ALBUM: Dexters ‘We Paid For Blood’

Rating:

As one of the many who became instantly and immensely impressed by the self-titled debut from Dexters last year, I was admittedly as nervous as I was excited when I heard word of the sequel, We Paid For Blood. It would be hard for the band to match their first offering, and the prospect of creating something more impressive than the debut could be considered a musical mountain to climb.

We Paid For Blood begins in such a dark manner that it’s almost hard to believe it has come from the same band that produced the first album. However, that being said, this new invigorated Dexters – fuelled by angst and passion – is pure brilliance, accompanied by a sinister twist that is instantly addictive. Tracks such as ‘The Wolves’, ‘Stay Strange’ and ‘Suburban Sex Dungeon’ demonstrating just how dark Dexters can get.

‘Your Lovely Wife’ is unique and sublime, unlike no other track on the album. As a song that represents the tale of how a wife murders her husband by poisoning him, it’s genius how it’s delivered in such a contradicting way, with jaunt and theatrics flowing throughout second. The oxymoronic track is Dexter’s ‘Parklife’, and it could easily become a favourite of many.

Although this second album does hold some significant changes in comparison to the first, there are still hints of the band that captured so much attention through tracks such as ‘Borderline’, ‘Heaven’ and ‘These Nights Were Made For Us’. Dexters have used the attention gained from their debut and have accelerated with venom, which is clear through the title track, as well as the already mentioned relentless opening to the album. ‘You Deserve The World’ is beautifully poised, bringing the album to a close nicely.

Immense praise and congratulations must be given to the band for producing something in We Paid For Blood that is as brilliant as what the offered first time round, if not topping their debut. Further congratulations are in order for the band’s boldness when it comes to their experimentation when putting the album together. They’ve also adopted a more critical approach towards themselves – with tracks of the likes of ‘Nature Of The Beast’ being left out of the album because, according to frontman Tom Rowlett, it “didn’t quite fit” (although it is promised it will be released at some point further down the line). A final salute is in order for the creation of an album which is as refreshing to the ears a good twenty times over as it was the very first few listens.

If Dexter’s debut album can be considered the boisterous early teen who is full of life, eager and full of energy, ready to tackle whatever life throws at them, We Paid For Blood is the young aduly who has tackled life’s challenges thus far head on, having developed a ‘tried and tested’ stance on life, and learnt more about the world, and more about themselves.

We Paid For Blood is out 25 September.

James Cummins
@CummyBear

James Cummins

James Cummins

James Cummins

Latest posts by James Cummins (see all)