Review by Ritchie Birnie for MPM
After a history of Blues and from the ashes of the band “RavenEye” Oli Brown took a new direction with The Dead Collective” and with this latest EP we get an inkling into where he is going and just how talented he and this band are.
Opening track “Cracks” is a real eye opener as it bursts to life with Oli’s amazing guitar playing before the song settles into a Grunge like operatic wonder. Did out the cheese cloth shirt, get that floppy fringe and drag out all your grievances. Mr Brown is angry at somebody and he has turned that hatred into something very special.
Oli stated that “Goliath” is about being trapped and overwhelmed” and instantly the track grows into a very specific feel that builds and builds like the pressure that is wound up in the lyrical content.
The musicianship is outstanding. Wayne Proctor’s drum sound and feel throughout the songs is stunning and you will be amazed that this huge sound is from just three people. The audio landscape is massive and is exactly what is required with such a powerful song.
The Blues dripping guitar tones of “Estranged” tugs at the heart strings immediately. The song may be a smoky, chilled out number but soars as it fights its way out of the womb of the intro.
Do yourself a favour and listen to this with headphones to pick out the stunning composition and the heart wrenching lyrics. This is incredible.
The EP finishes on “Falling” and this is pure atmosphere. These songs remind me of Muse or Thirty Seconds to Mars. Musically they lay the same kind of foundation but Oli is 100% making his own statement.
There is a huge audience out there for The Dead Collective and I hope that this EP lands on those ears as this band could be global. It should not be a could it is more like a should as I loved this and I know so many different genre lovers also will.
The Dead Collective online:
