Continuing their lightning-fast release schedule, Dance Gavin Dance is already back with 9th studio album, Afterburner. Still riding the wave of mainstream success that began with Mothership, there’s an obvious shift towards more radio-friendly instrumentation here.
Some of these pop-oriented tracks are Afterburner’s most memorable, and with such an appreciation for 2009’s Happiness, there will no doubt be a devoted portion of the old guard hailing the return of the funk. That’s not to say their heaviness is gone; there’s plenty of it peppered into the 13 tracks here, with Say Hi being an exceptional highlight that sees Jon Mess’ vocals at their tortured best.
Yet despite possessing some of DGD’s boldest moments (Calentamiento Global, Into The Sunset) and their masterful blend of pop and post-hardcore (Lyrics Lie, One In A Million), there’s still something missing; something that even after countless listens we can’t seem to put our finger on.
Chris Mackin Writer 