Hey, remember when me reviewing one Dance With The Dead release per month for half a year felt like over-exposure? Good times. Actually, I don't know if that really was this case with this synth-metal duo, but I cannot deny I was personally running out of things to shoot the shit with in short order. Maybe a new wrinkle here, or a dodgy bit of production back there, but by and large, you throw on one Dance With The Dead record, it's probably gonna' sound like any other.
Fortunately, it's been a whopping ten months since I last talked this band up. On one hand, holy cow, has it really been that long? Considering the last album I reviewed was The Shape, it just goes to show how massive this ongoing alphabetical queue of mine is. Yet that also means much of what I've said about Dance With The Dead has probably left all of your brain-noggins (yay short-attention span internet generation!), so I could start all over again, as though this was my first DWtD review. Wait, it's just another EP, and a three tracker at that? Dang it, that's not much to go off of at all.
Actually, the fact this is an EP is something of a talking point, in that the duo seldom released them. I know that may seem weird considering I've already covered two (Into The Abyss and Send The Signal ...itself barely stretching what should be considered an EP), but those came early in DWtD's existence. When the creative fires are burning bright enough for full-length albums, what need is there for short players keeping one's name out there? Especially with what was undoubtedly a productive tour schedule to boot. I guess things were taking a little longer to materialize after Loved To Death though, so here's a little something in anticipation for another road trip and what's that? Everything gotta' shut down for a year or two? Well shit, guess Blackout will be all that's heard from Dance With The Dead for a while after all. Timely, that.
Scar doesn't waste any time getting us into the action, a gnarly bass lead and propulsive rhythm kicking us into high gear. I'm almost reminded of Felix da Housecat's Rocket Ride, but once the bright synths and bleepy fills join the action, it's familiar Dance With The Dead territory. All that's missing is a bit of Tony Kim's shredding and... there it is, at the peak, but so brief. Huh, guess this was Justin's moment to shine. Just as well, since second track Ravens In The Sky slows things down a little, providing more guitar action among all the epic synths and whatnot. Man, almost too epic, getting into Dutch trance territory. Final track The Dawn is pure head-bangin' fare, or hair whip if that's your game. For those of us who are follicly challenged, however, a simple neck snap and throwing up of the devil horns will suffice.
