With various line-up changes since their formation in 2009, Darwin & The Dinosaur have substantially developed their equally retrospective and refreshing sound. “When we formed, Darwin & The Dinosaur were an alternative punk band in the style of Motion City Soundtrack,” guitarist and vocalist Alan Hiom explains. “Since then the line-up has changed a few times and when Steve [Larke – guitar] and James [Bates – bass] settled in, the sound started to develop.”
On ‘A Thousand Ships’ – the forthcoming debut full-length by the Norwich based four-piece – Darwin & The Dinosaur are more likely to channel British heroes Reuben or Hundred Reasons over their original influences. ‘Riff Town Population: You’ sounds as if it has been taken straight out of the British rock heyday, sounding refreshed by wearing those influences on its sleeve. It’s far removed from the British rock acts making waves on mainstream radio, yet carries more integrity and grit than anything released by those bands in recent years.
“Steve is a massive fan of bands such as Biffy Clyro, Reuben, Hundred Reasons and Thrice, and so the heavier/darker elements started to creep in around the time we released ‘Romulus’ is 2012,” Hiom goes on to explain the sound. “James (ex The Boy Will Drown / Earache Records) then added in his 5 string bass wizardry and we just seem to have honed our sound over the past 18 months.”
‘Riff Town Population: You’ is, according to Hiom, one of the heavier tracks on the forthcoming LP. A large part of its creation was based around the live experience. “Musically the song is about capturing our live energy and showcasing the dynamic range of our music,” Hiom notes. “Lyrically it’s quite ambiguous, which I like as a lyricist. I like everyone to take what they will from the lyrics/feel of a song. Saying that, it was written when I was working in a job a while back where I felt like people didn’t value my role and instead of being treated professionally I was treated like a kid. Instead of getting grumpy I wrote a song (….and smashed a cupboard door).”
This energy is evident throughout all of ‘A Thousand Ships’. It might be one of the heavier tracks, yet the record retains this atmosphere in-between beautifully crafted musical interludes. “I think it gives you a good impression of our sound as it’s heavy, loud and fast but also has a melodic chilled out element in the middle eight,” Hiom says, relating ‘Riff Town Population: You’ to the remainder of the full-length. “It was one of the first songs written on the LP and came together really quickly.”
Their previous material, 2012’s ‘Romulus’ and last year’s ‘Remus’ EP, has seen them take to the road across the UK and into mainland Europe. This proves to be one of the major drives for the band. “As corny as it sounds, having fun, meeting new people and playing in new places,” Hiom reveals when asked what he wishes to achieve as a band. “It’s awesome that people enjoy the music we make and it spurs us on to keep writing. When touring Europe we’ve discovered some amazing cities and towns and it was all made possible from being in this band. Playing with/for
these people is a privilege and we’ll do our best to continue doing so for as long as possible. See you in the pit!”
‘Riff Town Population: You’ features on Darwin & The Dinosaur’s debut full-length ‘A Thousand Ships’ – due for release on the 9th March 2015 via No Panic! Records. The album will be available to pre-order from the 16th February. For full details check their official website, or head to their Facebook page.