Death From Above - "Outrage! Is Now"

Death From Above 1979 in the early 2000's was such a breath of fresh air.  I loved a lot of what was going on in Alternative Rock at the time, but I wanted something more wild and unhinged.  I got that exactly with the duo's very abrasive 2004 album "You're A Woman, I'm a Machine".  This album was packed with noisy garage rock hooks as well as Punchy Dance Punk choruses.  Instantly, this album became a modern classic.  However, it would be a whole 10 years before we heard from Death From Above 1979 once again.  And man, I don't know what happened to them.  On their second album, "The Physical World", I wasn't nearly as impressed.  There were only a small handful of great tunes like "Virgins" and "Nothin' Left".  The production wasn't nearly as interesting, the songs were far from as wild, and I just felt like nothing really clicked with me here.  Needless to say, I didn't think I would be excited for a new DFA album anytime soon.  However, here we are, and the boys have dropped the "1979" from their name as well.  These singles have been a mixed bag for me, with some of them seriously exciting the hell out of me for this album, but one, in particular, being seriously unlistenable.  We'll get to that though, let's chat about this new Death From Above album.

(This track still drives me NUTS, that groove is ridiculous)

This album starts off with “Nomad”, and right off the bat, I’m sure I’m thinking what a lot of people are thinking.  The production here is totally flashier than what we all would like to hear.  But I certainly do like the sheer heaviness to this, as well as the serious Blue influence and straight up Rock & Roll feel.  And while no, it isn’t as hectic and in your face, I think this is actually a really decent tune altogether.  I love Jesse Keeler’s very passionate performance, and just how great the duo sound together.  I also enjoy just how intricate and how very detailed some of these instrumentals are.  It’s explosive for sure, and while it’s still not what I truly wanted to hear from Death From Above, it’s already a whole lot more memorable than anything on their last album.  Plus some of the songwriting here is very clever boys, spot on.  Up next we have “Freeze Me”, which starts off on the weird side of things with this almost ragtime piano piece.  But the funky and explosive riff that follows is certainly in your face enough to really knock you out.  I continue to like a lot of the songwriting here, which is something that was always a little hard to pinpoint with Death From Above.  So far, this is the sort of comeback album I wish they had originally with “The Physical World”.  The licks on this one are funky and the production is maybe a little harsher and explosive.  And I certainly can’t deny how punchy this is.  Not to mention, holy hell that solo in the last minute is one of the most ridiculous I’ve ever heard from this duo.  The thing is, DFA have such a great sound and have such obvious chemistry, I just hope they can keep it up.  Up next we have “Caught Up” which starts off with the sort of bluesy funk riff that we’ve been getting plenty of so far.  But man, this one isn’t nearly as exciting.  While so far, I haven’t been totally stopped in my track by anything, DFA really needs to bring their A game after that last disaster album.  The sleazy vibe of “Caught Up” is far from that, and isn’t doing anyone any favors. Not to mention, Jesse’s vocals on this one are just sort of obnoxious and sort of annoying.  I mean, I can still see what people would dig about this because when things speed up in the last 2 minutes it’s nothing but gold.  For me though, I need to hear Death From Above at their most aggressive, which eventually does show up.  But those first 3 minutes are just painful.  Thankfully, up next we get the crunchy and ominous “Outrage! Is Now”.  Jesse’s performance here is totally like anything else I’ve heard on here, he ends up sounding so damn dangerous with his performance (Let’s get some more of THAT).  The riffs, while they certainly take their time with coming in are actually really worth the wait because they have some serious bite to them.  The extended solos are a really nice touch, and this hook is absolutely killer.  That’s one thing that can’t really knock, the duo’s songwriting has certainly improved.  “Outrage! Is Now” is a monster, and it’s a track I want to play again and again.  But give me more of this sound guys, don’t just drop it completely!

