The Dear Hunter are an interesting band. Originally a side-project for frontman Casey Crecenzo, he’s since started channelling all of his musical efforts into this band after leaving The Receiving End of Sirens, and has gone on to release six albums with The Dear Hunter. Four of these releases are concept albums, and follow the journey of a boy’s birth, life, and death, who is known only as “The Dear Hunter”. The albums take place at the beginning of the 20th century, which Casey chose because “as the story goes on, things will coincide with world events where starting at that point is really important. The architecture of the time, the colours – all of that influences the songs, but at the same time, it is not supposed to be anything beyond fiction.”
The latest act of this story is act IV, entitled ‘Rebirth In Reprise’. And, from the start, it’s evident that this latest instalment of the concept album series is well-thought out and strong. The composition is experimental, and in a completely different world. The end of ‘Rebirth’ is a perfect example of such composition, which moves seamlessly into ‘The Old Haunt’, showcasing Casey’s fierce vocals. They’re strong and cut through the soaring, elephantine riffs.
Along with dashing vocals, Casey’s lyrical content is emotional and gut-wrenching. The opening of ‘Waves’ sees lines such as, “I thought that I knew love/but it was a wave crashing over us” being used to create a tack that really tugs on the heart-strings.
But there’s so much diversity within this album. Take ‘King Of Swords’ for example; with a poppy, upbeat melody, it wouldn’t look out of place on a ‘mainstream’ pop album. It’s a massive change to some of their other tracks, such as ‘Remembered’, a slower track that relies heavily on piano and strings to create a magical atmosphere.
The whole of ‘Act IV: Rebirth In Reprise’ is an absolute delight to listen to. Casey’s vocals are wondrous; they’re absolutely huge, and lift the tracks up to another level. The musicianship is tight and skilled, creating tracks that blur the lines between set genres, meaning that The Dear Hunter have a sound that is wholly unique. Casey Crecenzo is no ordinary musician – his flair for the theatrical and different have brought about something rather special.
JESS TAGLIANI