Dead Poetic: A Shot In the Arm

In true rock n’ roll style, Ohio’s Dead Poetic have successfully delivered the drug that all music fans crave with their latest release New Medicines.

In true rock n’ roll style, Ohio’s Dead Poetic have successfully delivered the drug that all music fans crave with their latest release New Medicines. Now finished with the 30-day Solid State tour along with Beloved, Underoath, Haste the Day and Norma Jean, the five members of Dead Poetic are excited and anxious to experience the response of their new material. Thus far, the response has been close to excellent for their sophomore release.

Dead Poetic have been labeled emo, screamo, hardcore, and likened to bands like Thursday, Thrice and Further Seems Forever, yet are a band that seems to defy labels. “We’re just plain rock,” said lead singer Brandon Rike when I caught up with him recently at Chicago’s Metro. “We never set out to be hardcore or emo, or anything; but I can say with 100% confidence that this is a rock n’ roll record.”

Rike's confidence is well-founded. Dead Poetic's sound is built upon a strong foundation of driving beats by the brothers Josh & Chad Shellabarger and layers of vicious, melodic guitar work by Zach Miles and newest member Todd Osborn, who brings a diversity not present on their first release 4-Wall Blackmail (2002). Produced by veteran Solid Stater Aaron Sprinkle in Seattle, New Medicines is a fierce and cutting album. Less haphazard and raw than 4-Wall…, there is an almost formulaic quality to each song. For those who have been fans of the band in the past, this new album may be a bit of a letdown in the screaming department; but for what it lacks there, New Medicines makes up for in style and an all-around strength of sound.

“It’s a big jump from our last record, a big jump in maturity, and we couldn’t be happier with it. We have found our niche, and we’re playing music we really enjoy playing,” Rike said.

The anti-vanity melody of “Vanus Empty” and the anti-hiding chorus of “Molotov” pushes the album along with a melancholy (but hopeful) heaviness, while the Pearl Jam-esque riff of “Dimmer Light” carries the album along on a euphonious high. The haunting, transparent sorrow of “Glass in the Trees” makes New Medicines an overall passionate and piercing fix, and is the much-needed musical booster shot fans are searching for.

“Glass in the Trees is probably the most meaningful song I've ever written,” Rike said when asked about where his inspiration comes from. “It's about my friend who passed away 2 1/2 years ago ... even the sound of the song alone represents that feeling, the eeriness of going back to the crash site 24 hours after it happened.”

The combination of all musical elements on this album make for an intensely passionate listen, and is like a public exoneration as the five fully expose their hearts for all to see.

The only direction for this band is up, as they just debuted on the Billboard Heat Seekers chart at #15. As for future plans, Dead Poetic is going to be touring in June and July with label-mates Demon Hunter, and will also be making an appearance at the Cornerstone Festival in Illinois, July 1st - 4th.