Dead Letter Circus
Next In Line

4.0
excellent

Review

by Douglas USER (82 Reviews)
August 23rd, 2009 | 203 replies

Release Date: 2008 | Tracklist

Review Summary: How much better can the Australian Prog scene get? Apparently a lot better.

This year Dead Letter Circus has been in the process of writing their first full length album. Just to tease their fans, last year they released this 3 track EP titled Next In Line. It included some of the fastest and heaviest songs the band had written to date, as well as being technically apt Next In Line is a great little glimpse from what to expect with the upcoming full length release.

The EP opens with the almost frenetic paced title track, ‘Next In Line’. Rob Marics guitar riffage is fantastic, while the drums and bass follow its syncopation giving an odd time felt main riff. Also Kim Benzies vocals are beyond fabulous, filling the track with hooks galore. ‘Reaction’ follows the incredible ‘Next In Line’ and continues at a similar pace, but gives a greater look into the overall makeup of the band, with each member having some sort of highlight moment, be it the intricate guitar work, the bass guitar fills before the choruses, the cleverly syncopated drum part or the once again, soaring voice of Kim Benzies. The lyrics aren’t too shabby either:

Stop holding it down
Stop thinking it over
Decide and you'll live your life awake
Your body's the seeker
Emotion will lead you
Provided you live your life awake

‘Next In Line’ finishes with the song that got the band some attention a couple of years ago in, ‘Tremors’ and you can see why this is so. ‘Tremors’ is a much more mid tempo song, giving you a break from the relentless onslaught of the previous two tracks. While ‘Tremors’ might not include the hooks that the previous two did, it definitely is a very listenable track, with its slower verses and laid back chorus which all build towards a nice ambient section before the closing.

Dead Letter Circus have successfully made their fans more than happy with this little teaser before the bands first major release. Plus with the release of the Dead Letter Circus full length the Australian troupe of prog/rock bands is just going to get stronger and stronger.

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