The new release from the DMA’s will not leave fans disappointed who enjoyed debut album Hills End. Lead singles ‘Dawning’ and ‘In The Air’ can stand proudly alongside anything on Hills End, with the former arguably being the bands finest single to date.
Second albums are notoriously difficult to crack, but the DMA’s seem to have found a good balance between consistency and change in their 2nd record. ‘Warsaw’, one of the standout moments on the album is a perfect upbeat song for the summer sun, reminiscent of their previous work.
Aside from ‘Dawning’, ‘The End’ is the main highlight of the album. The song showcases a side to the band often not seen, and is far more groovy than some of the band’s other work.
There are clear nods to Manchester throughout the record, with opening track ‘For Now’ sounding like it could’ve been lifted straight off Stone Roses’ album ‘Second Coming’, and ‘Break Me’, one of the weaker songs on the album, sounding like a very early Oasis demo.
The ending of the album is weak, with ‘Health’ and ‘Emily Whyte’ becoming instantly forgettable. However, this should not detract from a largely very good record. The DMA’s have released a record that fans of ‘Hills End’ will warm to, whilst showcasing more sides to their sound that will be appreciated by a wider audience – and that is not an easy combination to achieve.