Demanding Your Undivided Attention
Ten years since forming, New Zealand's Die! Die! Die! return with their fourth offering, the aptly titled Harmony. A heady rush of indie rock that refuses to adhere to any blueprint Harmony instead seems to prefer to let the New Zealander's lead the charge completely at their own pace, resulting in an album that won't cater to all tastes but will certainly make for an engaging listen.
With an abundance of indie rock beats that are begging to be let loose on the dance floor of your local indie disco, Die! Die! Die! hold no punches as album opener Oblivious Oblivion kicks things off. Strangely starting out life with a slow beat infused with a feedback sound, Oblivious Oblivion builds momentum enticingly, throwing out Death Cab For Cutie meets Placebo vibes that magically combine to create a jangly, dance fused cocktail that harbours just a touch of darkness to intrigue and captivate all held together nicely in less than three minutes. From this the New Zealander's take a jaunt into punk territory with the abrupt and blunt Erase Wolves brandishing an incessant beat that literally stabs its way throughout the entire track but when paired with sharp lyrics that jut and poke, somehow makes for an interesting listen. Trinity follows suit, another blast of punchy beats and Hives-esque vocals that prod and stab before Seasons Revenge opts for a more mellow stance, providing a laid back vibe that wraps around sedate vocals and gives us a glimpse of the band's harmonic qualities as hinted at in the album's title. But it is the chugging riffs of 16 Shades Of Blue that really grabs your attention from the driving beats that tantalising mingle with infectious hooks to the fuzz fuelled vocals that give the track a DIY, organic feel, 16 Shades Of Blue is unlike anything clogging up the airwaves right now and hints at how unique Die! Die! Die! really are.
Harmony is not an easy listen, it demands you pay close attention to every single beat, each and every chord and every little vocal noise because if your attention lapses for just a second, it's a guarantee you'll miss the vital part of the song that makes everything click. That said, perseverance is rewarded and Harmony is an album unlike any other currently being touted by bands across the country. With a heavy indie rock vibe at its core and a rush of punk oozing throughout, Harmony is an album that gets in your face; forget putting it on a background noise, Die! Die! Die! aim to have your undivided attention throughout and whilst for fans of the band this is marvellous, for those new to the New Zealander's sound it can be a bit of a listening overload.