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Review: Dance Gavin Dance - Instant Gratification

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Since post-hardcore quintet Dance Gavin Dance released their debut studio album, Downtown Battle Mountain, in 2007, the band has switched up member upon member while experimenting with their sound on almost every album. The release of 2013′s Acceptance saw the introduction of clean vocalist Tilian Pearson and the band placing, for the first time, an album’s production in the hands of someone other than Kris Crummett. This worked to DGD’s benefit, as it brought them more success than they’d previously seen, with the record peaking at #42 on the Billboard 200 and the band being offered numerous headlining tours. They’d finally achieved fame and not for scams or member changes - but for their music! This founded the stability the group holds today has led to the creation of arguably the best album of their career.

Instant Gratification can definitely be seen as a Dance Gavin Dance album, with its crazy guitar, insane growls, screams and, not to mention, Pearson’s vocals. This album does a superb job at expressing different sounds, as well as introducing a new level of intensity while keeping the relevant sound found on 2009′s Happiness. A look inside Instant Gratification, I believe the title of the album stands to its word. Opening song “We Own The Night” is composed of strong rhythm guitar and heavy drums, which continue throughout the track to go along with throat-grottling screams. It also grasps soft parts, with smooth clean vocals and light guitar patterns over a lighter drum beat.

“On The Run” sounds very similar to songs from the band’s last album, with a heavy drum beat to match the angry screams and blend of clean vocals. I think this track compliments those who feel they’re going to be alone, in relationships that are coming to an end, and how said person just wants the other to forgive them and offer them a second chance. This is seen with lyrics like “Don’t tell me that we’re done, I know more than anybody. I’ll make it up to you I swear ‘cause I don’t care about anybody but you”.

Close to the end of Instant Gratification, “Variation” features primarily clean vocals, with high-pitched vocals and an electric punk-grunge feel. The message of the song is fear of holding someone back from their dreams, especially in the line “Am I the reason that you can’t look past your future self? Got my believing you been stuck and glued in frequent doubt”.

Overall, Instant Gratification is very mature sounding. For the first time in eight years, Dance Gavin Dance have managed to keep the same set of vocalists between albums and it’s proven to be working. Instant Gratification may not instantly gratify those at first, but eventually i will satisfy those who give it more than one listen.

Download: We Own The Night

4/5

By Savannah Lee

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