ACT III: LIFE AND DEATH

At first appearing to me as a cross between the Mars Volta and Coheed & Cambria, I realized that this band has alot more going on to it then I originally gave them credit for. The Dear Hunter is one of the few bands that I really think is doing what 'progressive rock' is really supposed to do; take the popular music of the era and take it a step further. While alot of so-called 'progressive' bands simply copy and paste styles from the 70s, the Dear Hunter actually sounds like it could fit in with todays music if it wasn't for all of the extra thought put into it. Mixing modern punk/pop/rock with caberet, latin music, and classic prog rock, the Dear Hunter really have a sound of their own... And 'Act III: Life And Death' is the culmination of their efforts, I believe. From dense soundscaping to beautiful melodies to a deeply moving finale, 'Life And Death' was a beautiful introduction to this emerging band.

Listening to some parts of this record, it's hard to believe this band isn't getting serious radio airplay. As far as art rock goes, the songwriting and style here is very modern, and could be enjoyed by a great deal more people then the inner circles of progressive music. Most supportive of this statement is the vocal styling of Casey Crescenzo, which sounds like he could faithfully emulate any popular alt-rock singer of the day. What sets him apart from your typical pop-rock crooner however, is his talented ability to perform some of the most beautiful choral harmonies I've ever heard. Much in the alley of the late Freddie Mercury, Casey can very ably overdub his voice several times over, making for a gorgeous wall of sound.

Instrumentally is where things start really getting separated from the typical radio music of the day. While the songs are conventionally lengthed, and filled with melodic hooks, there are alot of little musical nuances subtle enough to escape the casual listener, but strong enough to add to the musical experience should someone be bold and meticulous enough to seek them all out.

While the year of 2009 was indeed a great one in terms of finding some great albums and new bands to dig into, 'Life & Death' really suprised me. I'm glad I wasn't too quick to dismiss this great project off as a Mars Volta rip-off... Dare I say this could be the band to one day bring Prog back into the spotlight of music? They certainly have the artistry and accessbility for it, and unlike a great too many of bands these days, this band is doing something completely unique.

Share this THE DEAR HUNTER review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to Conor Fynes
• Report this review (#270286)
• Buy THE DEAR HUNTER music online with PA partners
• Show all THE DEAR HUNTER MP3/Stream
• Go to THE DEAR HUNTER page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Act III: Life and Death page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for THE DEAR HUNTER related discussions