    But then I hear “Never Swim Alone”, and personally I want to hear for the damn hills.  This track shows that DFA still haven’t completely gotten over their Sophomore Slump, and 100% should not have happened.  These vocals from Jesse are just so whiny and trying to be sexy.  The problem is, it really doesn’t come off sleazy, it ends up sounding goofy.  I feel like half the time the riff on this one is just trying way too hard to be sort of off kilter and left field.  But it ends up being nothing special.  Of all of the tracks I heard leading up to this, it’s this one in particular that made me not want to even touch this album.  At the very least, “Never Swim Alone” is short.  On the other hand, “Moonlight” has the intensity and fire that I need to hear from DFA.  I love Jesse’s very ghoulish and over the top vocals here.  Altogether, this track sounds like an all out assault.  That bass and drums together sound like gunshots when they’re done right, and it’s brilliant.  This is the closest thing I’ve heard to their debut album, but with a more modern sound.  So I’m not going to say that DFA are completely out of ideas because this track is massive and hulking.  I just think they really need to be more consistent with releasing albums, because they certainly still have a sound that’s very necessary for rock music.  “Statues” is up next, and DFA once again try their hand at some sleazy funk.  But as far as this track goes, I think this is one of the album’s lesser evils.  There’s a serious groove here that I can actually see Queens of the Stone Age fans hopping on and being happy with.  Even Jesse doesn’t sound that bad when it comes to his vocals in this environment.  No, ironically enough, my issue with this track more than anything is what we’re presented with lyrically.  So far, DFA has made big moves as far as song writing goes.  But here, I just feel like they sort of threw this one together at the last minute.  “Statues” just comes off repetitive very fast.  Thankfully, Jesse’s very sultry performance does carry this one enough.  Up next we have “All I C Is U & Me”, which honestly sounds like a track from their debut.  It’s easily the most hectic and wild sounding track here, and it’s certainly welcome to hear them in this more upbeat atmosphere.  They certainly still have a good sound, but once again the lyrics on this one miss the mark completely with me.  However, I do have to say they’re certainly sticking with me, so that much mean something.  Overall, this is a decent track and all, but I’m still not completely invested.  It’s just a little too cute for my liking to hear on a DFA album, and while it’s hectic and upbeat it’s not as heavy and intense as I would have liked. 

    DFA continue down their very hit and miss path with “NVR 4EVE”, and I would love to love this track.  I think the riff is really punchy, and Jesse’s vocals are sounding pretty on par with where they should be.  But like, what the hell even happened to the songwriting on this album?  It went from seriously catchy and some of the best work they’ve ever touched, to some of the most obnoxious rock music I’ve heard all year.  The grooves are there, the punchy hooks are present, and the charismatic performances are all over the place.  But man, this just needs a lyrical overhaul.  Thankfully, DFA rebound strongly with a huge sounding finale with “Holy Books”.  To be honest, I haven’t heard them this focused in probably half of the album.  This track is just intense groove after intense groove.  It’s all just so explosive, and to an extent does in face remind me of their legendary debut.  But it’s more than just that because I don’t like to live in the past.  Simply put, this is the sound where they need to be and should be.  This also has a serious rebellious side to it that I actually feel like they pull off wonderfully.  This actually really stands out great as a single and is seriously well done. 

Rating: 7.6/10

Give A Listen To: "Nomad", "Freeze Me", "Outrage! Is Now", 

Genre: Garage Rock / Dance Punk / Noise Rock / Blues Rock 

If You Dig This, Check Out:  Death From Above 1979 - "You're A Woman, I'm A Machine", Royal Blood - "How Did We Get So Dark?", METZ - "METZ"

Overall Thoughts: Ok so let's get this right out in the air.  This is MILES better than the last time we've heard from Death From Above.  The hooks are punchy, the grooves are strong, and for the most part, this is a big lyrical leap.  But there are still some seriously awkward moments and cheesy moments as well.  This album is decent and all, but DFA still have a ways to go before they can reach where they once were.