Review Summary: Dance Gavin Dance get better and better.
When Dance Gavin Dance announced the departure of vocalist Jonny Craig after their debut release, Downtown Battle Mountain, I certainly felt that the band would have a mammoth task in replacing him with a worthy and equally as gifted front man. Although there is no denying the talent of the musicians in the band, for me Craig’s majestic, emotionally charged vocal work were what really set DGD apart from the glut of post-hardcore outfits starting to swamp the scene.
Yet newcomer Kurt Travis proved to be a more than capable substitute, as he demonstrated on the bands follow up, self titled effort a superb range and lyrical ability that slotted in perfectly with the bands established sound. Although not quite matching the captivating grit and affecting resonance of Craig’s performance, he is certainly the next best man for the job.
Third release Happiness sees this new partnership reach new levels of excellence as DGD step up their game in almost every department. As previously discussed, Travis’s voice is a laudable highlight, as he combines soaring, infectious melodies, sugary soft spoken passages and a angst fuelled delivery that works flawlessly with the constant dynamic shifts present in the songs. Tracks such as ‘Tree Village’, which begins with a gentle caressing guitar line and a delicately performed vocal hook before erupting into an emotional croon over a section of instrumental fury displays a fantastic inherit charisma in Travis and an abundance of ideas still present in the band.
The guitar work throughout Happiness is excellent. Will Swan and Zac Garren lock together flawlessly with a plethora of contagious harmonies, complimenting textures and weighty riffs. An interesting inclusion is a number of jazzy, dainty and light-hearted sections, not least on the charming ‘Don’t Tell Dave’, which create a festive atmosphere and some extremely danceable songs, again showing their vast musicality and capability. It is also worth noting the screams that Swan contributes to the album, as he impresses with a ferocious metalcore roar that compliments some of the discs more uncompromising moments.
The drumming of Matt Mingus also shows a marked improvement, as he treats us to a series of remarkable grooves, as he effortlessly shifts gears to suit the changing pace and altering moods of the compositions. He is equally comfortable whether he is laying down a gentle beat or a rapid blast.
Happiness is a great leap forward in the evolution of Dance Gavin Dance. The ability present is as astonishing as it is exciting, and one can only assume that the band are only going to get better and better, if their stunning progress from their debut album to this is anything to go by. Dance Gavin Dance are a unique and exceptional outfit.
