Disappointment makes an look, thoughts. How might it not? ‘I suppose I’m again on the sting / Possibly I by no means left,’ Matt sings on hefty, metallic flavoured opener ’Bout To Lose It, maybe to recommend that the extra issues change, the extra they keep the identical, or to acknowledge that our issues might have been round longer than we expect. The latter concept is actually furthered on the heartbreaking closing monitor, I Don’t Love Nothing And Nothing Loves Me (‘Nothing’s ever going to vary / Spherical and spherical I am going once more’).
In reality, we’re all dealt unhealthy arms on the poker desk we’re sitting at, however higher luck could also be a shuffle of the deck away. Fittingly, life’s juxtaposition of the divine and devastating is mirrored in DPU’s marriage of rough-and-ready preparations with phrases now packing higher emotional wallop. The title-track, for example, nakedly declares: ‘I acquired sick, now shit’s not the identical.’
Fortunately, the unhealthy occasions don’t outline I’ve Felt Higher. Punk Kiss dates again to when DPU toured with Basement in 2016, therefore their namecheck within the lyrics, celebrating the sense of group Matt witnessed among the many Ipswich band’s fanbase. It’s nice to see him persevering with to place the objects of his ire within the crosshairs, too; the grungy Huge Canine takes intention on the notion of wealth supporting wealth (‘Huge canines eat without spending a dime’) over a monitor that swings like an enormous mutt’s nuts.
So is I’ve Felt Higher truly higher than Dinosaur Pile-Up’s different three information? It’s laborious to say, given the excessive customary they’ve all the time maintained, although the expertise and depth it brings to a band who’ve by no means had an issue penning rock bangers could edge it into first place. It’s a extremely subjective name, in fact, however what’s unquestionable is how good it’s to have them again.
Verdict: 4/5
For followers of: Biffy Clyro, Weezer, Feeder
I’ve Felt Higher is launched on August 22 by way of Mascot. Come to the Dinosaur Pile-Up x Kerrang! pop-up social gathering on September 13
