Dashwood – My Disobedience EP

Dashwood’s second EP ‘My Disobedience’ picks up roughly where their first (Hurt/Heal) left off. If you didn’t like them before then the chances are you won’t like them now. That being said if you didn’t like Dashwood at least a little bit after listening to Hurt/Heal then you’re probably not the kind of person who reads this blog…

With squalling feedback and an almost chant like growls of ‘Hold your dreams of a bridge and let them go/ The world is full of people that you don’t want to know’ the opening track ‘Enfants Perdu’ is, depending on your personal preference either a classic or clichéd opening track, slow and brooding as it builds to a peak that flows like hot lead into the rest of the EP. 

After that things get more interesting. While not exactly a sea change in terms of musicality ‘My Disobedience’ does show a number of progressions in Dashwood’s sound. Most notable a more direct, less feedback filled approach. ‘Life of Dissent’ has a frantic feel that is almost reminiscent of a Terror song while ‘Relinquish’ takes this further with in your face riffs and a chugging breakdown that is again more typically a trait of hardcore recorded across the pond. 

I am of course not suggesting that you’ll soon be able to by Dashwood mosh shorts from Impericon and indeed the chaotic, amp torturing sound that has become the band’s trademark still covers the EP. ‘Flourishing Lives of the Reprehensible’ sees this return in full force, with a feral edge that wouldn’t feel out of place on a power violence record and, despite being the EPs weakest track, still hits you pretty hard.

However the most interesting bit of music on ‘My Disobedience’ is ‘Lily’ the EPs final song. It acts as a four minute mixing pot, where everything from the previous four tracks is thrown together and allowed to run wild. With a menacing, in your face opening that builds up into an explosion of throaty vocals, chest shaking riffs and a cataclysmic final minute it is  easily the best track on the EP and arguably the best thing the band have ever recorded. 

Overall ‘My Disobedience’ is a step forward for the band, although it still has the feel of an EP that hasn’t quite tapped Dashwood’s full potential. Well worth more than a single listen (especially as it is streaming free) it promises even more to come.

Patchx