By Caprice Padilla (Caprice@bandvibe.com)
Dated: 07/13/07

Don’t you love it when you listen to a band/album for the first time and can’t get enough? Dancehall Apocalypse did just that for me. Firescape stands out with its catchy hooks, dramatic lyrics and intoxicating energy. Josh Parington’s powerful and unique vocals reveal passion, excitement and angst, which seem to stem from deeply personal experiences.

Although the album relies heavily on the themes of relationships, women and sex, there is a multitude of surprises that holds the album together. Firescape does an excellent job of balancing sounds from track to track. Heavy instrumental rock-outs are often followed by a more chill track. The overall quality of Dancehall Apocalypse isn’t polished and lacks the precise perfection of most albums, but it works largely in their favor. It gives a live feel to it, and I couldn’t help but imagining myself rocking out at a show.

Firescape breaks the monotony of having too many similar sounding tracks, and instead creates original tracks that stand on their own. Each time that I thought I had a favorite song, the next track would play and I’d think, “No, no, this one is definitely my favorite.”

With a pop-infused chorus and distinct vocal style, His Midas Touch is one of the album’s highlights. It begins with a stripped down sound and eases into all out rock, while effortlessly transitioning back and forth throughout. The lengthy last track, Sleeping, has a very acoustic, raw sound while tracks like Everything You Are and Erase This have an edgier rock tone. Dancehall Apocalypse is one of those albums that you will want to play over and over, each time with increasing excitement and appreciation.