The Last Dinner Party // From The Pyre

Avoiding the sophomore slump with an exceptional record

★★★★★ (5/5)

Album Artwork

It can be difficult to follow a smash hit like “Nothing Matters”, having already amassed over two hundred million streams, indie stars The Last Dinner Party could easily chase that sound to diminishing returns. Thankfully their sophomore release “From The Pyre” cuts its own path, showing the development of a band that maintains its crown as one of the most exciting acts in British music, by channelling a pantheon of 70’s music legends the band crafts an album which shows their creative growth and delivers bona fide crowd pleasers.

Opening with the waltzy wonder of “Agnus Dei” the band shift their flair for the dramatic toward a more baroque sound. Singer Abigail Morris confidently struts through the track, bounding along a thrilling melody which allows her to flex a range which covers deep lows and also touches a heady falsetto. Followed by the suitably dramatic “Count The Ways” the album continues to solidify its themes of love and loss. On this track, the instrumentals are allowed off the leash as crunchy rhythm guitars dance with stings and rich orchestral backing vocals.

Western-tinged single “This Is The Killer Speaking” shows the band's playful side as they romp through a Fleetwood Mac-esque recital. Staring with a suspense-filled march of a verse before surging into a boot-stomping country chorus, before ending on an outro which sees the country twang evolve into a Rocky Horror Picture Show glam stomp.

One of the album’s heaviest moments, “Rifle” is aptly named as it provides a spring-loaded blast to proceedings. Organ notes propel a forlorn love-sick verse into a lumpen bass riff-driven chorus which shows the heavy depths the band can venture into.

The album’s latter half is notably less explosive than the opening, allowing the band to further explore their blend of art rock and glam with an operatic flair. This can also be seen in the lyrics and vocal delivery, highlighting the band’s ability to marry their gothic themes with solid pop writing that delivers memorable melodies.

This is on full display in the anthemic “Scythe”, which seems ready-made for arenas as the chorus chants a refrain exploring the grief that arises from relationships ending. Closing track “Inferno” initially evokes Elton John with its bawdy piano before the chorus nods towards indie guitar rock. Across “From The Pyre” the band pull inspiration from various influences, but always integrates them into a sound that is distinctly theirs.

With their second album, The Last Dinner Party have produced a record many bands wish they could release. Evolving beyond their accolade-spangled debut, they have managed to explore new ground while confidently solidifying their sound.

Stream the album: Here

Attend the tour: Here

Review By:Sam McNaughton