No Closure for Open Ends Album Review

If you like your metalcore intricately crafted with a hint of punk and a dash of death for good measure, Dead Dreamers latest release No Closure for Open Ends is a must-have for your music collection.

Originally hailing from Hamilton and after touring extensively throughout New Zealand, the five piece have recently relocated to the UK to break into the international market, so you will have to wait for their return tour to catch them live.

Recorded by Nathan Sowter and mixed/mastered by Pete Rutcho, Dead Dreamers nicely packaged CD is jam packed with tightly executed and expertly constructed songs. It’s not all straightforward stonking riffs however, with an often-blistering pace interspersed with lots of atmospheric moments that give the album an expansive almost otherworldly quality.

Atlantis kicks things off with some fantastic timing changes and a number of breaks that will make your hair stand on end. The unequivocal Lost And Found’s cross between aggressive detuned riffs and delicate heartfelt lyrics makes it my pick for best track on the album.

Stray From The Path’s singer Drew York then lends his considerable vocal talents to the powerful and compelling song Stillness. There’s even a signature “blegh” thrown in for good measure. The ethereal interlude June seamlessly introduces Raise The Dead, with fantastic drumming from Reinier Owen and Andy Blackford on bass, nailing a number of difficult timing changes.

The uncompromising vocals of Simon Rutz in The Eyes Don’t Lie along with the faultless guitar of Patrick Rowe and James Hughes is sure to get the crowd moshing. Gold Blooded has a similar harsh edge with Antagonist A.D’s Sam Crocker synching perfectly with a band firing on all cylinders. 

Bringing it back down to earth Worlds has an interesting drum break in the middle to really mix things up. Closing out an exceptional release, the title track No Closure For Open Ends plays to all the bands strengths.

Nothing’s perfect though and there’s a few too many cliché mixing techniques and not enough catchy hooks in the lyrics. Although No Closure for Open Ends is a bit overly polished to really call it post-hardcore, the guts of the songs are never lost and the bands musical proficiency easily makes up for these minor technical flaws.

Showcasing their exceptional musical abilities, Dead Dreamers debut full-length album is a cross between new ideas and the tried and true, making it a solid effort well worth checking out.

4/5