Dave Grohl disciples from Leeds bring the rock.
In interviews around their inception in 2007, Dinosaur Pile-Up frontman Matt Bigland talked of the importance of a Foo Fighters show to their creation, and it’s their influence that saturates their hard-hitting and thrilling debut album.
Born from the ashes of Bigland’s former band Mother Vulpine (mixing QOTSA riffs with dance beats), Dinosaur Pile-Up have drawn favourable comparisons with Biffy Clyro, but really their music is a lot harder than that, lacking the softer touch the Scottish band carry on tracks like Mountains (attempts on tracks like Hey You fall a bit flat).
As well as the work of Mr Grohl, the band cross-breed the grunge-indebted sound of Nine Black Alps with the pop hooks of Ash. At no point do Bigland and his charges (bassist Harry Johns and drummer Steve Wilson- though as the album cover suggests, this band BELONGS to Bigland) wear these influences with any kind of subtlety, but the results can be utterly exhilarating.
The opening one-two of Birds & Planes and Barce-loner is a violent gut punch and one of the best starts to a rock record in recent memory. Mona Lisa, similarly, is bracing and may just turn out to be one of the best hard rock tracks of the year; whilst Love To Hate Me shines with its start-stop quiet-loud dynamic and malevolent glee of the line, “I’m the one who scares your mother...”
On other parts of the album, they’re a band caught between two stools. The production is muddy suggesting an attempt at a low-down and dirty album, but the choruses are arena-sized and Bigland’s vocals seem to be aiming at a larger stage. It’s muddled.
With any luck, their songwriting and ability to use a more original voice will come as they develop. But make no mistake: this is an exciting, smart and at times explosive career birth.
3/5
Essential Tracks:
Mona Lisa
Birds & Planes
Love To Hate Me
In interviews around their inception in 2007, Dinosaur Pile-Up frontman Matt Bigland talked of the importance of a Foo Fighters show to their creation, and it’s their influence that saturates their hard-hitting and thrilling debut album.
Born from the ashes of Bigland’s former band Mother Vulpine (mixing QOTSA riffs with dance beats), Dinosaur Pile-Up have drawn favourable comparisons with Biffy Clyro, but really their music is a lot harder than that, lacking the softer touch the Scottish band carry on tracks like Mountains (attempts on tracks like Hey You fall a bit flat).
As well as the work of Mr Grohl, the band cross-breed the grunge-indebted sound of Nine Black Alps with the pop hooks of Ash. At no point do Bigland and his charges (bassist Harry Johns and drummer Steve Wilson- though as the album cover suggests, this band BELONGS to Bigland) wear these influences with any kind of subtlety, but the results can be utterly exhilarating.
The opening one-two of Birds & Planes and Barce-loner is a violent gut punch and one of the best starts to a rock record in recent memory. Mona Lisa, similarly, is bracing and may just turn out to be one of the best hard rock tracks of the year; whilst Love To Hate Me shines with its start-stop quiet-loud dynamic and malevolent glee of the line, “I’m the one who scares your mother...”
On other parts of the album, they’re a band caught between two stools. The production is muddy suggesting an attempt at a low-down and dirty album, but the choruses are arena-sized and Bigland’s vocals seem to be aiming at a larger stage. It’s muddled.
With any luck, their songwriting and ability to use a more original voice will come as they develop. But make no mistake: this is an exciting, smart and at times explosive career birth.
3/5
Essential Tracks:
Mona Lisa
Birds & Planes
Love To Hate Me
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