The wait for a full-length In Dynamics album has been agonising, not only for the band but for anyone who has witnessed the growth of the exciting alt-rock trio over the past few years. Since unveiling their accomplished, refined debut EP ‘Circle’ in 2013, In Dynamics have developed their sound, both in the studio and live, to such a level that it’s hard to believe they’re still unsigned. ‘Everything I See’ has been a long time coming but it’s well worth the wait and should catapult the band to the level of popularity that their talent deserves.
‘This is the Start of Nothing’ is a warming opener, its beautiful vocal melodies, math-rock riffs and dynamic rhythm changes being a perfect embodiment of the whole album in one epic, multi-layered alt-rock anthem. ‘We Are Liars’ and ‘A String of Losses’ are vintage In Dynamics, delivering huge choruses and clever instrumentals, all accentuated by Beau Bolden’s ever-impressive vocals. As well as these more familiar elements, ‘Everything I See’ is an exploration into new territories that broaden the band’s overall sound. The stripped-back instrumentals of ‘Leviticus’ present a beautifully minimalistic soundscape brought to life by Bolden’s hauntingly melodic vocals, showing a side to the band we haven’t heard before and emphasises the growing maturity of their songwriting.
Chris Coulter’s crisp production presents each instrument in perfect clarity and while this gives the record a polished sound, it does lack bite in the heavier moments. When hearing some of these songs live, the more angular, jarring riffs pack a bigger punch, particularly ‘Another Minute’ which is perhaps the heaviest track on the record. While more distortion and grit in these moments would’ve given the album even more texture, it does allow the band the opportunity to add another layer of depth and distortion to the live shows, which should entice large crowds in the future.
It won’t take long for fans of the band’s earlier work to notice a continuation of the band’s more melodic, softer side on this record, a theme that emerged from the previous EP ‘Questions’. While ‘Everything I See’ is light on heavy moments, the technicality and intelligence of the musical arrangements are still prominent, making this a refreshing album that’s clean and poppy, but with a plethora of interesting instrumentals that makes it uniquely addictive and impressive. This is an album that bridges the gap between catchy pop songs and intelligent, interesting songwriting and it would be an injustice for the band to go unnoticed after such an accomplished debut album.
MARK JOHNSON