Score: 4.5/5
It wasn’t instant, but it sure was gratifying.
Two months after announcing its seventh album in February, post-hardcore five-piece Dance Gavin Dance took its sound into new territory yet again on “Instant Gratification.”
At its core, “Instant Gratification” is a pop record, which should rightfully confuse anybody who has ever heard of DGD. Fans expect to hear Jon Mess screaming poetic nonsense over the delightful synergy between Will Swan’s turbulent licks and Matt Mingus’ complex drum grooves, with the clean-vocalist-du-jour balancing things out.
Dont worry, there’s plenty of that to go around. Swan serves up a powerful riff on “Stroke God, Millionaire,” and the heavy tones of “Shark Dad” and “Lost” remind listeners the band hasn’t strayed too far from its hardcore roots.
As a whole, however, “Instant Gratification” is the Tilian Pearson show. Pearson became the third member of DGD’s clean vocalist carousel in 2012, and he has clearly grown more comfortable fronting the band since his appearance on “Acceptance Speech” in late 2013.
Pearson makes his presence felt just seconds into the album, showing off his range and delivers infectious verses on the token high-energy opener, “We Own the Night.” He even manages to steal the spotlight on “Stroke God, Millionaire” and “Shark Dad” — the two most Mess-heavy songs on the record — with a catchy chorus and some soulful singing, respectively.
Pearson brings out the pop throughout the bulk of “Legend” and on the choruses of “Stroke God, Millionaire” and “The Cuddler,” while Mess maintains a solid sonic counterbalance with his whimsically potent screamed vocals.
Perhaps the most important song on the record is the aptly named “Awkward,” which begins with an upbeat, radio-friendly vibe before seamlessly transitioning into a legitimate hardcore breakdown. Not only does the track highlight DGD’s diverse style, it showcases the band’s expert musicianship and ability to blend all those sounds into a cohesive unit.
Though “Instant Gratification” is musically conservative by DGD’s standards, “Eagle vs. Crows” is undeniably the most out-there song on the album. Swan, Mingus and bassist Tim Feerick provide a groovy movement rivaling sounds from the band’s funky 2009 release “Happiness,” over which Swan lays down one of his sparse but humorous rap verses.
Pearson returns to the forefront on the tranquil “Death of a Strawberry,” a satisfying conclusion to the “Strawberry Swisher” series for long-time fans. But once listeners are bloated with several happy pop tracks, DGD promptly crashes the party.
“Variation,” the penultimate song on the record, has quickly emerged as a fan favorite. It’s a welcome departure from the poppy musical and lyrical content pervading the album and stands as one of the most emotionally raw songs DGD has ever created.
Pearson lets his range shine throughout the introspective, gut-checking track, which ironically features his least-produced vocals on “Instant Gratification.” He and Mess simultaneously tackle the chorus with their own frantic inflections, resulting in the climax of the record.
The band caps it all off with “Lost,” a song fans will likely overlook considering how powerful a finale “Variation” could have been. Its desperate lyrics strike a notably stark contrast with the overall living-in-the-moment theme of “Instant Gratification,” but its lack of a standout moment makes it the lone low point of the album.
DGD experiments and expands its sound with each album it puts out, and “Instant Gratification” is no different.
Pearson’s masterful vocal work allows the band to dabble in the pop genre, and Swan’s bouncy guitars set the stage without losing their energy and creativity. Feerick adds some color with funky basslines that were barely discernible on the previous record.
“Instant Gratification” marks the first time in eight years two consecutive DGD releases have featured the same vocalist duo. While that’s a major milestone of its own for a band plagued with lineup changes, DGD also proved pop and hardcore can coexist with an album sure to gratify listeners across the music spectrum.