, you cant make a change‘. Everything is worth a try and you’ll get there eventually. ‘Thissss, issss, yourrr CHANCEEEE!’

7. Please Try Again – Track 7 hits us with a fast slice of Hardcore Punk, gang vocals and manic drums, oh and the odd cheeky breakdown. The vocals and melodies once more are ever so slightly on the more melodic side of the band’s sound, which without a doubt  suits this side of their material. Having tracks like this on the album proves that DTN aren’t just another stomp-stomp overtly macho Hardcore band that seems to be plaguing the scene right now. I don’t have a complete intolerance of these bands, as I am a fan of a fair few, but some of the shit you have to sift through to get a good band is painful. Dead Town Nothing pull it off with ease.

8. Nothing – Bands of most genres often include an interlude, an instrumental track or simply something softer. ‘Nothing’ is a good example. Quiet, with only a soft guitar playing delicately with screamed vocals somewhere off in the distance, track 8 is something you expect from a Post-Metal band.

9. Dry Tide – The final track of Consquences. Another fast one, hard edged yet melodic in both vocals and rhythms you cant help but bang your head, air drum and jump around where ever you are. Speaking of air drumming, my air drumsticks just snapped… again. Best go and get some more. *time elapses* Right, lyrically the song itself concerns a reaction to the wrong doing of another and the questions arisen from such. ‘No longer can you live, a life of no control’ and my personal favourite,‘you cant decide for yourself if it’s what you want – do you take the devils hand when this world dead and gone?’. DTN have knack for channelling aggression into an outspoken lyrical style that only breeds honesty.

The impending second effort, Consequences hits hard and shows band retaining the identity of there debut yet moving forward and finding their comfort zone. What you’re left with is a Hardcore album that embraces several styles from the Hardcore scene, yet still producing a sound that is both their own and classic in the same instance.

If you’re already a fan or are leaning towards the DTN camp after reading this, then watch this space. Dead Town Nothing are a band going places; so catch them at a show. Musically Fresh has decreed that ‘Consequences’ gets a 9/10.

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