The
Flatliners’ 2010 offering “Cavalcade” could be seen as a seminal punk album of
current times, and with a new album on the horizon anticipation is rife for
what is to follow. “Dead Language” is released September 17th and we
couldn’t wait to hear it.
Want to know
what we thought? Click below…
The
Toronto four-piece is back with new album “Dead Language”; complex and gritty,
it is an album full of anthems. “Ashes Away” is a soaring album opener; melodic
and aggressive in equal parts (its infectious nature leads the rest of the
album to follow suit). The opening track is filled with gang vocals and
intricate riffs, making sure that from the off the band has your undivided
attention. “Brilliant Resilience” and “Caskets Full” are fast paced, thrashy
numbers that are crying out to be played live. Their short, punchy pop-punk
nature sees The Flatliners showing off just how incredibly tight they are, the
coarse vocals and impressive percussion resound.
“Dead
Language” is dynamic throughout, with grunge and punk at its roots. Soaring,
melodic refrains such as those in “Dead Hands” are blended with anarchic
screaming vocals and fast rhythms. Even seemingly more mellow laid back tracks such as “Hounds” have a
punch to them. Intricate riffs and subtle breakdowns are counteracted by huge
solos and choruses. Front man Chris
Cresswell’s vocals are gritty and effortlessly guide each track on the album.
“Quitters” is angry and
gets progressively faster and louder, before breaking down. It is complex and
dynamic, loud and ballsy before being pulled in with Chris’ voice left to end
the track. Even the mild and beautiful beginnings of “Resuscitation Of The
Year” make way for forceful gang vocals that still manage to harness the
passion and raw beauty. “Tail Feathers” is probably the most mellow track on
the entire album, but still has that hint of grit. Chris’ pained and heartfelt
vocals see the track gradually build and finally erupts. “Dead Language” ends
on the same note with which it began; the fast paced, unrelenting style that
the band is famous for; the perfect finale.
“Dead
Language” feels
fresh and spontaneous but definitely portrays the feeling that nothing is by accident;
so tight, so on point; every detail has been thought about and executed to
near perfection. Hard to pick a stand out track on an album as good as “Dead
Language” as each song is as good and diverse as the next. If language is dead
then The Flatliners have well and truly managed to resurrect it. 9/10
"Dead Language" is released Sepetmber 17th
