La Dispute’s unique brand of post hardcore has enamoured a devoted legion of fans over the years, hanging on to every tortured rasp and crushing chord. Yet 2014’s ‘Rooms of the House’ was a more considered album that eschewed the frenzied attack of their previous two records.
Five years later and ‘Panorama’ picks up where they left off and welcomes back some chaos. Underpinned by loss and the way in which those left behind deal with the trauma it’s their most personal record to date.
Though somewhat more cryptic, Jordan Dreyer’s lyrics take on a power not felt since 2011’s ‘Wildlife’, creating a deeply affecting narrative that flows effortlessly from one track to the next. Their hardcore heart still beats with vigour, yet it’s the languid chords and ambient soundscapes coursing through its veins that truly elevate ‘Panorama’; a series of controlled explosions that culminate with devastating effect.
Originally published in Long Live Vinyl magazine, issue 26.
Chris Mackin Writer 