Out today, FISSION is the new album from Dead Poet Society. Defined as “splitting into two or more parts”, this record certainly lives up to its name. As it gives equal parts “good lord, my face is actually about to fall off” and “jeez, the chances of an existential crisis are high.” It is a full forced, emotionally charged listen that makes one hell of an impact.
Written with details of personal experience and a broad look at society, FISSION aims to tackle many heavy topics and invite us all to relieve the pent-up anger of the last [any amount of time]. The album wastes no time in doing so. Kicking off with ‘5:29:45’, the opening track is LOUD. Layers of gritty guitars quickly fill the airwaves. Setting an ominous tone with little care about if we were ready or not.
The song takes its title from the Trinity Test, with the exact time that 15 to 20 kilotons of force were detonated for its nuclear test. Honestly, it would take something powerful to warrant having that name, and this certainly is. What a great way to get started.
From the great start comes ‘Running in Circles’, which continues the momentum. A filthy bassline aims for the hips, providing a rhythm that injects some groove into its jagged sound. In early anticipation, the chorus erupts with another stadium-filling noise that’s littered with harmonies but full of furious guitars.
My first taste of this album and Dead Poet Society in general was ‘I hope you hate me.’ The recent single caught me off guard. Delivering another groove-laced, heavy hitting instrumental that sounded so brutal and yet so accessible. As if I was able to enjoy the freedom of movement while being locked in place. It sounds so good. It feels like a direct attack, and punishes with a crushing set of drums, but I cannot get enough of it.
While the heavier cuts (like ‘Hard To Be God’, that riff is monstrous) will draw attention quicker, the softer side to FISSION also warrants some praise. The appropriately titled ‘Tipping Point’ offers a more melodic approach. Highlighting Dead Poet Society’s quieter sound which relies on atmosphere and harmony to deliver its purpose. Its intro is built upon melodies and the occasional drum that maintains a tension throughout, before letting loose with a finale that sounds so satisfying.
Newest single ‘My Condition’ reflects on vocalist Jack Underkofler’s headspace at the time of writing the record. Having experienced a bad breakup and learning his mum had cancer, all while being forced to couch-surf due to pandemic-enforced complications, the song is fuelled with a lot of reasons to be angry at the world. Yet despite all of its heaviness, there’s a positivity that drives it forward.
Its group vocal feels cathartic. As Underkofler discusses how close he was to the edge and how he contemplated tipping over it, it feels like an invitation for us all to let go of the emotions that have been buried deep inside for so long. The song is a wonderful exercise in exhaling and leaving everything behind, and it feels great to sing along to it.
With the likes of Green Day and Bring Me The Horizon making waves, it seems there’s a thirst for heavier music at the forefront. FISSION proves there’s no reason why Dead Poet Society shouldn’t be up there with those names. It is a superb album. One that certainly deserves to be considered an album of the year contender.