Dance Gavin Dance - Afterburner Review

Review by Brittany Swigert

Dance Gavin Dance is set to release Afterburner on Friday, April 24, and I couldn't be more excited. Fans have already gotten a taste of the album with Prisoner, Strawberry's Wake, Lyrics Lie, and Three Wishes. Being a Dance Gavin Dance album it its easy to say you should expect some great performances from the entire team, to include some pretty unusual combinations of lyrics from Jon Mess while Tilian croons a heavenly melody over instrumentals ranging from calm to groovy to heavy. That said, fans will also know that you should be ready for surprises.

One of those surprises came on the third track, "Calentamiento Global". The track is not what I expected at all. After listening to the entire discography an excessive number of times, I really thought I knew what they were about. That was not the case. This track is so much fun. It's not Dance Gavin Dance as you would expect it. Matt Mingus's drumming adds a level of energy that makes this song so rhythmic. If not for Mess screaming over heavy instrumentals you'd think you had the wrong song. With a blend of hardcore vocals and instrumentals and Spanish pop music it really is a worldly experience. It's certainly not what I expected but I absolutely loved it. From the singles, the standout additions were "Prisoner" and Lyrics Lie". They were catchy and full of energy and really utilized the talents of everyone to make two well formed songs. I have had "Give yourself a medal, for dancin' with the devil" stuck in my head since "Prisoner" dropped and anytime I'm in the car bored with what ever happens to be playing I always end up listening to "Lyrics Lie" to get me in a good head-space.

Another thing of note is that we get to hear Tilian scream in "Lyrics Lie" and that is certainly a treat. "Night Sway" opens up in a way that reminds me of new and old Dance Gavin Dance meeting in the middle. Will Swan certainly knows his way around a guitar, but if you have been following their earlier releases that is no surprise. Certain riffs are used that really call back to their origins, while other parts serve as a reminder of their ever evolving sound. It reminded me a bit of "Rock Solid" in a way and I really appreciated that they included those notes. It was like a call back for their long standing, or entirely obsessed, fans. There is always alot of chatter between the fan-base anytime Dance Gavin Dance does anything.

You can be sure a song title like "In to the Sunset" sparked alot of theories in various groups. It is not what I expected from the closing track. It is probably the most dynamic track on the album and "Calentamiento Global" set that bar pretty high. The utilize alot of electrical sounds, mellow instrumentals, dreamy cleans, and a bit of rapping. Alot of people have spoken out about wanting to hear more rapping in a Dance Gavin Dance song and that wish has been fulfilled. It is much dreamier and more relaxed than what we got before with "Eagle Vs. Crow". What I really loved about this track was Tim Ferrick's distinct baseline you can hear in the beginning of the song. I have a hard time differentiating bass from the ambiance in the background so I love when it's noticeable.

Afterburner is an addition to their discography that pushes the boundaries of what it means to be Dance Gavin Dance. It is more experimental than I expected, but I wouldn't miss it for anything. I already have it pre-ordered and am eagerly awaiting the rescheduled tour to hear some of these tracks brought to life on stage. The album drops Friday, April 24, but you can listen to several of the singles for a taste of what is in store. Even after religiously listening to the singles, I was remarkably surprised by what I discovered listening to the full album. It is certainly a ride you do not want to miss!