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The Dangerous Summer are a rock band from Maryland, USA who formed back in 2006. Since then, they have had 3 main studio albums (if you exclude the acoustic version of their debut), making this, self-titled album (The Dangerous Summer), their fourth.
After frontman AJ Perdomo took some time away to concentrate on fatherhood, and having cut down to a trio, the band are back with their fourth full-length album, to much excitement from fans.
Whilst I wouldn’t say this is an emo band per se, they are a far cry from their slightly more light-hearted debut, Reach For The Sun, with vocals that sound more beaten and weathered and lyrics that feel as though AJ Perdomo is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
There is something very nostalgic and reminiscent about this album (both sonically and lyrically) and it appears that a lot of self-reflection has gone into the writing of it. Some of the intricate work and echoing effects on the guitars of ‘This Is Life’ and ‘Fire’ leave audible space for the listener to be taken in and reflect too – something I believe was done deliberately, in order to allow the lyrics to reach out, for maximum effect.
It is an album of poetic melancholy, even in some of its lighter moments – a solid, interesting and well-rounded collection of songs that work brilliantly together and will be appreciated by fans new and old.
Some of the stand-out tracks for me, include: ‘Color’ for the sheer force with which it launches the album, starting off as a mellow but tortured cry before descending into a more chaotic scream of atmospheric noise with the lyrics “I’m not quite myself” ringing aptly; as mentioned before, ‘This Is Life’ and ‘Fire’ for their beautiful sound and wonderful lyricism, ‘Luna’, which is a touching dedication to his daughter – I particularly love the lyric, “You are the architect to all your dreams,” and lastly, ‘When I Get Home’ which is a welcome break in the record, for its slightly more up-beat yet still edgy pop punk feel (and appreciation for their friends and the place they call home) and whilst it’s quite different to the other tracks on the album, somehow it manages not to feel out of place.
This album is definitely not one which is pushing the boundaries of the genre by any means, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing – sticking to what they know and doing it well, shows that they are a band who know themselves. It is an album of poetic melancholy, even in some of its lighter moments, so if you’re feeling like indulging in a little self-loathing or reflecting on darker times and trying to find solace in them, then this is an album for you. It is a solid, interesting and well-rounded collection of songs that work brilliantly together and will be appreciated by fans new and old. Whether you’re into edgy, alternative rock with a large portion of emo lyricism and a gravelly vocalist or you simply enjoy the sonic beauty of a band like this, then you’re bound to love it. I honestly do think it’s a fantastic album; a triumphant returning record for the band and I thoroughly enjoy listening to it – the only reason I’ve rated it 3.5/5 is purely because I’m not sure how well it’ll stand out, over time.
Rating
‘The Dangerous Summer’ is out now and can be downloaded from iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-dangerous-summer/1297025337
The Dangerous Summer on Spotify
Fire (Official Music Video)
Ghosts (Official Music Video)
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